virtualbox.org

Okay, first of all, English is not my first language. I can understand it without problem, but sometimes have difficulties to explain myself.

Second, I have tried every solution/workaround/tutorial/manual I could find. I have also deleted and make the VM several times to make sure I followed every instruction I could find as close as possible.

But it doesn't matter what I try, VirtualBox or Windows XP or both refuse to allow me to install the Direct3D Support. I have tried several times. With safe mode. Checking all configurations. Making sure everything was supposedly well configured from scratch. Nothing has worked and cannot find more topics on the matter to follow.

I'm attaching a couple of screens, one to show the problem, the other so you see the last machine configuration I tried, to no avail. They're on Spanish, but since everything is in the same place as in English it should not be a big problem. I can traslate if needed.

The reason why I'm trying to set up an WinXP machine while running a Win10 PC is because I want to replay some old games. Mostly the sims 1 and 2 -they don't run in win10 at all. I managed to get sims 1 running in VM, sims 2 cries for Directx 9.0c, and then says there is no graphic card compatible. I researched and supposedly the problem was I needed to install Direct3D Support while being on safe mode. Tried with the first VM I setted up. Couldn't tick the box. Tried with a fresh made one. Couldn't tick the box. Researched more. Made a few more attempts with fresh new created machines following all steps the best I could. Couldn't tick the box. At this point, I have memorized the windows serial key and hate that little box.

Also I want to run some other games. Most of them from the 00s and a few from the late 90s. You know, childhood nostalgia. I choose WinXP because I remember playing most of those games in that SO with little to none problem. I'm also setting up a Win98 machine for the games that give trouble with XP. But this little uncheckable box is driving me nuts and sucking my soul (if someone is wondering, I was born in early 90s, so my first PC memories are from Win95 and Win98, though most of my childhood I remember WinME and XP. I actually had XP until the launch of 7 because my dad hated Vista)

Is there some step I overlooked or some deity I have to sacrifice my firstborn to? At this point I'm taking any suggestions about configuration, including different settings overall and/or different... whatever. I just want it to work.

(Please be nice. I've spent two days with this issue. I don't know what else to try. I just want to burn the PC and cry while rocking in a corner)

You're running Virtualbox 6.1.12.

6.1.x does not have 3D acceleration for XP guests anymore. 6.1.x supports 3D acceleration using the VboxSVGA video card (note the S) for Windows 7 guests and later.

However 6.0.x still supports 3D in XP using the VboxVGA card (no S.)

So if your games cannot run in Windows 7, or you can't get a license for 7 (Ebay probably still has some available) then you have to stay on 6.0.x and matching Guest Additions.

Note that gaming does not always work well in a virtual machine, so be prepared to have to dual-boot your PC with the older OS to play the older games.

aicare wrote:I'm also setting up a Win98 machine for the games that give trouble with XP. But this little uncheckable box is driving me nuts and sucking my soul

For 98, see the tutorials in:
Forum Board index ‹ General ‹ Howtos and Tutorials ‹ Windows Guests: viewforum.php?f=28

The uncheckable box is probably "Enable Nested VT-x/AMD-V" and it is not related to the apparently misguided idea that VT-x had to be turned off to install 98. You don't need to turn VT-x off in the guest to install 98. I have a 98SE guest that did not have VT-x turned off (to the best of my memory) when it was installed.

I knew there was some tiny detail I did not realize. Thank you so much!

So I should try Virtualbox 6.0, right? Or would you recommend an older build for the purpose I have? Any other tips to give? I'm all ears! Or eyes.

I know that games can be very... stubborn. Specially the older ones. They were stubborn back then, they are more stubborn now. Like old gramps and grams. I have tried many workarounds and so far what works best for me are virtual machines. I'm planning in updating and old pc (more disk space, probably more RAM and better video card... that thing was built around 2005. I think it had some hardware updates but they were definetly before 2010... I'm actually surprised that thing still turns on. Although it's slow and loves to crash and is as stubborn as good old games) and use it for old games. Probably with at least two SO so it can run a wider range of games. But for the meantime, the virtual machine will have to do.

6.0.x should still work. It has a 'warning' message that VboxVGA with 3D is going to disappear in 6.1.x, and there should be a "Don't show this again" checkbox.

Alternatively, higher versions in 5.2.x could work too. If you just plan to run games in the guest and not do much else, then when you have a running setup, you will probably be OK not updating Virtualbox after that. (Until the host OS no longer runs that version, that is.)

Be sure to match the Guest Additions version with the Virtualbox version. (Same thing for the Extension Pack if you use it.)