Installing Ubuntu 12.04 LTS on VirtualBox when the host machine has Nvidia graphics drivers poses a bunch of problems - black screens, graphics failures and the desktop just not showing up. Primarily, this is because Ubuntu doesn't by default come with drivers that work with these (Nvidia/ATI) graphics cards.
After a few attempts, I poked around Google and came up with a few suggested actions that ended up working.
A very detailed explanation of the available courses of action is available here:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/162075/my-computer-boots-to-a-black-screen-what-options-do-i-have-to-fix-it
My specific problem turned out to be a black screen accompanied by a few error messages before it defaulted to a command line login. The solution, as suggested by the link, was to edit the grub file and add "nomodeset" to the boot up options. I did this but it still didn't work out as expected.
More googling led me to this link where the author explains how to get the latest nvidia drivers
http://askubuntu.com/questions/41681/blank-screen-after-installing-nvidia-restricted-driver
10 minutes later I see the Ubuntu desktop! Success and I think I'm getting good at this linux stuff. I play around a bit and restart the VM. To my surprise I see a black screen with more errors. Back to google me thinks. This time around I found out that updating the grub file only affects that boot instance and a few additional steps are required to "remember" these changes during every boot.
http://askubuntu.com/questions/38780/how-to-set-nomodeset-for-installation/38782#38782
A reboot later, I see the Ubuntu desktop. With great expectation, I reboot a couple of times and each time the Ubuntu desktop comes up without a hitch.
Linux is easy. With Google :)
Edit 1: I tried this on a laptop with Intel HD4000 display drivers and it went without a hitch - just a plain install from the iso, reboot and all is good. No issues with drivers etc
After a few attempts, I poked around Google and came up with a few suggested actions that ended up working.
A very detailed explanation of the available courses of action is available here:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/162075/my-computer-boots-to-a-black-screen-what-options-do-i-have-to-fix-it
My specific problem turned out to be a black screen accompanied by a few error messages before it defaulted to a command line login. The solution, as suggested by the link, was to edit the grub file and add "nomodeset" to the boot up options. I did this but it still didn't work out as expected.
More googling led me to this link where the author explains how to get the latest nvidia drivers
http://askubuntu.com/questions/41681/blank-screen-after-installing-nvidia-restricted-driver
10 minutes later I see the Ubuntu desktop! Success and I think I'm getting good at this linux stuff. I play around a bit and restart the VM. To my surprise I see a black screen with more errors. Back to google me thinks. This time around I found out that updating the grub file only affects that boot instance and a few additional steps are required to "remember" these changes during every boot.
http://askubuntu.com/questions/38780/how-to-set-nomodeset-for-installation/38782#38782
A reboot later, I see the Ubuntu desktop. With great expectation, I reboot a couple of times and each time the Ubuntu desktop comes up without a hitch.
Linux is easy. With Google :)
Edit 1: I tried this on a laptop with Intel HD4000 display drivers and it went without a hitch - just a plain install from the iso, reboot and all is good. No issues with drivers etc
