virtualbox.org

The release notes for 4.1.8 say that it is no longer necessary to install guest additions in safe mode for adding direct3d for example.
I just installed winxp guest on an ubuntu 11.10 host using VirtualBox-4.1.8 with the most recent releases for the extension pack and GuestAdditions.iso .

First, attempting to install guest additions (from within winXP Top menu: Devices->InstallGuestAdditions ) without safe mode causes a pop-up dialog box demanding that you do it in safe mode.
Second, as another poster mentioned, you must press F8 like a maniac as soon as you have started your vm to get the virtualBox to boot into safe mode.

So there is a bug in either the release notes, or the enabling of this feature - no safe mode required.

Finding current instructions to install guest additions was not trivial.
The manual h tt p s: slash slash w w w dot virtualbox dot org slash manual/ch04.h t m l#idp9523904
should be updated to say that standard location for unix is

/usr/share/VBoxGuestAdditions.iso or
/usr/lib/virtualbox/additions/VBoxGuestAdditions.iso

ubuntuforums dot org slash showthread.php?t=1900438
Ubuntu VBox MegaThread ... 3D acceleration

The release notes for 4.1.8 say that it is no longer necessary to install guest additions in safe mode for adding direct3d for example.

Would you point me to where this is stated?

I found it following the changelog for release notes of 4.1.8 on the homepage for virtualbox
Below is the mangled u rl - i'm still on 24 hr probationary for posting links.

virtualbox dot
org slash
wiki slash
Changelog

search "safe". This page has changed a bit since i last visited, but the mention of not needing safe mode is still there.

darKoram