Guest Additions Will Not Load - Windows 7 Host - Ubuntu 9.10

[SpeedMachine]

Hello, and let me start off by thanking you for your help !



UPDATE:
3/27/10
The main problem with my install of the Guest Additions was that I had installed a 64 Bit Ubuntu Guest - I thought I had installed a 32 Bit Ubuntu Guest.
I'm sure the below information will still be of help to others with trouble installing Guest Additions, (just make sure you are sure which version you install; 32 bit or 64 bit) as the information from Perry is correct and I was able to successfully install the Guest Additions 64 Bit version !



Please some help and guidance - I know I can do this - I must just be doing the littlest thing wrong.

This is long but mostly to show what I have tried and copies of advice from others with this same issue.


First post to this forum and new user to Linux and VirtualBox. So I don’t know much but I am pretty good at following directions.

Windows 7 Host / 64 BIT

Ubuntu 9.10 / 32 BIT Guest

VirtualBox 3.14

Everything is up to date on all applications and computer.

New Laptop with i5-430 processor / 4 G of Ram / 64 Bit / Windows 7 Home Premium

1 G of Ram allocated for Guest



I have and ISO disk that I am using to run Ubuntu (downloaded from Ubuntu) as a Guest on my Win 7 Host laptop.

For the past 3 days I have tried, over many hours, all of the suggestions on this forum, Ubuntu forum and google searches. I just can not get the Guest Additions to install. It seems a few other people are having this problem.

I have tried:


Howto: Install Linux Guest Additions + Xorg config

http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15679

Here is were I think I do something wrong ?

Do I take the ISO disk out of the computer (Unmount) ?

When do I put it back in ? (The info below reads a little confusingly)

No icon ever appears on the desktop. What I always have on the Guest desktop are 2 items -
“Install Ubuntu 9.10” and “Examples”

“Make sure that no other CD is already loaded for the VM, like the install disk. Unmount that one first. The CD doesn't always get mounted automatically, so you have to do that manually. Usually an icon appears on the Desktop with the name of the inserted CD. You can mount the disc from there, but if you don't have a GUI, you have to mount it using the command line. The CLI can also be used if you have a GUI. Use a terminal emulator for that.
In the CLI, check if there is a valid mount point for the CD. This is usually /media/cdrom, but any empty folder can be used as mount point. Now to mount the CD, issue the following command:”




Ubuntu 9.10 Screen Resolution Issue---Again

http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic. ... 06&start=0

Here is were I am sure I do something wrong ?

I’m good all the way up to - “after this reboot”.
First off I don’t have a password to put in so nothing happens.
And after I “type apt-get update <press enter>“ and before “after this reboot” - the Terminal asks a [Y/N] yes or no question if I want to install some additional stuff. I said Y both times I tried this on a 64bit and 32bit host.
The “after this reboot” is a big issue. I really don’t know what this means - reboot the whole computer or just the Guest ? I “Power off the machine” and the laptop computer.
When I turned back on the Laptop and the VirtualBox I started up a Snapshot of before doing these suggestions - how am I supposed to start up the Guest ? ?
I followed the rest of the directions - “VBox window and click devices then click install guest additions“ - No Guest Additions - I get the same error I always get no matter what I try:

Unable to mount the CD/DVD image /usr/share/virtualbox/VBoxGuestAdditions.iso on the machine. Would you like to force mounting of this medium?

Could not mount the media/drive '/usr/share/virtualbox/VBoxGuestAdditions.iso' (VERR_PDM_MEDIA_LOCKED).



by Perryg » 14. Feb 2010, 00:06
But since you are having problems let's try this step-by-step then.

Start the Ubuntu guest. (I am assuming that you have the desktop version).
Open a terminal.
Type sudo -i <press enter> (enter your password) <press enter>
type apt-get update <press enter>
type apt-get upgrade <press enter>

after this reboot
Open the terminal again.
Type sudo -i <press enter> (enter your password) <press enter>
Type apt-get install linux-headers-generic <press enter>
Type apt-get install build-essential <press enter>
Now look up at the top left of the VBox window and click devices then click install guest additions.
If they do not show on the desktop then click devices and unmount CD, then click install guest additions again.
At this point they should be on your desktop. Dbl click to open the CD.
Look for the Linux Guess Additions that fits you install. More than likely the VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run
Position the terminal windows and the opened file system to where you can see them both.
Click and drag the right additions file and drop it on the terminal window.
Click on the terminal window to get focus and hit enter.
Watch for any errors that show and when they are complete reboot.
Let me know if you encounter any errors. If all is well you use the click drag to make the window bigger or use the host+F toggle to go in and out of full screen




TRIED TO FOLLOW THIS

Abount install Guest Addtions

http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&p=130210



The problem is whenever I try the Guest Additions I get this error:

Unable to mount the CD/DVD image /usr/share/virtualbox/VBoxGuestAdditions.iso on the machine. Would you like to force mounting of this medium?

