virtualbox.org

Hello All,

I have installed several linux distros as VM. With this install, I cannot get the guest additions installed. When I take the usual steps, the guest additions will show up on the desktop, but it will not auto-run. I thought I remembered on one installation right-clicking and selecting auto-run, but I am not given that option with this installation.

Can someone help? Not sure what I need to do.

Thank you.

Sure. open a terminal and run it manually.

Thanks for the reply, but that doesn't help much.

As per section 4.2.2.1, I attempt to run command and I get message "can't open VBoxLinuxAdditions".

So yes, I understand I am doing something incorrectly, but I do not know what I am doing incorrectly.

Presumably this distro does not have the required program to auto-run as others do?

Any help in understanding the procedure for manually installing is appreciated.

This should help Howto: Install Linux Guest Additions

The "how to" did not do it for me. But to give credit where credit is due, it did give me the clues I needed.

In Linux Mint xfce, I right-clicked the guest additions on the desktop, and selected "mount". Then went to media/guest additions, right-clicked and opened a terminal, then used the command line sh ./VBox.........run, and all was good.

In Lubuntu, the guest additions were not placed on the desktop, but while in the directory tree I was able to right-click and open a terminal and do the run command.

Also thrilled to see that just having the guest additions installed took care of the desktop with the scroll bars!

Thanks for the help. I still think VB is one of the greatest programs around.

Where 'did it not do for you'? The mount is clearly stated to be possible on any empty folder, so for all it cares you mount it in /mnt. It's all command line based, so there should be no problem installing the GA that way, no matter what environment you're on. Please tell me what didn't work for you with the instructions noted, I may be able to improve it.

I was unable to mount, using the example in the "how to"

mount /dev/scd0 /media/cdrom

Obviously I am not experienced with Linux. That is why I am here. I was asking for help, and all I was told was to use the command line.
I do read the manual, and I can understand much, maybe even most of it. I do search the forums here also to try and find answers; I am not here to waste peoples time.

I cannot yet tell when I am having an issue with the Linux VM, in other words when it is a configuration that needs to be done within the VM, or when it is something that needs to be dealt with in VB outside of the VM.

I have an issue with another Linux variant installed as VM. I will start a new thread, and I will attempt to bring as much pertinent information as I can. What exactly is pertinent is difficult for me to deduce.

Thank you for your time and patience.

OK, thanks for the feedback. Maybe I should point it out more clearly that any empty folder will do or to create the folder if it doesn't exist. Though, most distro's have that folder ready for cd drives. Most, not all.

My howto is written for command line use, with step by step instructions, because it would be more difficult to write it for a GUI. Distro's have different graphical package managers. Some even have different graphical environments completely, like Ubuntu vs Kubuntu vs Xubuntu vs Lubuntu. And then you have the RPM systems that each have their own way of handling packages. Not to mention the server types where people might want to have the GA too, servers don't have GUIs (some do, but I think it's a waste of valuable resources).
The command line is not that hard, if you follow guides and understand what is explained. Sometimes you need to read it a few times, mess around with it and then you figure out how it works. It's all part of the learning curve of an OS. Microsoft is starting with it too with their Windows 8 Server, it doesn't have a GUI any more (though it's optional).

So, CLI was the easiest to write. And with step-by-step instructions, everyone should be able to follow it.