virtualbox.org

I have a Win 7-64 guest, and have the add-on extensions installed in the guest, so I have the ability to do seamless, resize, etc.

What I'd like to do is set the resolution dimensions inside the Guest OS to be a specific resolution (for instance 1280*720 at 32-bit). However, the only way to do this is to resize the window, then go into the graphic properties and see if I'm close, because the only resolutions shown in the guest OS graphic properties, are 800*600, 640*480, and whatever the resolution is that the screen is currently resized to (for instance 863*627)...

I've tried the nircmd.exe setdisplay function, but it appears to have been intercepted by VB's graphics driver?

Any shortcut way to do what I'm trying to do? (I'm trying to resize the interior dimensions of the Guest OS window for screen capture utilities)...

I've tried many times to do what you are tying to do (i.e. hit a specific display size), but no, I have to admit that I don't know of a faster way either.

In the past I used to be able to drag the window and the display properties would change dynamically, so at least I correct the size quickly enough. These days the dialog doesn't update until I let go the mouse, so it's a much slower trial and error process (*). Configuring a particular size in the .vbox file doesn't work either - the Windows guest overrides the display mode as it boots up.

(*) Once close, I make sure the edge of the window is overlapping a suitable icon on the host desktop, I can see how much of that icon is exposed as I adjust the window size, so I can get it to the exact pixel.

Thanks for the confirmation, mpack. I'll work around it.

Does 'VboxManage controlvm setvideomodehint' work in this case?

Try this inside the guest.
VBoxControl addcustommode 1280 720 32
VBoxControl setvideomode 1280 720 32
VBoxControl.exe resides in VirtualBox Guest Additions folder.

jorgensen wrote:Try this inside the guest.
VBoxControl addcustommode 1280 720 32
VBoxControl setvideomode 1280 720 32

Nice find, but strangely it doesn't seem to work for me in an XP guest I just tested. The tool claims to have worked, but the display size doesn't change. I rebooted the guest and it didn't change then either. There's barely a mention of the VBoxControl tool in the user manual. I also tried the "VBoxControl poweroff" command and got "not implemented" (another thread was looking for that recently).