Could not mount the media/drive '/usr/share/virtualbox/VBoxGuestAdditions.iso' (VERR_PDM_MEDIA_LOCKED).



The only option is to Unmount - not to Mount as the error asks.


Please, I know this has been asked a lot and the advice seems solid I just must be making little mistakes because this can’t be that hard to do - I was up till 1 AM last night and I’m still trying to solve this issue now ! Wow, just seems crazy.

Well, again thank you for your time

Danny

[cr0wn3r]

If you boot your virtual ubuntu machine, and click on 'Devices' in the top menu, and mouse over CD / DVD devices, do you see VBoxGuestAdditons.iso in the list?

I had a similar problem, and I ended up deleting the VBoxGuestAdditions.iso from my win7 host system (I think its in the /programs/sun/vbox folder) and then using the "Install Guest Additions Link" in the devices menu in the virtual machine window. This made it download the guest additions iso fresh.

It still didn't mount properly though, so I had to do

sudo mount /media/cdrom0/ -o unhide

to get it to actually become available to use.

[Perryg]

@SpeedMachine,

I have and ISO disk that I am using to run Ubuntu (downloaded from Ubuntu) as a Guest on my Win 7 Host laptop.

Did you install Ubuntu to the drive or are you simply running it as a live CD?
If you have not installed it then that is the reason for all of your troubles.

[lrfocke]

I also had this problem of not being able to find the guest additions. Here is what I did that worked for me.

I installed Mint 8 KDE but it should be the same as Ubuntu 9.10.
In Win7 I had to burn a disk from the file VBoxAdditions.iso
Start your virtual machine of Ubuntu 9.10.
Then go to Devices>CD/DVD Devices and select the host CD/DVD drive. Should be the first option.
Open a terminal and type:
cd /media/cdrom0
(I had to eject the disk and re-close the drive for the files to show up in /media/cdrom0. Your burner could be cdrom1 so check them both. If it autostarts ignore the rest, but if not)
type: ls (to make sure the files are there)
Then type:
sudo sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run
(enter your password)
Worked for me, hope it works for you too.

[SpeedMachine]

Perryg,

Thanks for the reply.

I was wondering about this - I'm running it as a live CD - in the DVD player.

How do I install Ubuntu to the laptop drive ?

Thanks
Danny

@SpeedMachine,

I have and ISO disk that I am using to run Ubuntu (downloaded from Ubuntu) as a Guest on my Win 7 Host laptop.

Did you install Ubuntu to the drive or are you simply running it as a live CD?
If you have not installed it then that is the reason for all of your troubles.

[Perryg]

First hopefully you are running this inside VirtualBox instead of direct from the laptop. If you are running this through VirtualBox then look on the Ubuntu desktop and see if it has the install icon. If you don't see it there then look under the system tab at the top. And finally if it is not there then it would be located on the boot screen when you start the CD. In any case you will not be able to install the guest additions until it is actually installed on the laptop.

[SpeedMachine]

Perry,

Running Ubuntu in VirtualBox with a "live disk" in the dvd player.

On the Ubuntu desktop is an icon "Install Ubuntu 9.10"

If I use this (I assume it has an install wizard thing) then this will install Ubuntu so I can run Ubuntu in VB ?

I was afraid this would mess up my Host Win 7.

First hopefully you are running this inside VirtualBox instead of direct from the laptop. If you are running this through VirtualBox then look on the Ubuntu desktop and see if it has the install icon. If you don't see it there then look under the system tab at the top. And finally if it is not there then it would be located on the boot screen when you start the CD. In any case you will not be able to install the guest additions until it is actually installed on the laptop.

[SpeedMachine]

Hi Perry,

I'm assuming that running the Ubuntu Install on the Ubuntu desktop in VB will install Ubuntu to my Laptops harddrive but not erase my Host Win 7 operating system.

I have started on the Install - now on step 4 of 6.

Step 4 says

"This computer has no operationg system on it"

And

"Erase and use the entire disk" . . . 8 g

I assume this is in reference to the Virtual Ubuntu desktop, which I set up to use dynamic 8 g on install. Just trying to make sure this will not effect the Win 7 operating system.

