Guest screen resolution constraint

[PSZ]

Hello,

With a Windows 8(.1) guest in windowed mode (as opposed to full-screen), I cannot set the screen resolution to a "wide" setting, e.g., 1280x720. I am constrainted to 4/3 resolution settings – the host has a full HD (1920x1080) monitor, and the guest uses it normally in full-screen mode. As I recall it, I didn't have that constraint with a Win7 guest.

Host: Windows 7 64-bit
Guests: Windows 8 64-bit and Windows 8.1 64-bit. Guest additions are installed.

[LSun]

I am encountering a similar or the same problem running Windows 8.1 guest on Mac OS X 10.9.2 host. The virtual display adaptor driver seems to support only 1024 by 768 resolution. When I go into full-screen mode, I would get a wide black order around the actual window display. I can get multiple display support, but each one shows only up to 1024 by 768. A Windows Vista guest on the same host, on the other hand, can use the full resolutions of the displays. I have experimented with various VM display / video settings without avail. The VitualBox documentation mentions setting display resolution under Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI), but it also says Windows guest is not able to boot up under VM's EFI implementation, so that is a moot point. I am wondering whether this screen resolution constraint is an implementation limitation, and we'll just have to wait for a future VM update to address it. I just updated to VM 4.3.10, and this situation remains.

[loukingjr]

I am encountering a similar or the same problem running Windows 8.1 guest on Mac OS X 10.9.2 host. The virtual display adaptor driver seems to support only 1024 by 768 resolution. When I go into full-screen mode, I would get a wide black order around the actual window display. I can get multiple display support, but each one shows only up to 1024 by 768. A Windows Vista guest on the same host, on the other hand, can use the full resolutions of the displays. I have experimented with various VM display / video settings without avail. The VitualBox documentation mentions setting display resolution under Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI), but it also says Windows guest is not able to boot up under VM's EFI implementation, so that is a moot point. I am wondering whether this screen resolution constraint is an implementation limitation, and we'll just have to wait for a future VM update to address it. I just updated to VM 4.3.10, and this situation remains.

It sounds like you never installed the guest additions.

[loukingjr]

Hello,

With a Windows 8(.1) guest in windowed mode (as opposed to full-screen), I cannot set the screen resolution to a "wide" setting, e.g., 1280x720. I am constrainted to 4/3 resolution settings – the host has a full HD (1920x1080) monitor, and the guest uses it normally in full-screen mode. As I recall it, I didn't have that constraint with a Win7 guest.

Host: Windows 7 64-bit
Guests: Windows 8 64-bit and Windows 8.1 64-bit. Guest additions are installed.

did you try just dragging the window to a wider size? mine is set to 1920x1080.

[LSun]

I am encountering a similar or the same problem running Windows 8.1 guest on Mac OS X 10.9.2 host. The virtual display adaptor driver seems to support only 1024 by 768 resolution. When I go into full-screen mode, I would get a wide black order around the actual window display. I can get multiple display support, but each one shows only up to 1024 by 768. A Windows Vista guest on the same host, on the other hand, can use the full resolutions of the displays. I have experimented with various VM display / video settings without avail. The VitualBox documentation mentions setting display resolution under Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI), but it also says Windows guest is not able to boot up under VM's EFI implementation, so that is a moot point. I am wondering whether this screen resolution constraint is an implementation limitation, and we'll just have to wait for a future VM update to address it. I just updated to VM 4.3.10, and this situation remains.

It sounds like you never installed the guest additions.

I have installed the guest additions and have updated it when I updated VirtualBox to 4.3.10. However, I remember that there were two versions of it on the disc image -amd64 and -x86, and I believe the installation automatically chose one. I am running a 64-bit version of Windows 8.1 guest, but my processor is an Intel, not AMD. So, is the -amd64 version meant to work on Intel machines too? Just to experiment, I reinstalled guest additions and explicitly selected each version in turn. With -amd64, my virtual screen resolution is limited to 1024 by 768, but with -x86, I can now have the use of my entire screen. Problem solved. Thanks for suggesting to look into the guest additions.

