cannot install extension pack after updating to version 4.3.

[rvboutin]

Hi,
Updating to version 4.3.8-92456 from 4.3.6-91406 works fine in Ubuntu 12.04LTS, but I cannot install the extension pack in Windows 7 host system. I got the following message:

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Échec de l'installation de l'extension (=fail to install extension pack) C:/Users/herve/Downloads/Oracle Virtualbox/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-4.3.8-92456.vbox-extpack.

Failed to launch the helper application 'C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox/VBoxExtPackHelperApp.exe' (VERR_INVALID_UTF16_ENCODING).

Code d'erreur : VBOX_E_IPRT_ERROR (0x80BB0005)
Composant : ExtPackManager
Interface : IExtPackManager {3295e6ce-b051-47b2-9514-2c588bfe7554}

Edit:
I also got the following error when trying to run the Windows XP guest:

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Échec de l'ouverture de session pour la machine virtuelle (=fail to open virtual machine) Windows_XP_32bit_Win7Host.
Could not launch a process for the machine 'Windows_XP_32bit_Win7Host' (VERR_INVALID_UTF16_ENCODING).
Code d'erreur : VBOX_E_IPRT_ERROR (0x80BB0005)
Composant : Machine
Interface : IMachine {480cf695-2d8d-4256-9c7c-cce4184fa048}

I tried to uninstall completely Virtualbox, run the install from command line and try the various suggestions mentioned here: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=46861
I believe that this is a bug specific to the Windows version of Virtualbox 4.3.8-92456.
Looking forward to reading any suggestion to solve this issue.
Cheers,
Rv

[Perryg]

Updating to version 4.3.8-92456 from 4.3.6-91406 works fine in Ubuntu 12.04LTS, but I cannot install the extension pack in Windows 7 host system

One of us is confused.
You have this under a windows host section, but you say you upgraded the Linux host and all went well. Except when you try to install the Extension Pack in a Windows host.
Next the error message about a missing helper app means that VirtualBox is not installed.

Can you clarify this some? If the host is Linux that is where the ExtPack goes. Guest additions are installed in the guest, just in case that matters to you.

[rvboutin]

Sorry for the confusion. I am running Virtualbox on both Ubuntu and Windows7 as hosts. I was just saying this to emphasize that the upgrade went well in Ubuntu but that upgrading to Virtualbox 4.3.8-92456 from 4.3.6-91406 on Windows 7 causes the problem I mentioned.
Basically, all the error messages I mentioned are happening only in Windows 7.
Cheers,
Rv

[Pruxo]

I have the same issue
Windows 7 64 Bits
Virtualbox version 4.3.8 R 92456

I install it with the extension but starts to sendme a message
with VM which was working fine:

Fallo al abrir una sesión para la máquina virtual ETLIPC.

Could not launch a process for the machine 'ETLIPC' (VERR_INVALID_UTF16_ENCODING).

Código Resultado: VBOX_E_IPRT_ERROR (0x80BB0005)
Componente: Machine
Interfaz: IMachine {480cf695-2d8d-4256-9c7c-cce4184fa048}

I delete the VM fully and uninstall virtual box, install it again and when try to install extension pack send me this message:

package already installed

try to reinstall and send me this message:

Fallo al instalar el paquete de extensión C:/Users/Usr/Downloads/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-4.3.8-92456.vbox-extpack.

Failed to launch the helper application 'C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox/VBoxExtPackHelperApp.exe' (VERR_INVALID_UTF16_ENCODING).

Código Resultado: VBOX_E_IPRT_ERROR (0x80BB0005)
Componente: ExtPackManager
Interfaz: IExtPackManager {3295e6ce-b051-47b2-9514-2c588bfe7554}

Thanks

[Pruxo]

Downgrade to 4.3.6 R91406
Solve the problem

regards.

[rvboutin]

Hi,
OK thanks for your reply, I thought about this, but that's not ideal for me because I run that Windows XP VM from Windows 7 or Ubuntu depending which system I booted from. It usually works fine, and as I said earlier the upgrade went fine in Ubuntu, so the extension pack drivers are already installed in the VM. I don't think it will work very well if I run Virtualbox 4.3.8 R91406 in Windows 7 with the extension pack drivers v 4.3.8 R 92456 installed on the VM... Downgrading in both Ubuntu and Windows 7 hosts is more a get around fix than a bug fix.
Thanks for your reply anyway.
Rv

[socratis]

1) The extension pack does not install anything on the guest. It enables "things" on the host.
2) I assume you tried to re-download the extension pack or that you checked the SHA256 or the MD5 checksums.
3) Both of you are running non-English versions (one French, one Italian). Couple that with the VERR_INVALID_UTF16_ENCODING error and it may point to something totally different (don't know what yet).

[rvboutin]

Hi,
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Yes I did download several time the extension pack and check the checksums. Thanks for clarifying things about the extension pack, as I thought that the extension pack on the VM and virtualbox should be identical. I tried to run the VM (with Ext. Pack 4.3.8 R 92456) and Virtualbox 4.3.6 R 91406, and everything works fine, so I'll keep it like this for now on my Windows 7 host.
Cheers,
Rv

[rvboutin]

Update:
The problem still persists with VirtualBox version 4.3.10-93012, same error message caused by VBoxExtPackHelperApp.exe.
Error if trying to uninstall previous extension pack:

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Échec du désinstallation de l'extension Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack.
Failed to launch the helper application 'C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox/VBoxExtPackHelperApp.exe' (VERR_INVALID_UTF16_ENCODING).
Code d'erreur : VBOX_E_IPRT_ERROR (0x80BB0005)
Composant : ExtPackManager
Interface : IExtPackManager {3295e6ce-b051-47b2-9514-2c588bfe7554}

And error if trying to install the new one:

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Échec de l'installation de l'extension C:/Users/herve/Downloads/Oracle Virtualbox/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-4.3.10-93012.vbox-extpack.
Failed to launch the helper application 'C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox/VBoxExtPackHelperApp.exe' (VERR_INVALID_UTF16_ENCODING).
Code d'erreur : VBOX_E_IPRT_ERROR (0x80BB0005)
Composant : ExtPackManager
Interface : IExtPackManager {3295e6ce-b051-47b2-9514-2c588bfe7554}

EDIT: I try fixing this by removing the whole content of the following folder: C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\ExtensionPacks\Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack and extracting and replacing it by the content of the extension pack 4.3.10-93012. Virtualbox start normally and now report the right Extension Pack, but the VM refuses to start with the following error:

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Échec de l'ouverture de session pour la machine virtuelle Windows_XP_32bit_Win7Host.
Could not launch a process for the machine 'Windows_XP_32bit_Win7Host' (VERR_INVALID_UTF16_ENCODING).
Code d'erreur : VBOX_E_IPRT_ERROR (0x80BB0005)
Composant : Machine
Interface : IMachine {480cf695-2d8d-4256-9c7c-cce4184fa048}

I had to go back to version 4.3.6 to get things working again. It would be nice if this could be fixed soon.
Cheers,
Rv

[rvboutin]

Hi,
OK problem is still not fix on Virtualbox 4.3.12 which means I am stuck with 4.3.6.... I hope that this will be looked at in the future release.
Am I the only one with this problem??
Cheers,
Rv

[loomchild]

I had the same problem and was able to fix it by re-encoding the .vbox file to UTF16. See my comment 4 on the ticket #12842 for more details (sorry, can't post links here).

[frank]

As written in the ticket I would really appreciate if an affected user could attach such a settings file before (after changing a VM setting) and after converting it to UTF16.