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Greetings.

Virtualbox version: 5.02 r102096
Host: Windows 10 x64
Guest: Windows XP x86
Guest RAM: 192 MB (Target game only needed 32 MB)
Guest Extensions: Installed in XP safe mode, with 3D driver option
Log file: Attached as a zipped archive containing 1 text file (Note that "SP4" in the log/machine name is my own designation for XP with all updates installed, not an official Microsoft service pack.)

I am trying to use a virtual copy of XP to play an old game that cannot run under Windows 10 (or indeed, even 8/8.1) without display issues. The Sims 1, Complete Collection, released sometime in 2005.

The game does run, but the sound stutters massively. The Windows XP startup sound has the same stutter and lag, so I disabled it in control panel on the guest.

This should not be an issue on this host machine, as it has the following basic specifications:

- Intel Xeon E3-1225 v3 (Quad-core, 3.2 to 3.6 Ghz, Haswell-E based)
- 32 GB DDR3/1600 ECC RAM
- Nvidia GeForce 750 Ti (EVGA, SuperClocked)
- Windows 10 x64

Any ideas?

Guest RAM: 192 MB (Target game only needed 32 MB)

I would try setting the guest to 512MB. Although the game only required 32MB XP itself would run better with more.

loukingjr wrote:

Guest RAM: 192 MB (Target game only needed 32 MB)

I would try setting the guest to 512MB. Although the game only required 32MB XP itself would run better with more.

I tried your suggestion, but there was no change in the observed issues. Thanks for trying.

what are the audio settings for your XP guest? Did you try changing them?

You might want to try the current test build. https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Testbuilds

loukingjr wrote:what are the audio settings for your XP guest? Did you try changing them?

You might want to try the current test build. https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Testbuilds

No changes to the audio settings, still at default.



After I download the latest test build, how do I use it without affecting the version I have installed, and can I move my current VM guest over, or do I have to create another virtual hard drive, reinstall XP and the game, etc?

You can just install it over your current version. You need the matching extension pack as well. It won't affect your guests. You do have to install the new guest additions.

I have no problems with an XP guest on Windows 10 with the test build. Bear in mind it might be an issue with the game audio itself.

loukingjr wrote:You can just install it over your current version. You need the matching extension pack as well. It won't affect your guests. You do have to install the new guest additions.

I have no problems with an XP guest on Windows 10 with the test build. Bear in mind it might be an issue with the game audio itself.

The game (audio and all) has played fine on every other system I tried it on. Also, if you refer to my original post, the XP startup sound also stuttered similarly, so I disabled it to avoid having to hear it.

Before I install the test build over my current version, do I have to un-install the current guest additions in the guest OS? Then upgrade Virtualbox, reinstall the guest additions, and try the game again?

Before I install the test build over my current version, do I have to un-install the current guest additions in the guest OS? Then upgrade Virtualbox, reinstall the guest additions, and try the game again?

I don't. I just install the new GAs in the guest afterwards. In safe mode for XP to install the WDDM driver.

I don't have a problem with the start up sound.

loukingjr wrote:

Before I install the test build over my current version, do I have to un-install the current guest additions in the guest OS? Then upgrade Virtualbox, reinstall the guest additions, and try the game again?

I don't. I just install the new GAs in the guest afterwards. In safe mode for XP to install the WDDM driver.

I don't have a problem with the start up sound.

Sadly, the game still has massive audio lag and stuttering, even on the test build 5.0.3 b102467.

Sorry to hear. Are you playing the audio through anything other than your PC's built in speakers? If so, what?

loukingjr wrote:Sorry to hear. Are you playing the audio through anything other than your PC's built in speakers? If so, what?

Well, external speakers connected to my standard 3.5mm speaker out port, but that's it.

That shouldn't be a problem unless the cable or connectors are bad. I'm out of ideas. Hopefully someone else may have one.

loukingjr wrote:That shouldn't be a problem unless the cable or connectors are bad. I'm out of ideas. Hopefully someone else may have one.

As old as these speakers are (10, maybe 11 years?), they're decent for my needs, and work just fine in my Windows host and other previous machines.

Thanks for trying to help.

See if this thread helps you… viewtopic.php?f=2&t=69369

I was trying to do the same exact thing a couple of days ago... run the Sims Complete on XP and found the sound was horrible. I did some searching and read someone was having trouble with sound when the Guest Additions were installed. I uninstalled the GAs and the sound in the game is now flawless!

Edit: After uninstalling the GAs, I was prompted to install new hardware by Windows. I installed the Virtualbox video drivers that way, ran the game and had the same problem. So I disabled the device in Device Manager, rebooted and the game works again. I'm going to take a wild guess and say that it has something to do with the video driver.