virtualbox.org

@socratis
That is not me unfortunately. I was going to file a ticket once I had more time to investigate further and possibly dig up more details. I posted here quickly because it seemed like a potentially big problem. Snapshots are critical to the work I do, so I had to immediately downgrade to do my work today.

Ubuntu host, Ubuntu VM. VM was powered off. Created snapshot, started machine, made experimental changes. Cloned the VM, then went back to original VM. Restored the snapshot, then tried to delete it (so as to end up in the original config).

Got the popup box warning that it would take a long time, but the box disappeared quickly (different behaviour than VB 5.0) In the left column it kept saying "Deleting Snapshot" for a while, then the status went to "Saved". The snapshot did not disappear from the right hand pane. And, when I try to start the machine, it fails with "Failed to open a session for the virtual machine" and lists the snapshot disks in the boxes.

Fortunately I can restore the snapshot again. But the ability to delete the snapshots is fairly important. This is a major regression from 5.0

@socratis
On that last comment about having to immediately downgrade to get work done today - that was not a complaint. I didn't have time to try anything like using strace or getting a backtrace, etc. VirtualBox is awesome (and free of course)... just wanted to be clear about that. I don't normally file tickets unless I feel that I have gotten as much information as I can. Since I use it heavily for work and needed to downgrade, that definitely slowed down the process of getting more information. I wouldn't even be able to look into it until tomorrow. I thought it was possible someone else might be able to easily reproduce it. Maybe I should have filed a ticket with the information I had already though. I think next time I will and just note that I will add more details later.

OK, we now have a 3rd catastrophic report about snapshots. Ticket https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/7919 was reopened by Yoann, which I suspect is not you either. Hmm... something's (really, really) rotten in Denmark.

Just for information, I merged two snapshots this morning via the GUI on an already backed up VM, that I wouldn't mind losing, with no problems. Host OSX 10.9.5.

@Organic_Marble
I merged your post in the Discuss the 5.1.4 release for two reasons: a) I believe that this is where it belongs naturally and, most importantly b) because there is already a discussion about snapshot problems and it would be best if the developers have all the reports together. Unfortunately, I read and moved your post after I had read and replied to the previous ones, so chronologically it appears before my last reply.

So, that would be the 4th report in less than 10 hours of something going wrong with the snapshots functionality, even at the most basic level. I would advice caution when using that feature and BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP. Until the developers come up with a reproducible scenario, a fix and a test-build that addresses the issue.

The Raven wrote:It will obviously be easier for you to diagnose the exact nature of the problem if you can reproduce it in-house.

Yes we can, and the problem should be fixed now. A test build will probably be available on Monday or so. The problem was almost certainly specific to the Intel xHCI drivers for Windows 7, and not always apparent.

Thanks for the report!

Host W10 - 14393.51
Vbox / Guest Add - 5.1.5 - 110255

Just want to report it working very good, no problems any longer.
The best , guests are closing very fast, specially Ubuntu.
Since many versions of VBox , there was a issue of taking long time for Guests to close completely.

Good morning (here in the netherlands!)

There is a real problem with the 2.1.4 virtual box. It is not possible to play flash or HTML video's from the youtube channels.
I down gradet to the 2.1.2 virtual box and there is no probleem wit HTML of flash.

I tested on the Debian branch, Centos, manjaro branch, PCLinux branche and the Opensuse branch (leap 42.1)

marcthin wrote:There is a real problem with the 2.1.4 virtual box.

Yes, it's 7 1/2 years old! Grand-grandfather as far as software goes.
I think you meant 5.1.4? And by "branch" do you mean the distro's own version of VirtualBox?

oeps.....sorry my mistake it is the 5.1.4 version.
second oeps I mean the 5.1.4 version I use on my host windows 10 1609 14393 build.

I tested on my debian and Centos guest no problem with the 5.1.2 version when i playd HTML and flash on the Youtube channels.

Michaln,
Thank you for the quick response and fix, it is much appreciated.

A test build will probably be available on Monday or so

My test/hot-spare machine only has USB 2.0 ports, so I can only test the
new build on my main machine, which may take a little longer, so apologies
in advance for any delay in reporting back on my testing.

marcthin wrote:oeps.....sorry my mistake it is the 5.1.4 version.
second oeps I mean the 5.1.4 version I use on my host windows 10 1609 14393 build.

I tested on my debian and Centos guest no problem with the 5.1.2 version when i playd HTML and flash on the Youtube channels.

I think you mean Windows 10 1607.

edit: Geez, I forgot why I came. I just tested VB 5.1.4 on an Asus Laptop (don't like their trackpads) running the previously mentioned Windows 10 host and a Linux Mint 17.3 guest and YouTube videos (HTML5) played fine for me.

socratis wrote:@Organic_Marble
I merged your post in the Discuss the 5.1.4 release for two reasons: a) I believe that this is where it belongs naturally and, most importantly b) because there is already a discussion about snapshot problems and it would be best if the developers have all the reports together. Unfortunately, I read and moved your post after I had read and replied to the previous ones, so chronologically it appears before my last reply.

So, that would be the 4th report in less than 10 hours of something going wrong with the snapshots functionality, even at the most basic level. I would advice caution when using that feature and BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP. Until the developers come up with a reproducible scenario, a fix and a test-build that addresses the issue.

No problem, this is the right place for it. I am "glad" to see I'm not alone. Since some of the other reports mentioned it, I should add that the VM I'm having trouble with is also a multi-disk machine.

Another one here with the snapshot delete corrupting the VD's.

Host : Win 7 Sp1 64 pro:

Guests :

Win 10 64 latest build (with one VD):

Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS 64 : Up to date (with 4 vd's).

It takes me 7 hours to recover so it'll be awhile before I can give logs. I'm not sure what anyone is saying V5.1.5 (test) is fixing. Is it the snapshot difficulties?

The Raven wrote:My test/hot-spare machine only has USB 2.0 ports, so I can only test the
new build on my main machine, which may take a little longer, so apologies
in advance for any delay in reporting back on my testing.

Actually that's not true. You don't need USB 3.0 support on the host to test xHCI emulation in the guest. The thing is that xHCI is the only controller which handles USB 3.0, but it also handles USB 2.0 and thus supersedes all previous USB controllers (and good riddance I say, the old UHCI/OHCI/EHCI ones are horrid).

A test build is now available, this is just the Extension Pack. See https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Testbuilds (all the way at the bottom).