virtualbox.org

VB version 4.3.12
No guest additions (AFAIK)
Host: Windows 7 Enterprise
Guest: Linux 2.6/3.x
Memory: 8GB host, 4GB guest
Guest log file attached

The error I'm getting is "no bootable medium found". I'm trying to boot off the hard disk. I get the same message whether the boot order is just HD, or includes floppy and CD.

I don't know if this is relevant, but I also get a warning that some audio files, PCM_in, and PCM_mic, aren't loadable.

Moved to "Linux Guests".

If you get that error message then it means what it says: none of the virtual disks attached to the VM contain a bootable OS. Did you install one?

How on earth do you do that? It's not an option when you create a new machine (at least not with Linux 2.6 and VDI).

Actually, if you make no manual changes then on first run the VM creation wizard does prompt for the install CD or ISO to install an OS from.

If you break out of the wizard, i.e. by going into the VM settings before the wizard launches, then you are expected to know how to manipulate the settings yourself, e.g. how to use the Storage section to attach an install CD to the VM.

Read section 1.7 of the user manual, Creating your first Virtual Machine.

Well, I just worked through the wizard again and got no prompt asking where to boot from.
Truthfully I had assumed that the disk image would contain what is needed to boot. Do I need something separate?
I did read 1.7 (before and after) and did not attempt to break out of the wizard.

Please remember that I'm hosting on Windows so a lot of things are probably FUBAR.

VirtualBox simulates the hardware of a PC, it doesn't come with pre-built OS's to use. You have to install the guest OS yourself, just as you would if you home-built your own PC. The OS installer will come on a CD or DVD. You can use that (map a host CD/DVD drive into the guest using the VM Storage settings), or better yet use an ISO image of said CD/DVD. ISO images are quieter, can't have bad sectors, or be interfered with by host OS.

The source of the CD/DVD/ISO depends on what the OS is. Linux etc have ISO downloads for specific distros (Ubuntu, Mint etc). Windows is commercial copyrighted software and you have to buy a license.

One final tip: reduce the RAM allocation in your VM to 2GB max. Your host can't afford 4GB+ for one app.

It works now. I installed an Ubuntu ISO file. Then I had to open up the 3rd-party VM (made in Ubuntu), re-check "CD/DVD" in the boot order, and then *after* starting the VM and letting it open, I went to the Device menu and selected the Ubuntu ISO as the CD.

Thank you! I appreciate your taking the time to watch over me.

I had assumed that the booter would be part of any VM. I had switched to a boot order of HD only, precisely because I didn't have a CD or floppy.

I now finally find this discussion in 1.8.1. It should probably be mentioned in 1.7 as well, where you also thought it would be.

PS It is clearly running Ubuntu, but also has a tempting "Install Ubuntu" icon on the desktop. Do I want to do that?

tilling wrote:PS It is clearly running Ubuntu, but also has a tempting "Install Ubuntu" icon on the desktop. Do I want to do that?

Yes, if you want your changes to "stick". What you have running right now is called a LiveCD. It's a chance to explore a new operating system without affecting your real one. And by "real one" I don't mean a virtual machine, since you do not have anything yet installed in your virtual machine. I mean your actual computer and hard drive. But since you're running Ubuntu in a virtual machine, you can experiment and learn all you want, without any danger of affecting your real system. Aren't VMs a blessing?

To clarify: you still haven't installed Linux. You're currently running it in a test drive mode, where it boots every time from CD. Go ahead and click the install option, which will install it on the VM's virtual hd. Otherwise none of the changes you make will be permanent.