Mac running "safe mode" opens Manager but not VMs?

[hank]

Trying to solve various problems; Mac Mini, 8GB ram, 10.7.2.
Current question --
I've started the Mac in safe mode (and verified it is in safe mode, from console messages)

VBoxManager opens OK, but VMs don't.

This is the error message (two different VMs so far gave the same error)
Failed to open a session for the virtual machine Build_Win7Pro_X64_2010.
The virtual machine 'Build_Win7Pro_X64_2010' has terminated unexpectedly during startup with exit code 1.
Result Code:
NS_ERROR_FAILURE (0x80004005)
Component:
Machine
Interface:
IMachine {5eaa9319-62fc-4b0a-843c-0cb1940f8a91}

After that a popup box says "Kernel driver not installed"

--------
Just checking -- should this work, or is it normal for VMs not to work in safe mode?

[Perryg]

AFAIK starting any host in safe mode will cause this as it halts some drivers from loading.

[hank]

OK, thank you Perry, I didn't know whether to expect VMs to work in safe mode -- sounds like not expected to work.