[SOLVED] Cannot install guest additions 4.1.28 on XP guest

[marmel]

On multiple host systems (Debian 7.2, Arch Linux, Ubuntu 12.04.3) the installer fails, and I receive exactly the same error:

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ERROR: Unable to locate DIFxAPI.dll!
ERROR: Could not install files for Windows 2000 / XP / Vista! Installation aborted.

when trying to install guest additions 4.1.28 in various XP Pro guest instances after upgrading to Virtualbox 4.1.28.

Installing from the VBoxGuestAdditions_4.1.26.iso image continues to work properly, and this is the first time in years I've encountered any issue with Vbox. As you can tell, I keep on the ultra-conservative releases, specifically to keep my VM's as stable as possible.

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Output folder: C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox Guest Additions
Version: 4.1.28 (Rev 89849)
Previous version: 4.1.26 (Rev 84997)
Detected OS: Windows XP (32-bit)
System Directory: C:\WINDOWS\system32
Output folder: C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox Guest Additions
Extract: DIFxAPI.dll... 100%
Extract: VBoxDrvInst.exe... 100%
Extract: VBoxVideo.inf... 100%
Extract: VBoxVideo.cat... 100%
Extract: iexplore.ico... 100%
Output folder: C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox Guest Additions
Stopping VBoxService ...
Stopping VBoxService done.
Stopping VBoxTray ...
Stopping VBoxTray done.
Output folder: C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox Guest Additions
Extract: VBoxVideo.sys... 100%
Extract: VBoxDisp.dll... 100%
Extract: VBoxMouse.sys... 100%
Extract: VBoxMouse.inf... 100%
Extract: VBoxMouse.cat... 100%
Extract: VBoxGuest.sys... 100%
Extract: VBoxGuest.inf... 100%
Extract: VBoxGuest.cat... 100%
Extract: VBoxTray.exe... 100%
Extract: VBoxControl.exe... 100%
Extract: VBoxWHQLFake.exe... 100%
Output folder: C:\WINDOWS\system32
Extract: VBoxService.exe... 100%
Create folder: C:\DOCUME~1\Home\LOCALS~1\Temp\VBoxGuestAdditions\VBoxOGL
Extract: C:\WINDOWS\system32\VBoxOGLarrayspu.dll... 100%
Extract: C:\WINDOWS\system32\VBoxOGLcrutil.dll... 100%
Extract: C:\WINDOWS\system32\VBoxOGLerrorspu.dll... 100%
Extract: C:\WINDOWS\system32\VBoxOGLpackspu.dll... 100%
Extract: C:\WINDOWS\system32\VBoxOGLpassthroughspu.dll... 100%
Extract: C:\WINDOWS\system32\VBoxOGLfeedbackspu.dll... 100%
Extract: C:\WINDOWS\system32\VBoxOGL.dll... 100%
Extract: C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\VBoxSF.sys... 100%
Skipped: C:\WINDOWS\system32\VBoxMRXNP.dll
Extract: C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox Guest Additions\nsg6.tmp... 100%
Rename on reboot: C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox Guest Additions\nsg6.tmp->C:\WINDOWS\system32\VBoxMRXNP.dll
Extract: C:\WINDOWS\system32\VBoxHook.dll... 100%
Installing drivers ...
Output folder: C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox Guest Additions
Installing guest driver ...
ERROR: Unable to locate DIFxAPI.dll!
ERROR: Could not install files for Windows 2000 / XP / Vista! Installation aborted.

[noteirak]

Can't find exactly what this dll is about, but maybe you are just missing some windows update? or a release pack?
Being ultra conservative might be your issue here, as you could be missing some components. But I am only speculating here.

[marmel]

Thank you for replying. The dll in question is indeed found in C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox Guest Additions, making the error more confusing.

In regard to the guests, they are clean installs from the XP Pro SP3 image, fully updated with all imporant Windows Updates. They serve just one purpose: Internet Explorer.

As mentioned, there was no issue with 4.1.26, 4.1.24, etc. I was frankly surprised to see a recent maintenance release for the 4.1.x branch.

I think at this point, I would move all Vbox instances to the 4.2.x series, but 4.2.18 Guest Additions installer displays the exact same error behavior. I am guessing they've made packaging/script changes to the GA installation. I can review the code, but wanted to see if anyone else was experiencing this before pursuing a bug report.

[noteirak]

Not sure what can be done more. Might be a good idea now to use the Bugtracker. Check if there isn't a ticket already open for this issue.

[marmel]

Yes, thanks. I likely will file a bug report as this is also affecting 4.2.18 guest additions.

Looking into it further it may be a result of the refactor in VBoxDrvInst.cpp (revision 46745) to accept unicode passed to loadInstalledDll(). It's always returning null.
https://www.virtualbox.org/changeset/46 ... rvInst.cpp

But without compiling/testing, this is just a guess based on function purpose and changeset timeframe.

[marmel]

Marking as solved. Simply copying the DIFxAPI.dll file from the guest additions target directory to %WINDIR%\system32 prior to running the installation script allows the guest additions installer to complete successfully.

[Andres2007]

Thanks. Very helpful

[computermaniac]

I also have the same problem, but with version 4.1.44.

Is there any simple way to solve this?