Windows Guest device manager not working

Discussions about using Windows guests in VirtualBox.
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superjacent
Posts: 10
Joined: 2. May 2009, 16:13
Primary OS: MS Windows Vista
VBox Version: OSE Fedora
Guest OSses: Linux

Windows Guest device manager not working

Post by superjacent »

My host is Windows 7 64 bit computer. My virtual machine is Windows Vista. All I'm getting is a little rectangle with the guest operating system inside that. Can not resize little rectangle window to full screen.

On reading docs about the Guest additions, it's not working. From inside the guest Vista system, clicking Devices - Insert Guest additions, nothing happens. No dialog window appears to select whatever file I'm suppose to select.

What am I doing wrong?
Steve
socratis
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Posts: 27329
Joined: 22. Oct 2010, 11:03
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Win(*>98), Linux*, OSX>10.5
Location: Greece

Re: Windows Guest device manager not working

Post by socratis »

Chapter 4.2.1.Guest Additions for Windows. From paragraph 4.2.1.1:
A Windows guest should then automatically start the Guest Additions installer, which installs the Guest Additions into your Windows guest. Other guest operating systems (or if automatic start of software on CD is disabled) need manual start of the installer.
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superjacent
Posts: 10
Joined: 2. May 2009, 16:13
Primary OS: MS Windows Vista
VBox Version: OSE Fedora
Guest OSses: Linux

Re: Windows Guest device manager not working

Post by superjacent »

Thanks.

I don't understand why this aspect is so convoluted, why can't it just be a part of the install process (automatic) and be done with it. Anyway, all fixed.

Thanks.
Steve
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39134
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Windows Guest device manager not working

Post by mpack »

How can it be part of the install process? The guest OS doesn't exist when you install VirtualBox.
superjacent
Posts: 10
Joined: 2. May 2009, 16:13
Primary OS: MS Windows Vista
VBox Version: OSE Fedora
Guest OSses: Linux

Re: Windows Guest device manager not working

Post by superjacent »

mpack wrote:How can it be part of the install process? The guest OS doesn't exist when you install VirtualBox.
Yes, you are quite right, but what is preventing some automatic procedure after install of the operating system? In 99.99% of cases, if not 100% of cases, it's going to be done anyway.
Steve
Perryg
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Re: Windows Guest device manager not working

Post by Perryg »

That was tried years ago and it turns out that most "paying" customers didn't want it. Also there were issues that since there are so many different version, build, Etc of VirtualBox not to mention the amount of different guest OSes it was a nightmare to control and keep it working properly. There was also a security issue and one that I believe caused the demise of the automatic GA installs.
superjacent
Posts: 10
Joined: 2. May 2009, 16:13
Primary OS: MS Windows Vista
VBox Version: OSE Fedora
Guest OSses: Linux

Re: Windows Guest device manager not working

Post by superjacent »

Perryg wrote:That was tried years ago and it turns out that most "paying" customers didn't want it. Also there were issues that since there are so many different version, build, Etc of VirtualBox not to mention the amount of different guest OSes it was a nightmare to control and keep it working properly. There was also a security issue and one that I believe caused the demise of the automatic GA installs.
I thought there was probably some logical reason behind it.
Steve
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