virtualbox.org

Ubuntu used to load fine, (with a small error but I was told that was normal) but now it doesn't load at all. First it failed to load any programs or even the system tray, (and threw loads of errors, which I didn't take a screenshot of), now it refuses to boot at all.


This is what happens when I try to boot. What is going on?

It may also be wise to add that I run a VM inside Ubuntu, which runs DOS 6.22 and Windows 3.1, and it failed too, stating "COMMAND.COM MISSING". That was not too bad, the VHD (I was lazy, I downloaded a pre-installed VHD off the Internet, it was made in Virtual PC but VirtualBox also supports it) was only 17 meg, and I had a copy of it. But this time it's a 3 gig vdi, which I didn't copy or make a snapshot of. Is there any way to fix this without reinstalling Ubuntu?

Thanks again.

Do you have the host IO CACHE enabled in the storage section?
There is a condition on some Linux kernels that will corrupt the drive if it is not enabled.

Oh and the VirtualBox inside of VirtualBox is more than likely what is causing you all of these problems. It is not supported for a reason. It causes disk corruption and can in fact corrupt the host.

Oh s***, by "Corrupt the host" do you mean my Windows laptop???

What should I do? I will uninstall Virtualbox and delete the vdi.

I don't know what "IO cache"is but if it does what you say I should disable it.

I take it ubuntu is wrecked?

OK, i better stop this before it wrecks my laptop.

Could you please explain what you meant by "Corrupt the host"? And also how to stop it?

Thanks

You stop it by first not trying to run a virtualizer inside of another virtualizer. They neither will have a clue what the other one is doing and that is dangerous.
Then secondly the Ubuntu guest is more than likely a lost cause but you can still use the one VirtualBox without issue if you make sure that in the guest settings under storage you enable the host IO CACHE. Click the controller and then look to the right. You will see use host IO CACHE. Put a check mark in it which enables it.

Oh and this statement "I downloaded a pre-installed VHD off the Internet", you are just asking for viruses, root kits, all kinds of nasty keyloggers, and who knows what else. Just food for thought.

I'll take more care in the future. But viruses aside (I did scan it with maware bytes), is it possible that my laptop could be corrupted? I deleted the VDI and removed Virtualbox.
Oh and BTW I'm interested as to why Virtualbox inside Virtualbox doesn't work.

Thanks

OK let me be clear here. The Windows host is probably just fine. It was the Ubuntu that uses ext4 that I was talking about and the fact that you were using it as a host. If you delete the Ubuntu vdi that should get you back to a stable Windows host with VirtualBox that you can use.

As for why a virtualizer inside of a virtualizer does not work you have the perfect example of it. Look what happened to the Ubuntu guest that you were trying to use as another host.

Sorry, I maybe overreacted a bit there, it's just It's a new laptop.

Well anyway I won't try to use vb inside vb again.

Thank you!

What the heck happened to Ubuntu?

Linux.