virtualbox.org

Hi, I am running ubuntu 14 on a mac host. Recently I clicked (in ubuntu) to update a bunch of software.
When I came back the VB had gone to sleep but once I attempted to start it all I get is a black screen, no login.
VB seems to start just fine however...I don't even know how to get a command line form here...
Can anyone help please? Thank you!

Please provide a VM log file. With the VM fully shut down, right click it in GUI. Select "Show Log" and save "VBox.log" (ONLY) to a zip file. Attach the zip here.

thank you, here it is:

had to split in two, here is the second half:

lubdubber wrote:had to split in two, here is the second half:

Or perhaps you could have zipped it as asked?

VBox.log wrote: 00:00:01.502333 Host RAM: 24576MB (24.0GB) total, 10703MB (10.4GB) available
...
00:00:01.607952 RamSize <integer> = 0x0000000334000000 (13 757 317 120, 13120 MB, 12 GB)
00:00:01.608256 VRamSize <integer> = 0x0000000005e00000 (98 566 144, 94 MB)

Host RAM very overcommitted. I would cut the guest RAM allocation to 8192MB.

VBox.log wrote: VirtualBox VM 5.1.22 r115126 darwin.amd64 (Apr 28 2017 17:26:14) release log
...
00:00:13.174597 VMMDev: Guest Additions information report: Version 4.3.10 r93012 '4.3.10_Ubuntu'
00:00:13.174629 VMMDev: Guest Additions information report: Interface = 0x00010004 osType = 0x00053100 (Linux >= 2.6, 64-bit)
00:00:13.174698 VMMDev: Guest Additions capability report: (0x0 -> 0x0) seamless: no, hostWindowMapping: no, graphics: no

VirtualBox host software slightly out of date. There have been some bugs affecting Ubuntu recently, so I suggest that you upgrade to 5.1.28.

GAs horrifically out of date, and furthermore they are GAs for the wrong software - a fork instead of the real thing. Please update the GAs.

As to the black screen - perhaps fixing the RAM will solve this, but also try disabling 3D acceleration until these problems are fixed.

thank you so much and I apologize for not zipping the file.
I have reduced the guest ram to the recommended amount, updated Vbox to the newest version
and turned off 3d acceleration. Still, no login window.
Its been a while since I installed GUI's. Could you please point to a link on how to do that?
I can't seem to find any info...
thank you

Certainly I can post a link: User Manual Chapter 4.2. Installing and Maintaining Guest Additions.

I suggest that you try booting in safe mode to avoid loading the existing bad GAs: which incidentally I would uninstall and purge first using XP control panel, before installing the new ones.

thank you very much. But now Im stuck cause this machine doesn't have a cd port.
Is there a way to safe the data of this machine b4 I attempt this in case something goes wrong?

Just to make sure, so I don't screw this up:
I boot in safe mode, bring up the command line and
"/opt/VBoxGuestAdditions-4.3.10/uninstall.sh"

how can I install the new addition without a cd?
Use and mount a flash drive?

much obliged

lubdubber wrote:cause this machine doesn't have a cd port.

Why in the seven kingdoms did you remove the CD from the VM? To make your life more difficult? Well, I guess you could mount a USB or use the network, it certainly sounds plausible, but I haven't tried it or heard anyone doing it. Be sure to let us know how it went. Are you sure you don't want to add a CD? It really costs nothing...

BTW, moving to "Linux Guests" from "OSX Hosts" as this is clearly a problem with your guest.

there is no cd port on an iMac....thats why..
so no way to rescue the data, huh?
Look like I'm up shits creek without a paddle

The CD drive in your VM is virtual. It does not require other PCs (such as your host) to have a CD drive. If your host has no physical CD drive then the only thing that prevents you from doing is mapping a host CD drive to the guest's virtual drive. You can still mount CD images (ISO or DMG), including the CD image bundled with VirtualBox which contains the Guest Additions.

thank you. Now much luck so far
how can I boot in safe mode and open a command line?