Screen mangled while trying to install Ubuntu 16.04

[Massimon]

Starting from the virtual ISO and it looks OK at first with the dot dot dot progress thing — then the screen first resizes to fill the whole height and finally what you can see in the screenshot. Adjusted video memory to the max but no go. On v5.1.4, MacBook Pro 2009, El Capitan 10.11.6. Any ideas?

[socratis]

Moving to Linux Guests, since I've seen this before many times with Ubuntu 16.04, I simply don't remember the answer right now. I'll have to search for it. You could do too...

[Perryg]

You press the Host+F1 and after a second or two press Host+F7

[Massimon]

Thank you Perryg
Wasn't sure how to press the "Host" or right Ctrl + F1 buttons on the Mac, but I tried hitting Cmd, fn and Alt together with F1 and somehow the screen corrected itself without need for pressing Host/right Ctrl + F7. This should definitely be made into a FAQ or a sticky here since many seem to run into the same problem.

[socratis]

Wasn't sure how to press the "Host" or right Ctrl + F1 buttons on the Mac

"Host" is the key that takes away the keyboard control from the VM and returns it to the host (hence the name). You can see it on the bottom right corner of the VM window. In your case it is the "Left ⌘" (command). I have set mine in the VirtualBox preferences as the right "command" as I use the left one a lot more for host use. Your choice.

Now, the keys F1/brightnessDown, F2/brightnessUp, F10/mute, etc. behave differently depending on your Keyboard settings in your Mac. In my case I have it so that the F1 pressed alone acts as F1, and fn+F1 acts as brightness down. Your choice.

This should definitely be made into a FAQ or a sticky here since many seem to run into the same problem.

Really? Do you know anyone that reads the FAQs or does a 10 min search? Nah...