Can you get a higher resolution?

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Windows hosts.
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mattig89ch
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Can you get a higher resolution?

Post by mattig89ch »

Hidy ho all,

I just set up a virtual machine in this program for the first time. My goal is to use this virutal machine to create an iso image we can use to troubleshoot computer problems.

Right now I'm just trying to get a higher resolution. I looked at the documentation, every time I enter: VBoxManage setextradata global GUI/MaxGuestResolution >1024,768< into the command line it says the syntax isn't correct. And there isn't any graphical options in the options pannel related to screen resolution. I'm trying to run ubnuntu 14.1 32 bit (I can't seem to run 64 bit os's on this work machine).

Is there any way to get a higher resolution?
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mpack
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Re: Can you get a higher resolution?

Post by mpack »

The guest chooses the display size it wants. Change it from inside the guest, after installing the Guest Additions.
loukingjr
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Re: Can you get a higher resolution?

Post by loukingjr »

mattig89ch wrote: I'm trying to run ubnuntu 14.1 32 bit (I can't seem to run 64 bit os's on this work machine).
As far as this part of your post, See:I have a 64bit host, but can't install 64bit guests

And as mpack explained, once the guest additions are installed in a guest, the guest can adjust to your host's resolution.
OSX, Linux and Windows Hosts & Guests
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scottgus1
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Re: Can you get a higher resolution?

Post by scottgus1 »

According to the manual, section 9.8.2, this command unlocks the guest's max resolution so it can go beyond the host screen size, for, say, if you want to remote in from a PC with a larger screen than your host has:

Code: Select all

VBoxManage setextradata global GUI/MaxGuestResolution any
Don't forget that with Windows hosts, to use Vboxmanage, you have to do one of these to get the command to work:
1. set your command prompt folder to the folder Vboxmanage.exe is in.
2. type the entire path to Vboxmanage if you don't want to change the command prompt folder.
3. put the path to Vboxmanage in your PATH environment variable. (I do the third one myself).
mpack
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Re: Can you get a higher resolution?

Post by mpack »

Or 4) create a VBoxManage.bat file, and put it somewhere on your existing path, e.g. C:\Windows (I do this one myself).

VBoxManage.bat :-

Code: Select all

@echo off
"c:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxManage.exe" %*
mattig89ch
Posts: 39
Joined: 18. Feb 2015, 22:29
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: Windows7x64, Win 98SE, Android, WinXP
Location: Burlington NC

Re: Can you get a higher resolution?

Post by mattig89ch »

Sorry for this late reply. I haven't had time to turn on Virtual box for a bit of time.

You all talk about guest additions as if it is its own separate program/addon. Where does one get a hold of this addon?
mpack
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Posts: 39134
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Re: Can you get a higher resolution?

Post by mpack »

It's not an addon, it is bundled with the VirtualBox standard download and consists of an ISO containing a bunch of drivers that you can install inside support guest operating system, i.e. after you install the guest OS itself. The GAs include a higher res graphics driver.

For details, see the user manual, chapter 4.
mattig89ch
Posts: 39
Joined: 18. Feb 2015, 22:29
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: Windows7x64, Win 98SE, Android, WinXP
Location: Burlington NC

Re: Can you get a higher resolution?

Post by mattig89ch »

Is this a custom iso you have to download?
mpack
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Re: Can you get a higher resolution?

Post by mpack »

mpack wrote:It's not an addon, it is bundled with the VirtualBox standard download and consists of an ISO containing a bunch of drivers that you can install inside support guest operating system, i.e. after you install the guest OS itself. The GAs include a higher res graphics driver.
mattig89ch
Posts: 39
Joined: 18. Feb 2015, 22:29
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: Windows7x64, Win 98SE, Android, WinXP
Location: Burlington NC

Re: Can you get a higher resolution?

Post by mattig89ch »

Oh, I get it now. Didn't see the last part of that "after you install the guest OS itself". Where do I get these ISO(s) with the drivers? I checked the website itself, I didn't see it there.
Martin
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Re: Can you get a higher resolution?

Post by Martin »

mpack wrote:For details, see the user manual, chapter 4.
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