Solved -- No full screen mode for linux distros

[Xenaflux]

Hi,
I have a problem with getting Full screen mode with my Vb-pclos images

I am installing on a dedicated partition/ext4

I installed WinXP from CD......no problem, I get full screen.
I installed Full Monty from DVD.....can't get full screen
I installed the new RC Pclos-Kids-edition from ISO.....no full screen
I installed the Kde4 edition from ISO......no full screen
I installed xfce4.6 from CD...no full screen

So, you know what the question is........How do I get a full screen
Now, about the Guest edition.....I clicked on it , and either
a--it installs so fast that I even can't see it
b--it is installed but does nothing
c--it is 'not' installed
Any comments on this ?

About going to Full screen mode:
If I click 'full screen' , the picture jumps to what is supposed to be full screen mode, but doesn't increase in size. (( around the picture, its all nice black )) and when I tell it to jump out of 'Full screen' it does it, and I can see my desktop again.

I also did some reading of course, but obviously got none the wiser, otherwise I wouldn't be here.

I went also in the just installed images, and fiddled around in PCC/hardware/configure graphics...obviously without any results.

So, if any of you wise men can enlighten me, I will be much obliged .

 

Xena


Edit: During setup when they asked which os and distro you want to install, I obviouly said ' linux' and I have tried both ' other ' and 'mandriva ' , in the hope there would be a difference

[rubentje1991]

Select in your guest window in the bar: "Devices" >> "Install guest additions"
:: they are needed to adjust the screen resolution 

[menotu]

If now't happens after trying rubentje1991 suggestion, do the same again

Devices > Install Guest Additions

If nothing runs, open up the Windows File Manager and go to the Guest Additions ISO/CD and run it directly from there. (should be named something like VBoxWindowsAdditions.exe or similar)

If you install it then reboot and it should work.

On a side note I find on KDE 4.5.5 that moving the VBox guest window to the top/corner of my desktop it auto resizes my VBox guest window to full desktop size

[rubentje1991]

@menotu

Xenaflux said

I have a problem with getting Full screen mode with my Vb-pclos images

=> I don't think the .exe is useful, or is it?

I'd take the one with .sh extension (copy, make executable, run it)

[Xenaflux]

Thanx guys....but.....

elect in your guest window in the bar: "Devices" >> "Install guest additions"
:: they are needed to adjust the screen resolution

I had done that already 7 times, and...I keep telling that to others too 

If nothing runs, open up the Windows File Manager and go to the Guest Additions ISO/CD and run it directly from there. (should be named something like VBoxWindowsAdditions.''exe'' or similar

If you install it then reboot and it should work.

Had done that too 7 times    and yes....similar executes
....doesn't work sorry

I can change my resolution, then it gets better, but no full screen.

I just wonder why the WinXP works, and not the Pclos

Something fishy...will try to find the fish

If anyone has more ideas, let me know.
I searched the web, and all say the same as above, so..........

Xena

[menotu]

So Xena, can you just clarify something for poor old me.

What is the Host and what is the Guest.

What version of VBox are you running and is it the PUEL one (with USB functionality) or the OSE version?

So, when you are running your Guest you can't just grab the edges of the Guest Window and drag to resize?

[Xenaflux]

menotu

I just changed to my test install , because I wanted first to install the ose version and try with every thing as default and see what happens

but to answer your questions....
The Host is PclinuxOS KDE4.5 ( 12 )
The guest is the same ...PclinucOS KDE4.5 (12)

I was running the PUEL version which I installed using the " get virtualbox " script from the repos.

So, when you are running your Guest you can't just grab the edges of the Guest Window and drag to resize?

No, I can't.
As said before, I can change to a higher resolution in the VM , but then I sit with scroll bars , right and bottom ) and it still isn't full screen, just bigger

I will carry on with this as I want to know what's what ( and you too want to know     )

But right now, back to square one, and then one thing at the time


I have used virtualbox for a long time, but it always worked perfectly , so, it was click click click and therefor I don't know nada about the dirty things

Hang on till tomorrow.
It's my bed time.........


EDIT:
additional info
The path that I installed is /mnt/image/Virtualbox/.Virtualbox    ( see the dot )

The partition is ext4

[uncleV]

Does the key combination Right-Ctrl+F works?

[menotu]

Hang on till tomorrow.
It's my bed time.........  

Okey dokey.  Have pleasant dreams.

When you arise in the AM try booting into your PCLinuxOS Guest and open Synaptic and uninstall any Guest Additions you see that may have been installed.

Reboot.

Now, try reinstalling your Guest Additions in the way mentioned above - Devices > Install Guest etc (and reboot)

If that fails

Again in Synaptic uninstall any Guest Additions and reboot.

This time open Synaptic again and install your Guest Additions from within Synaptic

If that doesn't pan out you may want to consider creating a brand new VM with a new VDI hard disk and reinstall PCLinuxOS from scratch and when its installed and updated try adding the Guest Additions.

