virtualbox.org

Hi All,

I need some help.

I downloaded the latest version of VirtualBox for Windows 10 and installed Windows XP Pro as a guest. I had a couple of problems which I believe I caused by using incorrect settings and was unable to get it working so I decided to go back to scratch, re-download, and re-install but the program won't let me in.

Firstly I opened set-up which went through it's normal process and I clicked on "Finish". The standard Oracle interface display then came up but it indicated that XP was already installed although I hadn't gone through the process of loading XP. Then, when I attempted to power up I got a message indicating the program could not start because: \WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CONFIG\SYSTEM/ was corrupt and that I could attempt a repair by loading the XP disk.

However, when I tried this the disk was repeatedly rejected. Also, my mouse function was disabled so I had to literally "pull the plug" on the PC and start again from scratch.

I have had a number of attempts but am getting nowhere. Before every attempt I have made sure that all previous tries have been un-installed but I can't get to the situation where, after I download and install, the program asks for and accepts the XP program disk.

Any help/suggestions greatly appreciated.

Art

artpayne wrote:The standard Oracle interface display then came up but it indicated that XP was already installed although I hadn't gone through the process of loading XP.

This is standard operating procedure for programs on Windows (and other OS's I'd suppose). A common example used here on the forum is MS Word. Uninstalling Word does not delete all the Word .doc files. They're still on the drive. Re-installing Word just puts the program back and it will be ready to open all your existing .doc's.

Same with Virtualbox. The XP guest is still on your drive, ready to be recognized and used once Virtualbox is uninstalled & reinstalled. (Upgrading would be difficult if such wasn't the case.)

If you haven't done anything with the XP guest and it contains no important files, just right-click the guest in the main Virtualbox window and delete it. Then you can start over.

artpayne wrote:I could attempt a repair by loading the XP disk. However, when I tried this the disk was repeatedly rejected.

Rejected by what? the guest? the host?

One of the best things to do with CDs when running Virtualbox is to get a CD-to-ISO-file program for your host and make an ISO copy of the CD to store on your hard drive. Accessing the ISO is much faster than the CD. This may help get by the "reject". Although, just re-making the guest with the correct settings would negate the need to repair.

artpayne wrote:I can't get to the situation where, after I download and install, the program asks for and accepts the XP program disk.

I believe this is a wizard that appears only when the guest is first turned on. I don't think it apppears ever again for that guest, though I may be wrong. You can mount the CD or ISO file in the guest's virtual drive in the main window before the guest is started: Guest Settings, Storage, click the CD drive, on the far right is a CD icon with a dropwdown triangle, drop it down, browse to and choose the ISO, or select the host drive containing the CD.

Many thanks for your very comprehensive reply.
I'm away for a few days but will get on to it as soon as i get back.

Regards

Art