help set up virtualbox in ubuntu 8.04?

[Paul Unger]

I'm trying to get virtualbox (vb) running in ubuntu (8.04) following this tutorial. I've posted at the ubuntuforum (post #115, p. 12), but haven't gotten any responses yet, so I thought I'd try my luck here.

I began by downloading virtualbox-2.0_2.0.0-36011_Ubuntu_hardy_i386.deb from the virtualbox website. I installed it by double-clicking the downloaded file. vb shows up in Applications -> System Tools. Since I dual boot already, I'd like to use the XP install that I already have set up rather than run from an iso that I would need to set up again . . . Thus the tutorial I'm following.

Here's my experience so far:

I got to step 2b (like naknak987, page 10, #92). Terminal output was:

Code: Select all

paul@T61-CTO:~$ VBoxManage internalcommands createrawvmdk -filename ~/.VirtualBox/WindowsXP.vmdk -rawdisk /dev/sda -partitions 1 -mbr ~/.VirtualBox/WindowsXP.mbr -relative -register
VirtualBox Command Line Management Interface Version 2.0.0
(C) 2005-2008 Sun Microsystems, Inc.
All rights reserved.

Cannot open replacement MBR file '/home/paul/.VirtualBox/WindowsXP.mbr' specified with -mbr: VERR_FILE_NOT_FOUND
The raw disk vmdk file was not created

I copied/pasted all the commands from the tutorial (so ` is actually ` and not '). The only similarity I can see is that naknak987 and I both specify /dev/sda1 as -partitions 1 whereas many others specify it as -partitions 2. But I swear my XP partition is sda1. Any clues?

EDIT: I tried this (from here; note slightly different approach):

Code: Select all

paul@T61-CTO:~$ VBoxManage internalcommands createrawvmdk -filename ./WinXP.vmdk -rawdisk /dev/sda -partitions 1 -mbr ./myBootRecord.mbr -relative -register
VirtualBox Command Line Management Interface Version 2.0.0
(C) 2005-2008 Sun Microsystems, Inc.
All rights reserved.

Segmentation fault

Different error; same result--no VirtualBox . . .

EDIT 2: I tried starting over at Step 1. This is what I get:

Code: Select all

paul@T61-CTO:~$ sudo apt-get install mbr && mkdir ~/.VirtualBox && install-mbr ~/.VirtualBox/WindowsXP.mbr --force
[sudo] password for paul: 
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
mbr is already the newest version.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 233 not upgraded.
mkdir: cannot create directory `/home/paul/.VirtualBox': File exists

Funny thing is, I can't find .VirtualBox in /home/paul/. Funny peculiar, not funny haha . . .

EDIT 3: Oops. I didn't have 'Show Hidden Files' selected . . . But there is no "WindowsXP.mbr" in the .VirtualBox folder. Just 'compreg.dat', 'VirtualBox.xml', and 'xpti.dat'. Help?

EDIT 4: I renamed .VirtualBox to .VirtualBox1 and started over. This time it created a .VirtualBox folder with WindowsXP.mbr in it. I ran the big chunk of "magic" code and got a segmentation fault again. But now the .VirtualBox folder has six files in it: 'compreg.dat', 'VirtualBox.xml', 'WindowsXP.mbr', 'WindowsXP.vmdk', 'WindowsXP-pt.vmdk', and 'xpti.dat' What should I have in there? And any clues as to what I've done wrong? I'd sure appreciate your help.

[carbon_unit]

Are you able to create a new virtual disc and install something on it? Did you add yourself to the vboxusers group?

[Paul Unger]

Are you able to create a new virtual disc and install something on it? Did you add yourself to the vboxusers group?

I did add myself to the vboxusers group. As for creating a new virtual disc and istalling s.t. to it, I was hoping to use my existing XP install. Do I still need a 'virtual disc'? If so, how do I create one? Thanks.

[carbon_unit]

I was asking about making a virtual disc and installing to it just to verify that you have Virtualbox running correctly.
As far as running you existing windows install, you will have to follow the guide on that. It sounds appealing but I think there is too much chance of corrupting the windows install. I just made a 7gb virtual disk and installed XP on it for my use.

[Paul Unger]

I just tested virtualbox in terms of setting up a virtual disk. It installed fine, so it seems vb is installed and running correctly . . . That's one variable out of the way. Back to the guide, I guess (if only to reassess the potential for corrupting the windows install).

So for your install, I assume you have Linux as your primary OS with Windows running in a virtual disk (none of this sissy 'dual-boot' stuff, by the looks of the penguin under your name ). The reason I wanted to stick with my existing install was that I have a application that requires the MS SQL server. Can I install (and run) that in virtualbox? This may just push me over the cliff towards a Linux machine with Windows tagging along (rather than my current setup). No point having two Windows installs (one in a dual-boot situation and another in a virtual machine). Looking forward to your answer and input. Thanks.

[carbon_unit]

Actually I do have a dedicated windows install in it's own partition but I rarely boot to it. I mainly use Linux Mint and fire up Virtualbox when I need to run a windows app. So far it works for the apps I need.
I don't know about SQL Server. You will have to give it a try yourself.
Just be sure to install the virtualbox additions (drivers) in windows after the install finishes and it will run fast.

You might also like the fullscreen and seamless modes in Virtualbox. In fullscreen mode you would swear you were booted to Windows. In seamless mode you have 2 taskbars, 1 for Linux and one on top of it for Windows. Then the windows apps appear as if they were installed in Linux.

Give it a try. If it works, Great, if not then delete the virtual disk and reclaim your hard drive space. You will need a Windows install disk and a valid product key number to install. I wouldn't activate the install until I was sure your apps will work OK.