Virtual Box not showing in Apps&Features

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Windows hosts.
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The Fe Throne
Posts: 4
Joined: 24. Apr 2020, 18:50

Virtual Box not showing in Apps&Features

Post by The Fe Throne »

I have a Windows 10 64 Bit laptop since 08.06.2019 and apparently installed an old version of Virtual Box (5.2.18) without knowing (I suppose due to a portable software i once used as a test).
The weird thing is that all the files in the Oracle folder are showing 14.08.2018 as the "date modified".
The Folder was hidden and marked as a "protected system operating file" at first. (I changed it by moving everything from inside into a new Oracle Folder.)
And the cherry on top is that I cant find Oracle VM VirtualBox in Programs & Features or Apps & Feature or the Uninstall Registry in registry editor.

Now the thing is that I need Virtual Box for my studies.
I was trying to install the 6.1.6 version which didnt let me. It ends prematurely, resets the progress of the installation and prompts me with a fatal error line.
I tought it was due to me having the 5.2.18 version (which I found out now only). Like I said I cant uninstall this version in any way.
I even tried getting the installation file of 5.2.18 and uninstalling it with it but it didn't recognize any preinstalled Virtual Box on my system and did the same thing as the 6.1.6 installation.

Luckily I can run the 5.2.18 version but if I try to run any Virtual Machine I get prompted with 2 Errors:
Errors
Errors
Error.jpg (96.48 KiB) Viewed 13628 times
Here is the log file:
VBoxHardening.log
log file
(11.98 KiB) Downloaded 152 times
And I'm not able to select any network bridge name when trying to configurate a Machine. There simply isn't any given.

What I want to do is to uninstall the old version and install 6.1.6.
I cant uninstall neither can I install.
I tried to install in Administrator Mode, without any firewall, without any internet, without any antivirus software (uninstalled it). Nothing helped.
I even tried installing after moving the oracle folder out of Program Files but it didn't help either.

How can I uninstall this defected version of VB?
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20945
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Virtual Box not showing in Apps&Features

Post by scottgus1 »

Virtualbox uses the Microsoft MSI installation system in Windows, and your MSI database is messed up. Fixing this is not something we know how to do well, as it is a problem with Microsoft's programs, not Virtualbox specifically. Any program tat is installed through MSI might run into this problem.

You will have to troubleshoot this directly with Microsft's help channels. These articles may help:
socratis wrote:That article seems to be: Basic troubleshooting steps for Windows Installer.

I have two other links to suggest. See also if you have any corrupted MSI database files:
The Fe Throne
Posts: 4
Joined: 24. Apr 2020, 18:50

Re: Virtual Box not showing in Apps&Features

Post by The Fe Throne »

@scottgus1
scottgus1 wrote:Virtualbox uses the Microsoft MSI installation system in Windows, and your MSI database is messed up. Fixing this is not something we know how to do well, as it is a problem with Microsoft's programs, not Virtualbox specifically. Any program tat is installed through MSI might run into this problem.

You will have to troubleshoot this directly with Microsft's help channels. These articles may help:
socratis wrote:That article seems to be: Basic troubleshooting steps for Windows Installer.

I have two other links to suggest. See also if you have any corrupted MSI database files:
Thank you for your reply!
I have tried your suggestions but still couldn't solve anything. Repairing the MSI didn't help.
I cant reinstall the MSI either since MSI v.5.0 is not downloadable and comes with win10 automatically.
It doesnt seem to be an MSI problem apparently. Its really only VB that i cant install. Any other program will download just fine.

I did chkdsk \f too.

I tried using the "The Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter" by windows to fix any issues with the uninstallation which didnt help either. I had to find VBs productcode by searching through the registry editor to troubleshoot it. It said it fixed something but trying to install the 6.1.6 version or 5.2.18 version still prompted me with the same errors.

I suppose I have an incomplete or defected version of Virtual Box on my PC which blocks anything that I'm trying to do with it, be it reinstall, uninstall, run or upgrade...

Edit: I just looked in my "msconfig" on my services and saw that a VBoxVmService" has been "stopped". The Manufacturer is unknown though..
VBoxVmService.jpg
VBoxVmService.jpg (116.18 KiB) Viewed 13580 times
I asked some uni friends if they have the same service but they dont. They rather have a "VirtualBox system service" by Oracle Corporation which I don't have
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20945
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Virtual Box not showing in Apps&Features

Post by scottgus1 »

The hardening error seems to indicate that Virtualbox itself is compromised.
The Fe Throne wrote:apparently installed an old version of Virtual Box (5.2.18) without knowing (I suppose due to a portable software i once used as a test).
This is quite likely, there are several such programs.

Unfortunately fixing the MSI issues is not something I at least know how to do, so more Googling would be required on your part. I have heard that there are ways to manually remove a program by deleting the files and running through the Registry, try web-searching for that.
The Fe Throne
Posts: 4
Joined: 24. Apr 2020, 18:50

Re: Virtual Box not showing in Apps&Features

Post by The Fe Throne »

Thank you for all your suggestion but i think my solution will be in re installing windows on my laptop.
I tried opening a VM via Hyper-V to check if a virtual machine would work at all ... and the answer was nope.
The problem is the host and i dont know what else to check. I guess i have damaged/corrupted stuff the system cant find out what they are or where they are. Did lots of CHKDS and stuff but nope.
For now I'm running the VM on my old laptop which is slow but it does the job
The Fe Throne
Posts: 4
Joined: 24. Apr 2020, 18:50

Re: Virtual Box not showing in Apps&Features

Post by The Fe Throne »

A clean reinstallation of my windows solved all my issues
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20945
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Virtual Box not showing in Apps&Features

Post by scottgus1 »

It often does. Fresh install and an SSD are the two best things to do to get an older PC feel young and fresh again.

Glad you're up and running!
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