[luikki]

aren't guest additions installed from command line?

          ./* x86.run

[menotu]

aren't guest additions installed from command line?

          ./* x86.run

Yes, when running the Devices > Install Guest Additions and its loaded - can then open it in Dolphin/Konsole and run the command as usual as root.

[Aradalf]

aren't guest additions installed from command line?

          ./* x86.run

Yes, when running the Devices > Install Guest Additions and its loaded - can then open it in Dolphin/Konsole and run the command as usual as root.

I'm confused. I thought the guest additions are installed within the VM? As in, you click install guest additions, then, in the VM, you run the install script in the CD. Also, how come I always got mouse integration, shared folders, and other *guest additions* stuff , without installing guest additions.

[Old-Polack]

Xenaflux:

Using the Phoenix VM as example, (should be the same with all Linux VMs) clicking on the VBOXADDITIONS_<version> desktop icon brings one to;



Right clicking the appropriate *.run file gives the option to Run As Root, to do the actual installation.

To get the VM desktop to resize according to window size, you need to Enable Guest Display Auto-resize.

[Xenaflux]

Dear OP

First.....Thank you.....but.......it is still the same

First, I knew you would come.....

Every thing you told me to do, I have done several times on several different installs  ( see above )
Just to make sure I was not hallucinating, I went to my winXP virtual machine, and it works perfectly
So, I assume there is nothing wrong with the installation of Virtualbox ( using Tex's script )

Apart from following advice from people above your post, I have been on the web of course, just to find exactly the same advice as what you give me,
both the execute VboxLin.... and enable guest....

So, to be clear, let me tell you what I have and what not

First I was working in pcloskde4 image
Your advice did not work
Neither did it before on advice of others

Then I went to the xfce image, and followed your advice.
Allthough the pictures are different, it boils down to executing Vboxlinx.....   as root.
Done that a virtual thousand times

What I get ( in all images ) is the following:
First, I have ( say ) phoenix open on my standard desktop
it is about half the screen, I can move it around on my desktop
Then I click on " Fulscreen  "....you see a flikker and it gets surrounded by a deep black background
I am in Full screen mode, but my size of the visual phoenix ( or others ) didn't change.
It is still half my available screen ( call it a 10 inch version if you like )
I can not drag it around
I can not increase the size by capturing the border and dragging it.

What I can do, is to go inside ( in VM ) and go to PCC/hardware/display ( something like that )
and change the resolution, but that's not the answer on the problem

Now I have a question for you...
Do your VMs exist on an EXT3 or on EXT4 partition.
The reason I ask is that I read somewhere that support for Linux VMs on EXT4 is still problematic
I have been paining my brain trying to remember exactly what and where I read this, as maybe it possible could tell me something
So far , I can't remember..

First I thought it maybe was the path I had chosen originally.
There was a folder in the path called .Virtualbox ( note the dot )
I installed in a dot-free path....same result
Apart from above, It is workable...every thing functions as should, as far as I can see.

If I don't find a solution, I will re-format  this partition ( which hasn't any valuable stuff on it , other than my time ) to EXT3 and see whats going on.
I will hang on for a while to see if you and/or others have anything to say

Thanks to all who have tried to help so far

Xena

[Old-Polack]

Xenaflux:

As it's a VM, I only have a swap and / partition. As shown below the / partition is formatted ext4.

[root@localhost /]# cat /etc/fstab
# Entry for /dev/sda2 :
UUID=c3bce534-a803-4153-9134-8ab2593189b0 / ext4 defaults 1 1
none /proc proc defaults 0 0
# Entry for /dev/sda1 :
UUID=500da3c7-99cd-480b-ac9f-c0b4b1d30544 swap swap defaults 0 0
none /dev/pts devpts defaults 0 0

When in PCC, you need to set your VM screen resolution to the natural resolution of your monitor. In my case that is 1280x1024. In PCC, you need to specify the VirtualBox video driver, not the driver for the actual card. After that, I Enable the Auto-resize function. This works for all Linux distributions I've ever installed to a VM.

While typing this, I created a new KDE MiniMe VM, and went through the same procedure just described. It behaves exactly as described, and expected.







I really don't know what else to tell you.

1. Create the VM hard drive.

2. Set the .iso image desired for the installation.

3. Start the new VM

4. Partition the drive and install the OS.

5. Shut down the VM and select the VBOXADDITIONS image to replace the install .iso in the CD/DVD device.

6. Boot to the VM installed OS, open PCC and choose the correct monitor.

7. Choose the native resolution for the video card setting.

8. Install the version of the Guest Additions that came with the VBox installation.

9. Enable the Guest Display Auto-resize option

10. Reboot the VM, as instructed.

11. Size the widow as desired.

Again I chose to use ext4 for the format, and it works just as expected. Window resizing with a KDE VM works just the same as with the Phoenix VM