virtualbox.org

Upgraded from 4.0.x

I like the new cpu cap feature.

Also seems lightr on the host system now during i/o on the VM.

On one of my systems however right after install I had a BSOD with "bad pool <something>" sorry forgot the 3rd word now but do have the crash report handy if wanted.

upgraded and I like the addition.

My experience: the best = most reliable 4.x version ever - I'll apt-pin it.

Release 4.1.4 introduced bugs related to 1) Shared Folders and, 2) guest/host clipboard sharing (cut and paste).

Experiment with Windows Server 2008 Standard SP2 host and Windows XP SP3 guest with the 4.1.4 Extension Pack. Shared Folders are intermittently available or not available. Guest/host clipboard sharing doesn't work at all.

There is something that I don't understand! Why are there different Virtualbox versions? What's the purpose? I mean Why is there a 4.0x version and a 4.1x version?

Many companies that are currently using VirtualBox v4.0 cannot afford to upgrade to v4.1 yet.
They need to be able to get an update which contains only fixes for problems they have encountered.

Whenever a new version of any software package is released containing new features (and probably new bugs), companies using an older version have to do a lot of testing in order to be sure that the new version doesn't break all of the things they're using it for. If a Win98 game doesn't work for you in VB 4.1, it's not a big deal: you can find another game that does work. If it's an Oracle database system containing everyone's payroll information running on a virtual Windows 2008 Server Cluster, it is a very big deal: people won't get paid.

it would be great if next GA includes the signed VirtualBox Graphics Driver! But have you guys a tentative release date for this? Thanks in advance

This release works great barring a couple of issues; if I readjust the screen from, say 'Full' to 'Scale' when the BIOS screen is on, the vm crashes completely. Only when the load bar for xp appears this doesn't happen.

The other bug I noticed was that dynamically adjusting the CPU capacity for a running vm had no affect on it while running - ie. the modified settings were not applied at all. It wasn't until it was turned off, that the settings would be saved.

selden wrote:...Whenever a new version of any software package is released containing new features (and probably new bugs), companies using an older version have to do a lot of testing in order to be sure that the new version doesn't break all of the things they're using it for...

I understand your point, but the above is true (as you rightly say) for any new version of any software package.
That means that also the "new" 4.0.X release can actually contain new bugs and break something.

One could say on the other hand, that no new version should be released unless it has proved to be...
Which is obviously impossible, since any software needs to be tested "on the battlefield".

That's why some people suggest that VBox should be released, like other products, in different channels (stable and testing) or something like that.

ferantivero wrote:it would be great if next GA includes the signed VirtualBox Graphics Driver! But have you guys a tentative release date for this? Thanks in advance

The VirtualBox graphics driver is signed. What you probably mean is to have a WHQL-certified driver which is a different story. This is not expected for the near future (this process is too complicated and the VirtualBox Windows guest drivers are still under heavy development).

Windows 7 x64 Host here running an imported Windows XP machine from another computer. I had an issue sometimes on the 4.1.2 version where I got a black/blank screen after changing from fullscreen view to "adjusted view", I had to change from fullscreen to normal view and from normal view to adjusted to get screen image again. It was annoying but I could work with it. After upgrading to 4.1.4 version my VM runs in adjusted view and shows screen ok, but ANY time I change to another view (normal or fullscreen and back from them) all I got is the black/blank screen. I can see perfectly the little preview window showing all but the main VM window doesn't show anything but I can click on it so it is only image related.

Edit: I found that disabling 2D acceleration support makes the black/blank window to dissapear and the VM to work as expected when changing modes, all is showing fine so It seems it is a bug related to the 2D acceleration feature. Hope this helps someone with the same problem as me.

Greetings,

- Alandor -

Dual Virtual screens don't work for me.

Linux (Ubuntu Oneiric x64) Host, XP Guest.

The second window it opens stays black, even if I enable it in XP.

If I drag a window from the first "screen" to the second one, it is a black rectangle on a black background. It's noticeable in seamless mode, though if the black window on black background is a browser I can click on links (randomly click on the black and hit a link by luck).