SOLVED Unable to install Guest Additions

[LindsayEvz]

Hi all,

I am running Virtual Windows 7 on OSx Mountain Lion. I am trying to make my VM window bigger. I can adjust the window size, but NOT the actual Windows 7 size (Windows 7 screen stays the same, all that changes is a white void grows when I try to make the window bigger). From digging around in this forum, I found that it is a "Guest Additions" problem, which is found in the VM under Devices-->Install Guest Additions. When I click on this, nothing happens. I searched further on the VirtualBox site (It will not let me post the site but the instructions are under Chapter 4 in the User's Manual) and found that you can manually install Guest Additions by selecting within the VM "Devices-->Mount CD/ROM-->CD/DVD-ROM image". However, I DO NOT have the option under Devices that says "Mount CD/ROM."

A.) Is there another way, beside Guest Additons, that will let me make my VM windows bigger/full screen?

B.) If no to "A.)" then how do I install Guest Additions within my VM Windows 7 machine?

Please help!!

[noteirak]

"Devices-->Install Guest Additions" will only mount the ISO in the VM. Autoplay has been disabled by default in Windows 7 so you still need to start the installation yourself from the guest CD drive.

Taken from Chapter 4 in the User Manual :

Unless you have the Autostart feature disabled in your Windows guest, Windows will now autostart the VirtualBox Guest Additions installation program from the Additions ISO. If the Autostart feature has been turned off, choose VBoxWindowsAdditions.exe from the CD/DVD drive inside the guest to start the installer.

[Confusedfriend]

"Devices-->Install Guest Additions" will only mount the ISO in the VM. Autoplay has been disabled by default in Windows 7 so you still need to start the installation yourself from the guest CD drive.

And how is this done? This is my first time using VB and I cannot get Windows 7 to install the driver. I understand that I will need to start the installation myself but can you give me a step by step with screenshots of how to do this?

[mpack]

After clicking Devices|Install Guest Additions... (which you've probably already done), navigate to the virtual CD drive from inside the guest, view its contents, and double click the VBoxGuestAdditions.exe file to run it. We expect that you know how to browse folders and run programs on a Windows system, since this site can't really offer detailed tuition on those subjects.

[Confusedfriend]

Yes but when I click Devices/Install Guest Additions nothing happens.

[Perryg]

Yes but when I click Devices/Install Guest Additions nothing happens.

This means that they are already mounted. So use the guests file manager and open the cd and run the command mpack gave you.

[mpack]

Yes but when I click Devices/Install Guest Additions nothing happens.

Actually something does happen: the virtual CD is connected to the VM. Now all you need to do is find it as described.

[Confusedfriend]

What do you mean open the cd? When I run the guest processor and click on run guest additions nothing is happening shouldn't a box come up with different additions I can run?

[Confusedfriend]

And I have already tried to do this all in safe mode.

[noteirak]

navigate to the virtual CD drive from inside the guest, view its contents, and double click the VBoxGuestAdditions.exe file to run it.

mpack told you everything already.

[mpack]

Nothing will happen automatically because your Win7 guest has been configured so that nothing will happen automatically. That is precisely your problem.

Stop clicking the "Install Guest Additions" menu item (once is enough). All you need do now is browse to the virtual CD inside the guest as I described above. I really can't think of a simpler way to describe it. If you don't know how to view folders in a Windows PC (right click start button, choose "Explore" - the CD is probably drive D), then perhaps you should ask a friend to help.

[Confusedfriend]

So I did all of this and could not find the VBoxGuestAdditions.exe does the WIn7 disc need to be in as well?

[Confusedfriend]

Alright so I went into the D: drive and found the VBOXGuestadditions however when I clicked on it it opened the contents and did not run like it is suppose to. So I then went through the files and could not get the additions to install I would get, "Extract: error writing to file"

[noteirak]

You should attach a screenshot of that.

[Confusedfriend]

Just of the error?