Vista x86 SP2 installation crashes VirtualBox

[FrontierDK]

Hi there

I'm using the latest VirtualBox and I have installed both 7 and XP VMs in the last couple of days and I haven't had any issues.

However..I have just downloaded a Vista x86 SP2 ISO from MSDN and when I start the Vista SP2 installation...the Vista crashes 20 seconds after boot - before I even get any dialogs etc. I have tried changing just about all settings...no difference. Latest vbox file included to this message...

Has anyone else experienced this?

[socratis]

You attached the Vista.vbox, not the VBox.log file, but I still was able to make a couple of observations:

1. You have manually set the CMPXCHG16B flag. Why? It is typically used only for > Win8 guests.
2. You have attached a second HD, with the same name, on a different host hard drive (G:). You really need two HDs at installation? You could have simply selected to create the HD in the G: drive when you first setup the guest.
3. You have chosen to go with a VHD instead of a VDI. Any good reason why?
4. You have enabled IO/APIC and PAE. Was this because you were mocking around with the settings? The default template does not have them enabled.
5. You have changed the pointing device from "USB Tablet" to "PS/2 Mouse".
6. You have changed the default disk controller from IDE to SATA. Why?
7. A search for 'en_windows_vista_with_sp2_x86_dvd_342266.iso' returns torrent results. Did you actually download this from MSDN? The 'UK OEM' label in your VM name is a bit suspicious...

I would start with a fresh VM, accept the defaults and take it from there.

[FrontierDK]

1: It was a long shot - had to try out all I could...
2: Just manually edited the .vbox file and saw the second HDD (not seen in the GUI). Removed it, no difference.
3: I'm using .VHD because they can be compacted using Virtual PC 2007. Works fine with my WinXP + Win7 + Win8 VirtualBox VMs.
4: Correct.
5: Using PS2 for pre-OS mouse support. Works fine with XP+Win7+Win8 VirtualBox VMs.
6: Using S-ATA due to large HDD support. I want to avoid sector translation problems.
7: Yes, my place of work is a Microsoft silver partner and I have both MSDN and VL access. We use MSDN images on a daily basis to install OEM products too. Works fine
with Vista and newer on normal PC and VPC 2007.

And...a bonus 8 - log files has been attached.

[socratis]

I took a look at your logs and I didn't see anything suspicious. Have you tried the last suggestion, i.e. start with a fresh VM and stick with the defaults.

[NickPapagiorgio]

I also stumbled across this problem while experimenting with Windows Vista. Looks like SATA CD Drives only work with together with Virtualbox 4.2.24 but not with 4.3.0 onwards.
It is easily reproducible just by boot the setup cd. As soon as the setup goes into the "colourful" mode Virtualbox Manager crashes. All other windows OS (XP, 7, 8.1) work with SATA CD drives without problems.

[mpack]

In that case it would be best to raise a BugTracker ticket to describe this problem. In the meantime the workaround would be to move the virtual hdd onto the IDE controller and delete the SATA controller from the VM recipe prior to installing the guest OS.

p.s. For future reference, four logs are not better than a single log that shows the problem. There's no point in wasting space on the server.

[socratis]

There was a similar bug (12417) that was fixed in 4.3.8 just recently. Maybe it was not fixed "thoroughly"?

@NickPapagiorgio : Have you tried with 4.3.8?

[NickPapagiorgio]

I have tried it with 4.3.8 as well. Also resulting in a crash. SATA crashes for CD drives only. HDDs are fine.

[FrontierDK]

Moving the CD/DVD drive to an IDE controller fixed the problem - thanks for the help!