guest os disappears from display

[zetro]

Hi
I am using Virtualbox 5.1.8 on arch host. I have installed windows 7 as guest os. Sometimes it happens that when I press Ctrl+F to enter into fullscreen mode, the guest os completely disappears from display (also not becomes a headless). 'ps -aux' shows that its running, but I cannot access it by any means. The only option I left with is to use 'kill' command to kill guest-os, which also results in data loss in guest os. Kindly help me to investigate and fix this problem.
Regards

[socratis]

Sometimes?
So it's not a consistent thing?
Also, what happens if you go to VirtualBox manager?
Does the VM still show as running?
What about other VMs?

[zetro]

Sometimes?
So it's not a consistent thing?

Yes, its not consistent. Buts also not very rare, i can say that it happens 20-30%.

Also, what happens if you go to VirtualBox manager?
Does the VM still show as running?

Yes, VirtualBox manager shows it running but I cannot make any change to vm, Even right click to vm is does not work

What about other VMs?

I am not using any other VM. This windows 7 is because of my office requirement.

[socratis]

Since it is difficult to replicate even for you, you'll have to search for signs on your host I'm afraid. But, until then, one workaround it to configure Windows to shut down gracefully by going to: Control Panel, Power Options, Choose what the power button does: Shut down. Then you can use the terminal and issue the command:

• VBoxManage controlvm "<Your_VM_Name>" acpipowerbutton

Are you using virtual desktops by any chance and your VM is going to one of them?

[zetro]

Since it is difficult to replicate even for you, you'll have to search for signs on your host I'm afraid. But, until then, one workaround it to configure Windows to shut down gracefully by going to: Control Panel, Power Options, Choose what the power button does: Shut down. Then you can use the terminal and issue the command:

• VBoxManage controlvm "<Your_VM_Name>" acpipowerbutton

Are you using virtual desktops by any chance and your VM is going to one of them?

Thanks a lot. The following command is handy:

Code: Select all

VBoxManage controlvm "Windows" savestate

Now I am waiting for another disappear, so I can test it on runtime.
Regards

[socratis]

There are two threads that came up today with disappearing/vanishing guests, that both, apparently, continue to run, they just ... disappear as a "window" (technically, they're both Full Screen):

1. Where is the machine ?, by AALLeeXX and
2. guest os disappears from display, by zetro.

Similar symptoms, completely different setup:

•               AALLeeXX        zetro     
  Host:         OSX 10.12.1     Arch ???
  VBox:         5.1.8           ???
  Guest:        Ubuntu 16.04    Windows 7
  Full screen:  Yes             Yes

Here's what I need both AALLeeXX and zetro to do: grab and post a zipped log after the VM has disappeared. I want you to shut down the VM gracefully. Please configure your guests to respond to an ACPI shutdown signal (search for it, they both can handle it). Start the VM, go Full Screen, if "Houdini" shows up, issue the command:

• VBoxManage controlvm "<Your_VM_Name>" acpipowerbutton

As mentioned before, go to the VM in the VirtualBox Manager, right-click on the VM, Show Log, save it, zip it and attach it.

Also, if you could look at the host's logs to see if there's anything out of the ordinary, that might provide us with some clues.


PS. I'm posting this message in both threads. If they have the same case of the Houdini's I'm going to merge the two topics.

[zetro]

My problem seems to be solved.
I reinsatlled the Guest Additions. This time I have unchecked the option "D3D Support (Experimental)". In previous installations, I had enabled this function. I think D3D Support was causing this problem.