Installed GuestAdditions, still can't maximise display

[jameselsey]

Evening folks,

Had this issue for a while, but now getting fed up hence coming here for help.

I've upgraded my Vbox to the latest version (4.0.4 at the time of writing), and have installed the guest additions successfully.

I'm running a Windows7-64 Host, with Ubuntu 64 guest.

If I maximise the VM window the actual Ubuntu portion remains the same size, I can't get it to fill the maximised window. I've tried Auto-Resize guest window (Host+G) as suggested in another thread, but that option is greyed out for me. I've restarted both guest and host after upgrading and installing GA.

Inside the Ubuntu guest, I've gone through (gnome) System > Preferences > Monitor, but I can only see an "unknown monitor" on 800x600 with no option to change it.

Anything else I can try?

[Perryg]

From your description the Guest Additions are not installed or not installed properly.
Make sure that you have installed dkms build-essential and linux-kernel-generic and then install them again.

[karlkras]

Well, I had to manually edit the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file in order to get the resolutions to work properly.
Assuming you installed the guest additions properly you should find this file on your system.
I needed to add this:

Section "Screen"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" <-- this didn't exist upon initial install of additions.
EndSubSection
Device "Device[0]"
Identifier "Screen[0]"
Monitor "Monitor[0]"
EndSection

[Perryg]

Well then you are not utilizing the guest additions video. Modifying this takes away the VBox ability to auto-resize the screen. Perhaps fixing the GAs install would be better.
For Ubuntu all that is needed is as follows.

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install dkms build-essential linux-headers-generic

Then mount the guest additions and install them.
In fact by default Ubuntu no longer has the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file unless you install propitiatory video drivers.

[karlkras]

That's interesting... I just followed the directions from this forum on installing the additions and this is what I found.

Is there a process for reverting the process so I can try again?

[Perryg]

Yes there is. If you followed the install suggestions in the tutorial portion it explains the use of it, but describes that it should no longer be needed.
To reverse the deed comment out the mode portion of the xorg.conf as a minimum or if you created the file yourself you can simply rm it.
A reboot or at least a log-off is required to remove the statement from cache.

Now if you installed the packages above, and you installed the GAs and they were successful all you should need to do is run the following

Code: Select all

sudo /etc/init.d/vboxadd setup

If you receive an error post it here. If not then reboot and make sure that the auto resize is enabled using the host+G toggle
If it is all working you should be able to use click drag to increase the size or the host+F toggle to go in and out of full screen.

Note: If you used this guide Howto: Install Linux Guest Additions and had a hard time understanding which lead you to the xorg.conf, perhaps you can post what happened and how to word it better. I am sure Sas. will want to know.

[karlkras]

Not sure what I missed following the instructions the first time through, but doing it again, indeed the graphics are working as they should without having to manually touch the xorg.conf file.
Thanks for setting me straight. I'm very impressed by both the product and the support.

~Karl

[Perryg]

You know what? I have found in my many years of being around this stuff? Being just 2 days younger than dirt I have seen things just get muxed up sometimes and it's almost always something that we overlook and it is usually something easy that another person can come by and say what's this? Then the face-palms begin. Just glad you have it all sorted out!

[karlkras]

Then the face-palms begin.

Never seen that in print before. Perfect visual description.