Screen Resolution

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Mac OS X hosts.
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thistle
Posts: 3
Joined: 26. Feb 2013, 15:58

Screen Resolution

Post by thistle »

This seems to be quite a common question, quite commonly with no solution but I hope my situation is different.

I have downloaded and installed the latest (as of 26 February 2013) Virtual Box and Guest Additions on a Mountain Lion (all latest updates on) Macbook Pro with a 1680x1050 display.

When I go full screen the resolution does not correspond to the native display one. Not even the aspect ratio corresponds.

Could you please help me? What can I check? In all of the answers I have only read that I should install the guest addition - but they are already there and Virtual Box reports a good installation.

thistle
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39134
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Screen Resolution

Post by mpack »

Please see Minimum information needed for assistance.

You might want to check if scale mode has been turned on - you don't want it turned on as it will mess up aspect ratio.

Fullscreen mode must be selected by host+F, not by hitting the zoom button on the Window.
thistle
Posts: 3
Joined: 26. Feb 2013, 15:58

Re: Screen Resolution

Post by thistle »

mpack wrote: You might want to check if scale mode has been turned on - you don't want it turned on as it will mess up aspect ratio.
Fullscreen mode must be selected by host+F, not by hitting the zoom button on the Window.
Here is the the required information:

Code: Select all

Extension Packs: 1
Pack no. 0:   Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack
Version:      4.2.6
Revision:     82870
Edition:      
Description:  USB 2.0 Host Controller, VirtualBox RDP, PXE ROM with E1000 support.
VRDE Module:  VBoxVRDP
Usable:       true 
Why unusable:

---

Host: Mountain Lion 10.8.2 - Build 12C3103

---

Guest: Windows 7 Professional - 32 bit (I don't know where to find additional info - I have been a linux/max user for a long time)

with 2GB RAM, 256MB Video Memory.

I switched to full screen using host+F - may be I did not understand what you said but could not find any place where to switch scale mode off (unless it corresponds to going full screen with the combo I mentioned).

I uploaded also the log.

Thanks.
Attachments
VBox.log.zip
(14.02 KiB) Downloaded 76 times
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39134
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Screen Resolution

Post by mpack »

I see no evidence in the log that you have installed the guest additions. In fact you don't seem to be booting the VM from the virtual hdd, it seems to be getting booted from a DVD drive, which would explain why the GAs can't be installed (DVDs being read only). I suspect you are running a live CD and the GAs are being installed into a ramdisk, and lost when the VM is reset.
thistle
Posts: 3
Joined: 26. Feb 2013, 15:58

Re: Screen Resolution

Post by thistle »

Well, if it is as you say I don't know how to install windows in Virtual Box, but something is just not right.

See attached screenshots.

1) If I try and reinstall the GAs, I get a warning.

2) There are no images mounted.
Attachments
Screen Shot 2013-02-27 at 1.14.08 PM copy.jpg
Screen Shot 2013-02-27 at 1.14.08 PM copy.jpg (43.49 KiB) Viewed 4272 times
Screen Shot 2013-02-27 at 1.14.34 PM.png
Screen Shot 2013-02-27 at 1.14.34 PM.png (77.04 KiB) Viewed 4272 times
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39134
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Screen Resolution

Post by mpack »

The picture you have there shows you installing the extension pack, not the guest additions. As the name implies, the Guest Additions need to be installed inside the guest. See chapter 4 of the user manual.

Extension pack: a plugin for the host which adds USB 2.0 support (among other things) to VirtualBox.
Guest Additions: a suite of mouse,keyboard,graphics drivers etc which you install in the guest to improve perfomance and integration, plus features such as seamless mode, shared folders etc.
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