[RESOLVED]Virtualbox - which do I install and from where??

[titianmom]

Hello, I'm in LMDE's Synaptic Package Manager. There appears to be various options to install. (FYI, I see that virtual-guest-x11, virtual-guest-dkms, and virtual-guest-utils are already installed...)

Since they're all 4.2.16, I'm guessing I should go with the just plain "virtualbox" at the top to install, since its 4.2.1.

However, I'm reading about others going to the http://www.virtualbox.org website and installing 4.3.whatever.

This should be an easy one; I'm assuming the 4.2.1 Virtualbox in Synaptic Package Manager is the stable/tested one for the latest LMDE. Correct? thanks, Kim

[mandrake88]

Usually, the best option is always use the repo for install new software.
If you need an specific version witch is not avaible in the repo, then you should go and download the package from virtualbox site, debian repos are always behind in terms of versions, the updates circle is slower. But we aware, installing software outside the repos can generate problems like broken/missing dependencies that u will have to handle by yourself, for know packages like virtualbox probably u won't find any problems (or if you find one, the solution will be easy to find just by googling it)

[titianmom]

That's fine and what I've found everywhere else, but folks answer but fail to state which version of Virtualbox is the best option: I assume I need "Virtualbox" vs the "Virtualbox-nonfree". Sorry if its obvious to you. I'm tired. seen too many suggestions out there.

In fairness, I failed to state that I'm running LMDE, the latest just burned and installed.

[titianmom]

I was told Virtualbox-nonfree is old and outdated, so I should go with either Virtualbox from the repos or follow the links under www.virtualbox.org to the version suitable for Debian loads.
The Virtualbox in the Mint repros is a bit behind, but works fine.

[titianmom]

Virtualbox install from the Synaptic package manager had some interesting errors:

Chose Virtualbox and their recommended Virtualbox-dkms.

Saw the following while installing:

Code: Select all

Setting up virtualbox (4.2.16-dfsg-3+b1) ...
[ ok ] Stopping VirtualBox kernel modules.
[....] Starting VirtualBox kernel modules[....] No suitable module for running k
[FAIL found ... failed!
 failed!
invoke-rc.d: initscript virtualbox, action "restart" failed.

Not sure why the errors, but apt-get install virtualbox-qt ran okay...

[gtsfer]

You need to install these 3 at a minimum for virtualbox to work. Virtualbox, virtualbox-qt and virtualbox-dkms. In LMDE this is all I had to installed (plus whatever Package manager marks as dependencies for these of course). These are all you need, forget the non-free stuff. (this is in addition to VB stuff that's there on installation of the LMDE system, virtualbox-guest-x11, virtualbox-guest-dkms, virtualbox-guest-utils).

[titianmom]

WHen I downloaded from synaptic Package Manager, all three were included. I checked and all 3 are installed, so I'm okay I'm guessing. I created the VM and installed MS7 with no trouble.

Strange resolution on my display, tho; can't get to highest res. Saw the following popup while installing MS7:

The virtual machine window is optimized to work in 32 bit color mode but the vir
tual display is currently set to 24 bit.
Please open the display properties dialog of the guest OS and select a 32 bit co
lor mode, if it is available, for best possible performance of the virtual video
subsystem.
Note. Some operating systems, like OS/2, may actually work in 32 bit mode but re
port it as 24 bit (16 million colors). You may try to select a different color m
ode to see if this message disappears or you can simply disable the message now
if you are sure the required color mode (32 bit) is not available in the guest O
S.


I checked the new MS7 install, and its set to True 32 bit. ?? So I guess its okay.

I'm wondering if I need to install a driver for the video card under MS 7. Its a GTX Geforce 550.

Will move this to another thread since its not related, and close this.