Windows 10 guest - screen resolutions & scrolling

[maker675]

In the manual it says:

9.8.1. Custom VESA resolutions

Apart from the standard VESA resolutions, the VirtualBox VESA BIOS allows you to add up to 16 custom video modes which will be reported to the guest operating system. When using Windows guests with the VirtualBox Guest Additions, a custom graphics driver will be used instead of the fallback VESA solution so this information does not apply.

Is that a polite way of saying that we can't set Custom resolutions for a Windows 10 guest on an El Capitan host?

If not, is there a way to scroll in full screen mode? Meaning, if I set a resolution that fits nicely horizontally but that is too high in the vertical direction for my Macbook Pro 13 inch screen, if I DO NOT go full screen I can use the scroll bars to move the window up and down. But in Full Screen mode there are no toolbars. I can't figure a way to scroll either with trackpad or with keystrokes? If I bought a Windows scroll-wheel mouse would that do it?

[loukingjr]

Is that a polite way of saying that we can't set Custom resolutions for a Windows 10 guest on an El Capitan host?

No, that was written before El Capitan was a twinkle in Apple's eye.

If not, is there a way to scroll in full screen mode? Meaning, if I set a resolution that fits nicely horizontally but that is too high in the vertical direction for my Macbook Pro 13 inch screen, if I DO NOT go full screen I can use the scroll bars to move the window up and down. But in Full Screen mode there are no toolbars. I can't figure a way to scroll either with trackpad or with keystrokes? If I bought a Windows scroll-wheel mouse would that do it?

Having scroll bars in Full Screen defeats the whole purpose of using Full Screen. Full Screen is used to set the guest resolution to that of the host. An OS running natively on it's host does not have scroll bars. If for whatever reason you are just fond of scroll bars, run the guest in windowed mode and maximize the window.

[maker675]

Great!

So I can just install Guest Additions and setup custom resolutions for Windows 10 / El Capitan ?

[loukingjr]

You don't have to set up custom resolutions but I suppose you could if you wanted to. But yes, you need to install the guest additions if you want Auto-resize, Full Screen, etc. to function.

[maker675]

I found (without Guest additions) I could use the Windows 10 display preferences to set up different resolutions.

But the largest that fits naturally (using HiDPI support) onto my Macbook screen is only 864 pixels high, with gaps at the edges of the screen.

So then I started using higher resolutions that fit the width of the screen, but then the bottom of the screen is off the edge of my display.

(Hence the questions about scrolling.)

So I figured what was really needed is a custom size.

However, if we can now do that with El Capitan for a Windows 10 guest, how to calculate what resolution to use?

Given that it's really necessary to use HiDPI to have a useable result.

I guess you don't as for the full Macbook 2560 * 1600 retina pixels, but some lower values, proportionate to that?

[loukingjr]

You're making things more complicated than they are. After you install the guest additions and enter Full Screen, a guest will fill the display just as it would if it was running natively. You also need the GAs installed if you want, shared clipboard, shared folders, drag n drop, seamless mode, among other things to work.

[maker675]

OK great I'll just install GA.

(Was avoiding it for reasons of keeping system as clean as possible.)

So what is the use of custom resolutions?

[loukingjr]

Just install the guest additions.

[maker675]

This will change my life....

Thanks A LOT !

[loukingjr]

Welcome.

[maker675]

Hmm

Having installed "Guest Additions" I may have copy/paste but the situation with the display hasn't improved.

1152*864 is the highest res. that fits on my 2560 * 1600 retina (with HiDPI enabled, otherwise it's all too small) and there are big gaps on either side (wasted space)

The next resolution up - 1280 * 1024 would be nice because then the screen is full, BUT the bottom of the screen is cut off and this requires scrolling which doesn't seem to happen in full screen mode. So have to go into window mode and lose some screen.

Grrrrr....

Sounds like what I DO need is "custom resolution" but the manuals says that ain't going to work with Windows?

And in the meantime windows has full access to my Mac....

[loukingjr]

I don't see anywhere that you entered full screen. Press Host+F. Make sure Auto-resize Guest is checked in the view menu.

[maker675]

Here's a screenshot in Windows mode.....

The resolution is set as you can see.

Notice bottom right there's a scrollbar showing too big to fit on the display.

When I hit host-F and go full screen the bottom of the display is cropped out: can't get to the windows task bar or do anything.

So have to return to windows mode.

[loukingjr]

First, stop trying to set the resolution in the guest, There is an entire list of resolutions in the view>virtual screen 1 menu. Second, delete the huge screen shot please. it's useless.

edit: the screen shot is not in full screen. Which means you must have just mounted the guest addition .iso and not actually installed them.

[maker675]

True.

But they are all greyed out?