Associated helper does not exist

[MacDuff]

Trying to install Virtualbox 1.6.4 from the website onto a Ubuntu 8.04 OS which was a clean (32 bit) install from a Desktop CD. A previous Ubuntu 7.10 installation on this computer had no problem installing Virtualbox.

gdebi and gdebi-core 0.3.8 are installed

error message:

/tmp/virtualbox_1.6.4-33808_Ubuntu_hardy-i386.deb could not be opened, because the associated helper application does not exist. Change the association in your preferences.

I made the assumption that the above instruction to change the association under preferences refers to [System] [Preferences] but I cannot find an "association" in the preferences that might refer to virtual box.

How do I find out which "helper application" is missing?

What am I missing, please and thank you.

[Sasquatch]

Did you double click on the .deb file? You can also install VB by opening a Terminal and browse to the folder where you have the installer file, then execute the following command:

Code: Select all

sudo dpkg -i virtualbox_1.6.4-33808_Ubuntu_hardy-i386.deb

TerryE: edit to fix Sasquatch's typo
Sasquatch: Woops, that's what you get if you type blind and don't double check .

[MacDuff]

Interesting! Originally I had been trying to install it directly from the website as I have done before by checking the "install using Gdebi installer" which normally works.

Following your instructions, I downloaded the file locally and several times tried to use the terminal command you provided. I noted that you showed the filename as ending in "i286 deb" whereas it is actually i386 deb but the command would not work either way.

Being a bit frustrated at this point I tried Gdebi on the downloaded file. It worked perfectly! I will not bother to ask why it did not work installing directly from the website nor why your terminal command did not work although the answer to both would be interesting indeed.

It installed and that is all that matters. Thank you for pointing me in another direction at least. I will file this as a reminder next time to download VirtualBox before attempting to install it rather than installing from the website using Gdebi.

Cheers
Mac