Any PCLinuxS distribution and VirtualBox

[loukingjr]

ok, I have tried every version of PCLinuxOS available and VirtualBox (currently 3.1.2). I have had the same issue with every one. Audio and Video will not run smoothly. Not the startup sounds, shutdown sounds, playing mp3s or videos from disk, streams from online etc. I have currently 14 Linux distributions not including PCLinuxOS and none of them have the same issue. There does seem to be other people here who run PCLinuxOS in VirtualBox. I find it hard to believe I am the only one who's run into this problem. I burned a Live CD from the LXDE version and can boot my Mac from that, so obviously it works natively. There has to be some interaction between PCLinux and VirtualBox causing this, but I can't figure it out. It has to be some difference in how timings and interrupts are set in PCLinux but I don't know where to look or how to change them.

any help would be appreciated.

[menotu]

I'm guessing you've Enabled audio in Virtualbox and tried the various drivers which come on that setting?

Not sure whether having Guest Additions would help but you may want to try it as it does make the VDI run sweeter....

Did you install Virtualbox from the PCLinuxOS repo's or did you install the one from the Virtualbox.org web site as they are different (especially for USB support)

[loukingjr]

there seems to be some confusion. I am running VirtualBox on a Mac host and trying to run PCLinux as a guest. PCLinux of various kinds comes with VB guest additions installed. I have tried to reinstall them a couple times using the GA's for the versions of VB I've had. Everything else seems to run fine. shared clipboard, mouse capture, full screen etc. It's not just audio as I mentioned earlier. Videos also stutter, stop, start etc. It seems any time PCLinux needs to do something, open a window, follow my cursor etc., it causes the problem.

[Texstar]

It probably is the default kernel in 2009. The 2.6.27.31tex5 works a bit better and 2.6.32.2 in testing works great but it is not ready for main yet.

 

[loukingjr]

It probably is the default kernel in 2009. The 2.6.27.31tex5 works a bit better and 2.6.32.2 in testing works great but it is not ready for main yet.

 

ahhh... well, seeing as I am mostly experimenting with various Linux distros, is 2.6.32.2 available in a test repository?

[menotu]

Yup - 2.6.32.2 is in the repo's test area

[loukingjr]

well, I just looked in synaptic and it seems I have no test repositories listed I can enable. How do I add one or can I apt-get it somewhere?

[menotu]

Firstly, make sure your not using ftp.belnet.be as your repo server (from the UK I usually use heanet.ie)

The Section(s) line should read: 

main extra nonfree kde gnome testing
OR
main extra nonfree kde4 gnome testing  (if you are using the KDE4 desktop)

Do a "reload" and that should then show the packages residing in the test folder

[loukingjr]

Firstly, make sure your not using ftp.belnet.be as your repo server (from the UK I usually use heanet.ie)

The Section(s) line should read: 

main extra nonfree kde gnome testing
OR
main extra nonfree kde4 gnome testing  (if you are using the KDE4 desktop)

Do a "reload" and that should then show the packages residing in the test folder

none of the ones in my repository list end in "testing" all say "main extra nonfree kde gnome" except for one for open office.

[menotu]

For safety's sake I should add that after you've added the latest kernel you may want to remove the "testing" entry  in the The Section(s) line if you don't want update other things as that may cause unrelated issues (of course, if you're playing/testing in a virtual environment play to your hearts content  :-)

[menotu]

You can add the word testing yourself to the end of the line - then do a reload etc.....

[loukingjr]

You can add the word testing yourself to the end of the line - then do a reload etc.....

oh, duh me lol thanks

[loukingjr]

ok, installed the new kernel. made a HUGE difference. Actually it fixed all my audio/video issues. Now if I can just get the guest additions to work I will be a happy camper. lol

oh, and when I select sound settings it just stares at me saying something about waiting for sound control to respond, although I can hear sound fine and the volume control still works.

[menotu]

Have you installed Guest Adds from the VBox Menu > Device > Install Guest Additions (not sure about how it works on a Mac) but it should either ask to install directly OR it may simply mount the Guest Adds as a CD whereby you can install from there - but I'm at a loss for any further info as macs are on the dark side of my world 

[loukingjr]

ok, I had to go back to the 3.0.12 guest additions. for some reason the 3.1.2 additions give some Linuxes fits. All's well that ends well :-D

thanks for the help.