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Can't upgrade Windows 8.1 guest to Windows 10

Posted: 5. Sep 2015, 17:12
by apfelman
Hi, I am using Virtual Box 5.0.2 on a Mac with OS X 10.10.5 Yosemite.

Installed VirtualMachine runs Windows 8.1 64-Bit with all latest Updates. I want to upgrade to Windows 10 via the Microsoft App inside of Windows 8.1. App told me the machine would be compatible with Win 10 before it was available, now it does not upgrade.

Error message: "VirtualBox Graphics Adapter for Windows 8" is not compatible with Windows 10

I tried the current VirtualBox 5.0.3 preview with the newest Guest Additions but it did not change anything, update will not load.

Also I tried to change the chipset emulation to ICH9 and activated 2D/3D-Accelerators, increased video memory etc. – no success.

Setting the "VirtualMachine" to Windows 10 in the basic settings does not help either.

Is there any place I can change the graphics card emulation and set it to a Win 10-compatible mode?


Any ideas? thx & best regards from Germany

Re: Can't upgrade Windows 8.1 guest to Windows 10

Posted: 5. Sep 2015, 18:19
by mpack
Uninstall the Guest Additions from inside the guest. Then shut the VM down completely (not saved state). Set the guest OS type (in the VM settings) to "Windows 10 (64 bit)". Boot up and upgrade. When the upgrade is complete, reinstall the Guest Additions.

Re: Can't upgrade Windows 8.1 guest to Windows 10

Posted: 9. Sep 2015, 18:14
by apfelman
Thank you for the reply mpack.

Unfortunately, it does not work.

After following your tutorial, I still get the error message. In the Windows system preferences, I get the error that something with the graphics card driver in the registry is broken and Windows ist not able to fix it. Code 19 (See screenshot attached)

"VirtualBox Device" and "VirtualBox Graphics Adapter for Windows 8" are marked als "problems"

I tried another way, to upgrade via the media creationtool. Then the installer refuses to operate due to not enough space - it does not recognize the VirtualBox dynamically growing VDI as big enough :-(

Any other ideas?

Re: Can't upgrade Windows 8.1 guest to Windows 10

Posted: 9. Sep 2015, 18:31
by apfelman
I just realized that the windows 10 upgrade app quotes the last testing of the PC was on 08/04/2015 - is there maybe a way of resetting and retesting this?