Danny

[Perryg]

Unless you main hard drive is only 8 Gig then you are where you need to be. Continue on and finish the install. By the way 8 Gig is the minimum you will need to increase this someday.

[SpeedMachine]

Unless you main hard drive is only 8 Gig then you are where you need to be. Continue on and finish the install. By the way 8 Gig is the minimum you will need to increase this someday.

Ok

Currently doing the install %68 percent done.

After this is done, the install, do I then just go to Device > Install Guest Additions ?

OR do I have to run some operations in the Termainal first ?

[Perryg]

Let's try this step-by-step then.

• Start the Ubuntu guest. (I am assuming that you have the desktop version).
  Open a terminal.
• Type sudo -i <press enter> (enter your password) <press enter>
• type apt-get update <press enter>
• type apt-get upgrade <press enter>
  
  after this reboot
  Open the terminal again.
• Type sudo -i <press enter> (enter your password) <press enter>
• Type apt-get install linux-headers-generic <press enter>
• Type apt-get install build-essential <press enter>
• Now look up at the top left of the VBox window and click devices then click install guest additions.
• If they do not show on the desktop then click devices and unmount CD, then click install guest additions again.
• At this point they should be on your desktop. Dbl click to open the CD.
• Look for the Linux Guess Additions that fits you install. More than likely the VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run
• Position the terminal windows and the opened file system to where you can see them both.
• Click and drag the right additions file and drop it on the terminal window.
• Click on the terminal window to get focus and hit enter.
  
  Watch for any errors that show and when they are complete reboot.
  Let me know if you encounter any errors. If all is well you use the click drag to make the window bigger or use the host+F toggle to go in and out of full screen

[SpeedMachine]

OK - things are going different than before when I tried this directions from you (before starting this current listing) - this is Good.

I am now at the point were I have typed

type apt-get upgrade <press enter>

Now the Terminal is asking

"after this operation 352kb of disk space will be used - continue [y/n]

I assume I press y and Enter


After this your instructions are to

"after this reboot"

How do I reboot ? I know this is a simple question but I just want to make sure to do this right. Do I save the current Snapshot ?

Let's try this step-by-step then.

• Start the Ubuntu guest. (I am assuming that you have the desktop version).
  Open a terminal.
• Type sudo -i <press enter> (enter your password) <press enter>
• type apt-get update <press enter>
• type apt-get upgrade <press enter>
  
  after this reboot
  Open the terminal again.
• Type sudo -i <press enter> (enter your password) <press enter>
• Type apt-get install linux-headers-generic <press enter>
• Type apt-get install build-essential <press enter>
• Now look up at the top left of the VBox window and click devices then click install guest additions.
• If they do not show on the desktop then click devices and unmount CD, then click install guest additions again.
• At this point they should be on your desktop. Dbl click to open the CD.
• Look for the Linux Guess Additions that fits you install. More than likely the VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run
• Position the terminal windows and the opened file system to where you can see them both.
• Click and drag the right additions file and drop it on the terminal window.
• Click on the terminal window to get focus and hit enter.
  
  Watch for any errors that show and when they are complete reboot.
  Let me know if you encounter any errors. If all is well you use the click drag to make the window bigger or use the host+F toggle to go in and out of full screen

[Perryg]

Nope no snapshot just reboot. If you are still in the terminal window as sudo just type reboot and hit enter. You can also click on the icon at the top right by your name and select shut down and then select restart.

Pretty basic stuff really.

[SpeedMachine]

Perry,

After the "do you want to continue" [Y\n] question

I put in "y" and pressed enter (there was some spaces I accidently put in before the "y"

I got this:

Abort.

root@Danny-laptop-UBUNTU:~#

So I put in "Y" and enter

I got this:

Y: command not found

root@Danny-laptop-UBUNTU:~#

Display all 1917 possibilities ? (y or n)

root@Danny-laptop-UBUNTU:~#


What should I do ? I so want to get this right so I can get past this and start enjoying Ubuntu.

Nope no snapshot just reboot. If you are still in the terminal window as sudo just type reboot and hit enter. You can also click on the icon at the top right by your name and select shut down and then select restart.

Pretty basic stuff really.

[Perryg]

Just start over with the commands I sent you. Ubuntu will only install what it needs. What ever you have already installed it will tell you it is installed and go on.
Really don't make too much about this.. Just follow the instructions I sent to the letter. It pretty much takes care of the rest for you.