Graphics Card Name.

This is for discussing general topics about how to use VirtualBox.
Post Reply
d3t0nator
Posts: 1
Joined: 16. Aug 2010, 06:08
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows XP

Graphics Card Name.

Post by d3t0nator »

Dear Members,

I have been searching for a solution to this small issue for quite some time already. I am looking for a way to rename the graphics card (change the vendor data) just the way it is possible to rename the hard drive or disc drive (or even change the BIOS DMI data). I am not sure if it is possible, to tell you the truth i find it hard to look for this information in the source code. However it seemed impossible to change the hard drive vendor data some time ago so i suppose the solution to my small issue probably exists and not in the manual yet.

I would really appreciate any help and would like to thank you for your interest in this post.

Arthur.
Sasquatch
Volunteer
Posts: 17798
Joined: 17. Mar 2008, 13:41
Primary OS: Debian other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows XP, Windows 7, Linux
Location: /dev/random

Re: Graphics Card Name.

Post by Sasquatch »

Only way to change it is by changing the source code and compile your own copy. Do note that modifying this data can break a lot of things in VB, hence it's never rebranded or changed in any other way. Same goes for the hard drive data, Windows could trigger a reactivation because of the change.
Read the Forum Posting Guide before opening a topic.
VirtualBox FAQ: Check this before asking questions.
Online User Manual: A must read if you want to know what we're talking about.
Howto: Install Linux Guest Additions
Howto: Use Shared Folders on Linux Guest
See the Tutorials and FAQ section at the top of the Forum for more guides.
Try searching the forums first with Google and add the site filter for this forum.
E.g. install guest additions site:forums.virtualbox.org

Retired from this Forum since OSSO introduction.
JannisSEA
Posts: 25
Joined: 7. Oct 2013, 14:41

Re: Graphics Card Name.

Post by JannisSEA »

No need to recompile VirtualBox. The string (model, vendor, ...) of the Graphics adapter is NOT stored in the source code of VirtualBox, only in the guest additions (OS driver for the device). That means if you never installed them, your OS cannot know the string. However, when you install the guest additions and uninstall them later, windows keeps some files around and will still know the name of the graphics adapter. To get rid of that, look for a folder called "ReinstallBackups". Delete the appropriate files, reboot and the name will be gone.

With the hard disk, things are different. Here, the device (disk) can report details such as manufacturer and model to the OS. And hard drives don't need specific drivers. IDE- and SATA controllers have the drivers, not the disks.
Post Reply