virtualbox.org

Dear Everyone,

I hope you are well.

I am running VB on windows 8.1 and it works very well. Could I ask 2 questions pls?

So typically I use Linux on the VB. When you are given the opportunity to update the Linux inside virtual box I assume you say YES?

Does that then save to the usb stick automatically pls?

When you have finished for the evening do you 'power off' OR 'save the machine state' on VB pls?

Thanks
Keyser

Keyser wrote:When you are given the opportunity to update the Linux inside virtual box I assume you say YES?

This is entirely up to you. Virtualbox will be completely content with the non-updated guest OS, or with the updated OS if you want to update.

Keyser wrote:Does that then save to the usb stick automatically

If you install the Linux OS to the guest drive, then remove the Linux install ISO, then restart the guest and then run the updates, then the updates will stay installed.

Keyser wrote:save to the usb stick

If this USB stick is a Linux install USB stick, then it will not work. Virtualbox cannot boot from a USB stick without special expert setup. As I understand, not even USB install sticks can update their contents, you have to do the install on the computer first. Get an ISO from the Linux website and put it in the guest's CD drive to do the install.

Keyser wrote:When you have finished for the evening do you 'power off' OR 'save the machine state' on VB

The best turn-off is a shut down using the shut-down command/button inside the guest OS. Power off with ACPI shutdown acts like tapping the power button on a PC. The guest OS can be set to treat this as a regular shut-down. Power off without ACPI is like pulling the power plug, which is bad for the OS. Save-state might speed up turning the guest on or off, but some OS's boot and shut down faster than save state. And a save-stated guest cannot boot if you upgrade Virtualbox. Your guest should be fully shut down not save-stated when you change Virtualbox versions.

Read section 1 in the Virtualbox manual.

Dear Scottgus1

Thanks for your help. much appreciated.

K