Windows 7 forces me to run VirtualBox elevated

[justinrpg]

is there a reason for this??

[Perryg]

Not due to VirtualBox. When did this start?

[justinrpg]

it has always been that way since first using VirtualBox...

[Perryg]

Strange. Have you disabled UAC or other permission packages in the Windows 7 host or other wise changed permissions somehow?

[justinrpg]

UAC is on the second lowest setting, the default is second highest... I lowered it long ago because there was a program that would not run with it as high as it was...

[Perryg]

I don't know what to tell you other than it has to be a host issue since VirtualBox does not require you run the program elevated. You just need to run it as the person that actually installed the program.

[scottgus1]

Right-click any Virtualbox shortcut that opens the GUI. Choose Properties, Compatibility tab, see section "Privilege Level". Make sure "Run this program as Administrator" is unchecked.

Alternatively, I've had VMs that had the vdi's on an external USB-attached hard drive (platter-style in an enclosure) and I had to run as admin for some reason (viewtopic.php?f=2&t=38007) Are your vdi's on a USB hard drive?

Alternate "alternatively": Install Jing on your host (http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html - free) or some other such software and take a screen-video of your setup and what happens when you start a VM. (I use Jing to help trouble-shoot our cabinet-cutting software at work, does wonders for tech support...)

[Perryg]

Right-click any Virtualbox shortcut that opens the GUI. Choose Properties, Compatibility tab, see section "Privilege Level". Make sure "Run this program as Administrator" is unchecked.

Doh (face palm inserted here).
Thanks scottgus1. It used to happen a lot but it has been so long since I have seen this one I had forgotten. I knew it had to be the host.

[slw1jw]

I had the same problem after I copied a virtual machine from another Windows 7 host and added it to my new Windows 7 host VirtualBox. I took ownership of the "VirtualBox VMs" folder in my home directory and checked the "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects". After that VirtualBox did not need administrator privilege to run.