virtualbox.org

This is actually a more general question, but I'm not sure how much more general.

After installation of the guest OS, we are supposed to take out the Live CD sometime around reboot. My simple question is why and when do we do this? Also, is this a Linux thing, or do other/most OS's require it as well, and why do different distros treat the timing differently (when to eject)?

I heard about this from my teacher when my Ubuntu & Fedora kept noticing the Live CD & not noticing the files I already installed; I wasn't able to use Guest Additions or anything until I installed it again. I couldn't find info many places online, either, at least not in relation to VirtualBox, so I was getting frustrated. Now all I'm frustrated by is that I can't find MORE info about it, so thanks in advance for the help.

I don't think I need to put info about my OS's, but ask if you think I'm wrong.

The question is a misnomer. A live CD is one where you run the software directly off the CD - it doesn't need to be installed. It can usually be used indefinitely like that, though there may also be an option to permanently install. If you use the permanent installation option then you generally remove the CD when it tells you to, which is usually right before it resets.

I meant during installation of the Live CD to the hard drive, however that works. Usually I get the ISO from the distro's website then install it to the hard drive when given the option, then keep the Live ISO on my computer in case I want another VM with the same OS. I couldn't think of a better name.

Why does the Live CD program seem to be the only thing on the OS if you do it wrong & don't take out the CD before reboot? This is what really confuses me. There seems to be nothing else on the VM, the only user is "live-user" or equivalent, no files except those of the CD, etc. I can't get to the partitions I just created.

If you prefer to run as a Live CD the enable was put it to *NOT* remove it. Some OSes seem to want to remove the live cd after a run as they were intended to be used as an install.

The ease with which you can install various guest OS's is really something you should take up on their forums. The installation procedure is the same on VirtualBox as it is on any other PC, so VBox doesn't impose any special requirements.

Just to add to what has already been said. Some OS's eject the CD after an install, some don't. It's just a matter of what they believe is convenient for a user. If a live cd is not ejected before reboot of course one would end up booting into the live cd again.