virtualbox.org

Im trying to install kali in virtualbox. Initially I tried to change the video resolution and only had options for 1024x768 and 800x600. I researched online and it said to fix this I had to install guest additions. So I followed the instructions in the kali documentation on how to install guest additions and when I rebooted at the end the virtual machine no longer saw my mouse or keyboard(they are a wireless set using a single usb dongle). In the menu under devices>usb devices it does list my keyboard and mouse dongle but if I click on it not only does my mouse and keyboard not work in the virtual machine it also doesn't work on my main system. If I restart my computer my mouse and keyboard work again until I start the virtual machine again.
I deleted the virtual machine and reinstalled but now I am still stuck on a 1024x768 resolution window which makes it difficult to do the work I planned on doing(network/security programming).

How can I fix this problem?

vrek wrote:How can I fix this problem?

Install the Guest Additions again, but disable 3D acceleration in the guest settings and see if that "fixes" it. Also, do not add any USB filters for your mouse and/or keyboard, because as you found out, your host is going to lose them.

That seems to fixed it. That is a weird combination though, to have 3d acceleration interfere with mouse and keyboard interface. Why did that fix it or is this just a known bug?

Well, you had two things going...

1) Not seeing the cursor in a guest is an issue that has come up before and the graphics driver might be responsible in combination with the specific kernel and X server used. That's why I suggested disabling 3D in your VM.

2) You were capturing the keyboard and mouse in the VM, thus preventing your host from using them. Deleting any generic USB filters and not capturing keyboard-mouse at run-time allowed your host to remain in control of the hardware.