using full-screen mode in Virtualbox
 

I can't usefully run Virtualbox in full-screen mode. I'm running Windows XP in it. I switched to full-screen, but the full screen consisted of the window surrounded by black space.

You probably missed to install the guest extensions.

Probably. How do I do that? I don't see such an option anywhere in Virtualbox.

This is actually called "VirtualBox additions" and available from the device menu.

I found it. Thank you. I also discovered that guest additions must be enabled in order to see folders shared with the host. I am guessing that quite a lot of things depend on the guest additions. If I'm right, the guest additions are so necessary that they might as well be automatically enabled.

In spite of guest additions it doesn't work
 

Hey,

I am using Ubuntu through VirtualBox on MacBook. I have the same problem with full-screen and although I installed the guest additions and I restarted the Ubuntu, VirtualBox and even Mac but still I cannot get the fullscreen. My VirtualBox version is 2.1.4 before I update it. I could change to fullscreen.

Now ctrl+F apparently change to fullscreen but it is still small just around it is black instead of white color of VirtualBox.

Please guide it is so annoying.

Thanks

@aa_azadeh81 -

I don't know if your issue is resolved, but I might have a solution for you. I found it on a site called Lockergnome. I would provide a link, but I can't since this is my first post, the site doesn't allow first posters to provide a link. If you search:
full screen ubuntu virtualbox

You will find the link to Lockergnome. This is how I found this thread as well.

The nut of what you will be doing:

1. Install Ubuntu on VB.
2. After install and restart, go to the 'Devices' menu for VirtualBox.
3. Select 'Install Guest Additions'.
4. Open Terminal in Ubuntu.

Type:
cd /media/cdrom0 (this puts you to the cdrom directory where you just mounted guest additions)
Press enter then type:
dir (this shows you what's inside this directory.)
Press enter then type:
sudo sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run (this is what you would type if you have an x86 machine, typical. If you have an AMD use that one, and so forth.)

5. Wait for update to complete.
6. Once complete, shut down Ubuntu.
7. Restart VirtualBox
8. Boot up Ubuntu.
9. Once booted, press cmd+F for fullscreen or cmd+L for seamless.

This worked for me and I am using VB 2.2.2 on a MacBookPro. Just posted this from Ubuntu in Full Screen mode. woot.
Hope this helps.

not a directory
 

I try to update the VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run in VirtualBox for Ubuntu on my Macbook pro. But when I type the "cd/media/cdrom0" as you said, the terminal tells me that "Not a directory".

I can see the VBXADDITIONS_3.0.2_49928 on the desktop.

Hi dragoonlp,

cd/media/cdrom0 is not a directory. cd is a command to go to the directory /media/cdrom0

what you are missing above is the space between cd and /media/cdrom0

like this: cd /media/cdrom0

Also, the naming conventions for the VBoxLinuxAdditions have changed a few times, so make sure you type the name as you see it in the directory.

Oh, and make sure you have spaces for the rest of the commands

sudo sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run

sudo is superuser. you need this to install anything.

There is a space between the command sh and ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run (again, the package could be named something else).

Hope this helps.

Well! you are so great!! thank you very much~~~

Awesome detail! These steps did it for me. Thanks a lot!

Try this link too :


http://unixmen.com/linux-tutorials/7...-ubuntu-fedora

What did work for me (Gentoo host, Win 7 guest) was to manually set the resolution I wanted through VBox with the following:

Open a terminal and type

VBoxManage controlvm <name of vm> setvideomodehint <xres> <yres> <bpp>

You will need to have the VM open and running in order.

So in my case I typed: VBoxManage controlvm Win7 setvideomodehint 1440 900 24

Perfect
 

Worked Perfectly with Vbox 3.1.2 & Linux Mint 8 64-bit(x64)
but Instead of ...
sudo sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run use...
sudo sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-amd64.run

Perfect
 

Worked Perfectly with Vbox 3.1.2 & Linux Mint 8 64-bit(x64)
but Instead of ...
sudo sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run use...
sudo sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-amd64.run
for 64-bit machines

Solution at Bearductions
 

hi!

I have solved this guys! pretty easy.. Visit my blog for more information on how I did it.. Hey! this is not spamming.. I'm showing you my solutions okay?

http://jinnyfeb.blogspot.com/2010/06...o-to-full.html

still having touble getting full screen
 

I've done all of the steps up to typing cd /media/cdrom0 into the terminal and I keep getting this error message

bash: cd: /media/cdrom0: No such file or directory

What's the problem?

if you have followed the instructions on my blog. you will not have trouble. :D

go to this link: http://www.bearductions.com/2010/06/...o-to-full.html

follow steps 3 and 4.

let me know if you still have the same problem.

I had the same problem with Ubuntu in my VirtualBox running on Win7 OS. I double clicked on the VBOXADDITIONS_3.2.10_66523 folder on my desktop. It opened a folder with the message: "The media has been detected as Unix software". I clicked on "Open Autorun Prompt". This opened a new prompt which installed these additions by itself. I shut down the machine and restarted VirtualBox. Now it looks perfectly good. I can see the Ubuntu on the whole screen in fullscreen mode.

I believe this is just another way instead of using the sh command.

automatically enabling the guest additions would be a nice idea but unfortunately actually implementing such a thing would be easier said than done because it would require auto-detecting the presence of an operating system and determining if a compatible version of the additions exists, then somehow mounting and launching the installer which would require sending commands to the guest OS which would probably only be doable if the additions were installed, a chicken and egg scenario.

i am loading Ubuntu from windows 7 using virtualbox.
the fullscreen option does work in the ubuntu desktop but when i boot ubuntu in terminal it doesnt go fullscreen.

any suggestions?

Fullscreen mode is not available for systems not running a X server. Either run a maximized terminal under X or just use SSH (for example using PuTTY) to connect to the machine and maximize that.