Resolution Problem, Win XP guest on Win 8 Host

[Fleymen]

I have problems to get a Win XP virtual machine using a full HD screen on an HP laptop. The Laptop runs 1920*1080, but the Guest won't accept that resolution. The resolutions offered are 1600*1200 and 2400*1350 - the latter is much to highres for the screen, the fonts aren't really readable, but the next smaller resolution does not use the full screen.

I've already tried to set the resolution via VBoxManage setextradata, but this does not work, the resolutions don't show up. Changing the resolution via Controlvm "Name" setvideomodehint kind of works, but it just changes the used pixel, so I have a big black frame, and the fonts are as small as before.

The guest files are installed, all versions are actual. The guest works on a different machine in full HD without problems. Any ideas?

[Fleymen]

Log file.

I've tried normal, 2D accelerated and 3d, no differences.

[mpack]

Giving 4GB to 32bit guest can cause problems - you should reduce the RAM allocation to 2GB at most. In fact 1GB is plenty.

You still have the GAs ISO in the virtual CD drive. I would eject that.

In point of fact you can't change the VM resolution - scale mode aside, it always has the same resolution (dpi) as the host. You can however set the display size, including setting it to exact size you want by dragging the window border.

Btw, 2D and 3D acceleration have nothing to do with display size. 2D lets you watch movies (video overlay), 3D acceleration lets you play some games (3d shading).

[Fleymen]

The guest does not have the same dpi as the host. The host runs 1920*1080, the guest runs 2400*1350, which is more than the screen can do without scaling.

[loukingjr]

I think that's why some companies talk about ppi rather than dpi. My MacBook is 2304 x 1440 @ 226 ppi.

[mpack]

It's the same thing. pixels per inch, dots per inch. The latter term came from the printing industry, but is widely used in computing too - more so than ppi (which I rarely see).

Resolution = the number of pixels per unit length. Count off the pixels along one axis and divide by the physical length of that axis, in whatever units you prefer.

If you increase the dimension and the number of pixels scales linearly then you have not changed the resolution. But, for some reason people esp on this site abuse this term a lot. It's almost as misused as the word "bitmap".

[loukingjr]

I think the switch for some is because of the HIDPI/Retina screens. A numbers game. But yes, I agree that if I run a guest on my MacBook it will have the same resolution. I have no idea why the OP thinks they are different.

[loukingjr]

@Fleymen, assuming the guest additions are installed properly, i.e. in safe mode for XP, seeing your laptop runs at 1920x1080, if you switch the guest to full screen (Host+F), the guest will be at 1920x1080. You don't need to select an option for 1920x1080.

you will have to undo what you've tried of course…

I've already tried to set the resolution via VBoxManage setextradata, but this does not work, the resolutions don't show up. Changing the resolution via Controlvm "Name" setvideomodehint kind of works, but it just changes the used pixel, so I have a big black frame, and the fonts are as small as before.