Ubuntu / Linux news and application reviews.

Fix VirtualBox 5.1.x Focus Issues On GNOME Desktops (Not Being Able To Move VM Windows In GNOME Shell, Clicking On Indicators In Unity)

| Date: March 09, 2017 | View Comments | Tags: fix, gnome shell, linux, tweaks, ubuntu, unity, virtualbox

If you use VirtualBox 5.1.x with a GNOME desktop (GNOME Shell, Unity and possibly other GTK-based desktops as well), you may have noticed that there are some focus-related issues:
  • in GNOME Shell (host), virtual machine windows can't be moved unless clicking on another window, then moving the virtual machine window;
  • in GNOME Shell (host), the Activities Overview can't be accessed if a virtual machine is focused;
  • in Unity (host), clicking on an indicator while a virtual machine is focused results in the indicator menus not being displayed.

Here's a screenshot showing what happens in Unity when indicators are clicked while a VirtualBox 5.1.x virtual machine is focused:

VirtualBox indicators focus bug Unity

Workaround For /sbin/vboxconfig And /sbin/rcvboxdrv Not Working With VirtualBox 5.0.x [Quick Tip]

| Date: October 23, 2015 | View Comments | Tags: fix, linux, tips n tricks, ubuntu, virtualbox


In Ubuntu, the official Oracle VirtualBox packages (downloaded from the VirtualBox website/repository) often fail to recompile the host Kernel modules after a VirtualBox or Linux Kernel update, so the user must do this manually.

Until VirtualBox 5.0.8, the command to do this was "sudo /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup" but with the latest version, this command has been replaced and now the application error dialog mentions running "sudo /sbin/vboxconfig" instead.

VirtualBox 4.3 Released With Multi-Touch And Video Capturing Support, More

| Date: October 15, 2013 | View Comments | Tags: linux, macosx, ubuntu, virtualbox, windows

Oracle released VirtualBox 4.3 today with some exiting new features such a new virtual multi-touch USB interface to support touch-based operating systems, video capturing support and more.

VirtualBox 4.3 screenshot

Genymotion: Fast, Easy To Use Android (x86) Emulator With OpenGL Hardware Acceleration Support

| Date: July 09, 2013 | View Comments | Tags: android, android-x86, genymotion, linux, macosx, ubuntu, virtualbox, windows

Genymotion is a fast Android emulator which comes with pre-configured Android (x86 with OpenGL hardware acceleration) images, great for application testing. The project has evolved from the old AndroidVM and compared to it, Genymotion comes with a new player design, installer and more.

VirtualBox 4.2.0 Released With Support For Drag'n'drop From Host To Linux Guests, More

| Date: September 13, 2012 | View Comments | Tags: linux, macosx, ubuntu, virtualbox, windows

virtualbox 4.2.0

After a beta and four release candidates, VirtualBox 4.2.0 (stable) has been released today, bringing support to start VMs during system boot on Linux, experimental support for drag'n'drop from the host to Linux guests, improved Windows 8 support and more.

Download VirtualBox 4.2 Beta 1

| Date: August 03, 2012 | View Comments | Tags: linux, macosx, ubuntu, virtualbox, windows

virtualbox 4.2

Oracle has released VirtualBox 4.2 beta 1 today, which includes some major improvements, like improved Windows 8 support, an expert mode for wizards, experimental support for drag'n'drop from the host to Linux guests and more.

VirtualBox Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin Repository Ready

| Date: April 03, 2012 | View Comments | Tags: linux, ubuntu, virtualbox

virtualbox 4.1.12 ubuntu

VirtualBox 4.1.12 has been released and with it, the VirtualBox repository has been updated to support the latest Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin, even though this isn't mentioned on the VirtualBox Linux downloads page yet.

VirtualBox Ubuntu 12.04 (Guest) Fixes

| Date: February 10, 2012 | View Comments | Tags: linux, Precise Pangolin, ubuntu, virtualbox

Ubuntu precise virtualbox

If you want to try the latest Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin alpha or a daily build in VirtualBox (guest), you'll stumble upon a few issues like: VirtualBox can't boot from the 32bit ISO because PAE is not enabled by default so you'll get a kernel error, the mouse or the Internet connection isn't working or the screen is glitchy and black in Unity 3D after installing the VirtualBox Guest Additions from the repositories (required if you want to use Unity 3D).

So here is how to fix these issues and run the latest Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin build with Unity 3D in VirtualBox.

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