We can install VirtualBox Guest Additions in Windows 10 by performing these steps: Access the virtual machine's menu and go to devices and click: 'Install Guest Additions CD Image'. Go to My Computer (This PC in Windows 10) and open the Guest Additions CD drive under the Devices and drivers section.
The VirtualBox Guest Additions consist of device drivers and system applications that optimize the operating system for better performance and usability. One of the usability features required in this guide is automated logons, which is why you need to install the Guest Additions in the virtual machine. For a Windows 7 desktop template, you also enable Windows media redirection for enhanced playback of multimedia content played in Windows Media Player (including content displayed in Internet Explorer).
In the Window containing the running virtual machine, select Install Guest Additions from the Devices menu, as shown in Figure 6.11.
Figure 6.11. Install Guest Additions Menu
When the AutoPlay window is displayed (prompting you to run the VBoxWindowsAdditions.exe program) as shown in Figure 6.12, close the window without installing the Guest Additions. Closing the window leaves the ISO image used to install the Guest Additions inserted in the virtual CD/DVD drive. You need to install the VirtualBox Guest Additions from the command line to get all the features we need.
Figure 6.12. AutoPlay Window
In the virtual machine, on the Windows Start menu, type run in the search field and press Return. The Run dialog is displayed. Enter D:VBoxWindowsAdditions.exe /with_autologon /with_vboxmmr in the Open field, as shown in Figure 6.13, and press the Return key. If you are preparing a Windows XP desktop template, you can omit the /with_vboxmmr command line switch.
Figure 6.13. Run Dialog With the Command for Installing the Guest Additions
When you are prompted, click Yes to install the Guest Additions. The VirtualBox Guest Additions Setup wizard is displayed in a new window, as shown in Figure 6.14.
Click the Next button to move though the various steps of the wizard. Accept all the default settings and then click Install to install the Guest Additions. If a Windows Security dialog is displayed that prompts you to install device software (see Figure 6.15 for an example), click Install.
Figure 6.15. Windows Security Dialog
Best small business invoicing software. When the Guest Additions installation is complete, ensure Reboot now is selected (see Figure 6.16) and click Finish.
Figure 6.16. Reboot Step After Installing the Guest Additions
The VirtualBox Guest Additions Setup wizard closes and the virtual machine is rebooted. When the virtual machine reboots, log in.
Next, you need perform some additional configuration in the virtual machine, as described in Section 6.5, “Additional Virtual Machine Preparation”.
VirtualBox from Sun is a great free virtual machine that lets you run multiple operating systems on your PC. Today we take a look at installing the Guest Additions feature which provides enhanced performance of the guest operating system.
Note: For this article we are using version 3.0.2 on a Windows 7 (32-bit) guest OS.
Install Guest Additions for Windows
Guest Additions installs on the guest system and includes device drivers and system applications that optimize performance of the machine. Launch the guest OS in VirtualBox and click on Devices and Install Guest Additions.
The AutoPlay window opens on the guest OS and click on the Run VBox Windows Additions executable.
Click yes when the UAC screen comes up.
Now simply follow through the installation wizard.
During the installation wizard you can choose the Direct3D acceleration if you would like it. Remember this is going to take up more of your Host OS’s resources and is still experimental possibly making the guest unstable.
When the installation starts you will need to allow the Sun display adapters to be installed.
After everything has completed a reboot is required.
Install Guest Additions for Ubuntu
Note: For this section we are using version 3.0.2 on Ubuntu 8.10(32-bit) version.
If you have Ubuntu running in a virtual machine installing the Guest Additions is easy as well. With the Ubuntu virtual machine running click on Devices and Install Guest Additions.
This will mount the ISO and show an icon on the desktop and give you the following message box where you just click Run.
Enter in your admin password and click OK.
Next you will see the installation taking place and when done you’ll prompted to click on Enter.
A Reboot of the guest OS is required to complete the installation.
Virtualbox Guest Additions Windows Server 2016
Command Line Installation
If the above process doesn’t work or you want to use the command line to install Guest Additions then first open up a Terminal session.
Now type in the following commands.
cd /media/cdrom
ls
sudo ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run
Again a restart of Ubuntu is required from the GUI or type in “sudo reboot”(without quotes) in the command line.
There are a lot of cool features included with the Guest Additions such as clipboard and folder sharing, better video support, and mouse pointer integration which lets you navigate in the guest OS without having it capture the pointer.
Related VirtualBox articles:
Virtualbox Guest Additions Windows 7 64 Bit Download
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