[loukingjr]

I have installed the guest additions and have updated it when I updated VirtualBox to 4.3.10. However, I remember that there were two versions of it on the disc image -amd64 and -x86, and I believe the installation automatically chose one. I am running a 64-bit version of Windows 8.1 guest, but my processor is an Intel, not AMD. So, is the -amd64 version meant to work on Intel machines too? Just to experiment, I reinstalled guest additions and explicitly selected each version in turn. With -amd64, my virtual screen resolution is limited to 1024 by 768, but with -x86, I can now have the use of my entire screen. Problem solved. Thanks for suggesting to look into the guest additions.

well, the amd64 file is for 64bit guests regardless if there are Intel or AMD processors on the host. The x86 file is for 32bit guests regardless.

[LSun]

Following up on my screen resolution problem... Although now I can have larger screen real estate, I see now I have the same problem PSZ reports. I can choose up to 1600 x 1200, but all four available choice are 4 x 3 ratios. Perhaps the -x86 guest additions are not quite right for 64-bit Windows 8 either.

[loukingjr]

first of all, did you install the guest additions in Safe Mode? if so, remove them in Safe mode. If not, remove them in Normal mode and reinstall the amd64 guest additions.

[LSun]

did you try just dragging the window to a wider size? mine is set to 1920x1080.

Dragging the window has no effect on the underlying resolution, and I see "Auto-resize Guest Display" is grayed out. I recall on running Windows Vista guest that "auto-resize" can make arbitrary screen dimensions, but here we are limited to 4 hard-coded choices. With the -amd64 guest additions, on the other hand, I had just the one choice of 1024 x 768.

[LSun]

first of all, did you install the guest additions in Safe Mode? if so, remove them in Safe mode. If not, remove them in Normal mode and reinstall the amd64 guest additions.

No, I did not go into Safe mode for anything.

[loukingjr]

I'm not sure what to tell you other than installing the amd64 guest additions. I am on a Mac host running OSX 10.9.2 and my Windows 8.1 guest has no limits on resolution. If you are sure you are running a 64bit version of 8.1 you should be using the amd64 version which is what I have installed. Also make sure Windows 8.1 (64bit) is selected in the VirtualBox settings and not Windows 8 (64bit).

One possibility I suppose is you have a permissions problem on your Mac and I don't see how but the guest additions might not be installing properly. try running repair permissions from Disk Utility. Reboot your Mac, reinstall the guest additions and see if that helps.

edit: I added a screenshot. Mine is running as I mentioned 1920x1080 on a 27" display

[LSun]

I am still relatively new to the Mac and have not looked into disk permissions before. I first performed Verify Disk Permissions and was surprised how many items it flagged - screenfuls.
I don't know how these things get out of whack. Then after performing Repair Disk Permissions, I re-installed amd64 Guest Additions, but I am back to where I started - 1024 x 768 with no other setting possibilities.

Well, at least I appreciate knowing that somebody else running the same host and guest OS's has no such screen resolution limitations. So, I just need to find the necessary solution. I verified that I indeed installed the 64-bit version of Windows 8.1, and this is correctly selected in the VirtualBox settings.

[loukingjr]

could you attach the vbox.log for your Windows 8.1 guest? Start virtualbox and right click on the vm in the left column, select Show Log, click save, name it whatever you like but add .log to the end of the name, save it somewhere convenient like the desktop.right click on the file and select Compress "name.log", then attach it here.

[LSun]

Thanks, loukingjr, for offering to look further into this. Attached is the log file from the most recent VBox session. I hope that will give a clue.

[loukingjr]

a few questions. in the VirtualBox settings for your 8.1 guest, are 2D and 3D enabled? your log says you have no 3D support.
is PAE enabled?
this might be a dumb question but, have you ever restarted the guest since you installed the guest additions? your log indicates your guest was suspended.
last question, how did you create your 8.1 guest? did you upgrade a previous W7 or W8 guest? or did you start from scratch? I'm asking because I see you have a snaphot.