Installing VirtualBox Guest Additions on Windows 10?

Question

I am trying to install VirtualBox guest additions on Windows 10 technical preview, and am getting the following error:

Cannot be installed

I imagine I am not the only one having this issue, is there any way to force it to install?

Yup. Just pick windows 8 (NOT OTHERS) as the vm type on a suitable host. Also runs fine on KVM, and vmware. — Journeyman Geek, Oct 02 '14 at 23:55
@Journeyman Geek: For me, it installed using `Other Windows` as the VM type (http://i.imgur.com/hNCwJVG.png). Maybe the host OS matters? I use Kbuntu 12.04 (32 bit). — Silviu G, Oct 22 '14 at 11:02
hm. Maybe cause I'm running a 64 bit guest on a 64 bit system on mine. — Journeyman Geek, Oct 22 '14 at 14:48
@JourneymanGeek He's specifically asking about the installing the VirtualBox Guest Additions in the guest, not installing the OS in a VM. — Jonathon Reinhart, Oct 23 '14 at 00:30
I was replying to kino's comment rather than the question. My answer proper is below. — Journeyman Geek, Oct 23 '14 at 00:33

score 51 · Answer 1 · edited Oct 02 '14 at 14:00

51

It's a preview version, so I suspect it's doing naive version checking. An update for VirtualBox or Windows 10 should do the trick eventually.

For now, right click on it, select Properties, the Compatibility tab, and select Windows 8 compatibility there. Much easier than using the compatibility troubleshooting I did initially.

However, the drivers don't actually seem to work once installed, so an update would probably be needed. (Can't believe I actually missed that.) Once again, it's a preview version, and it doesn't quite work right.

edited Oct 02 '14 at 14:00

slhck

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answered Oct 02 '14 at 10:10

Journeyman Geek

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Cheers, yeah I ended up re-installing on vmware which worked much better :) – JMK Oct 02 '14 at 13:39
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Nice visual, very clear answer! +1 – Raystafarian Oct 02 '14 at 14:01
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It works alright for me sans additions. Also seems to work alright on KVM on another box. – Journeyman Geek Oct 02 '14 at 14:09
Is there some tool to create animations like this without too many steps? – Kamil Oct 02 '14 at 14:27
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@Kamil: [licecap](http://www.cockos.com/licecap/) as per [my answer here](http://superuser.com/questions/81826/how-do-i-create-a-gif-screencast-in-windows/657800#657800) on windows (though it also works on wine). [silentcast](http://softwarerecs.stackexchange.com/a/11702/125) on linux. – Journeyman Geek Oct 02 '14 at 14:30
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Why do people click `Apply` and then `OK`? – Josh M. Oct 02 '14 at 22:33
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Good question. I have no idea either. Pavlovian conditioning? – Journeyman Geek Oct 02 '14 at 23:54
Works fine for me without additions. Definitely some under the hood changes on 10. I'm having problems installing an application that made the transition from Vista to 7 to 8 without any problems. – Brian Knoblauch Oct 03 '14 at 15:38
This works to get the installer running, but then I get a BSoD when it tries to install the Graphics Driver. – Moshe Katz Oct 05 '14 at 04:21
Wierd. The *installer* ran, and the install process worked but the video and chipset drivers won't start for me. Its a prerelease so... occationally stuff dosen't work – Journeyman Geek Oct 05 '14 at 04:23
So bad a BSoD it becomes BaGSoD (Black and Green Screen of Death) – Oct 05 '14 at 10:12
Doesn't work for build 9860. VirtualBox 4.3.18 works with this build. – some_engineer Oct 27 '14 at 20:21
Getting the same problem in the latest 9926 build - the guest additions install, but don't seem to actually function – benjymous Jan 24 '15 at 19:59
@benjymous Same here... – BMWurm Jan 29 '15 at 21:49
Wow - what did you use to make the animated gif? – Cullub Jan 26 '16 at 22:03
[Licecap](http://superuser.com/a/657800/10165) - friend of mine likes [screen to gif](https://screentogif.codeplex.com/) better tho. I find it makes processes like this so much clearer. I've actually mentioned it and silentcast further up in the comments thread – Journeyman Geek Jan 26 '16 at 23:42

score 27 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 12 '20 at 13:48

Use of Windows Compatibility settings (or use /force) will not work: installer will run, but with no real effects.

Install VirtualBox 4.3.18 or newer. It has improved compatibility with Windows 10.

Note: Menu Help > Check for updates may not reflect the newest as being the latest. Download it manually instead.

Download of New Versions

Windows Host: Download from Virtualbox Download page for latest.

Ubuntu Host: run the following commands to register the virtualbox.org repository with the package manager and update from it:

sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian xenial contrib"
wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install virtualbox-6

If you prefer, you can install the oldest virtualbox-5.2.

According to your distribution, replace xenial with any other Ubuntu release, like zesty, yakkety, xenial, vivid, utopic, trusty, raring, quantal, precise, stretch, lucid, jessie, wheezy, or squeeze.

Others: Check the download page here.

Thank you. VitualBox 4.3.18 works with Windows 10. Do you know, why checking for a new version from VirtualBox menu shows me that latest version is already installed, but it is not? — some_engineer, Oct 27 '14 at 20:23
For Macbook Pro running OSX 10.9.2: Right-click VBoxWindowsAdditions-amd64.exe in the Windows 10 VM, choose properties and set the compatibility to Windows 7. Then "Direct 3D Support (Experimental)" won't be checked and you can proceed without install error. Source: https://4sysops.com/archives/install-virtualbox-guest-additions-on-windows-10/ — Loren, Oct 31 '14 at 12:03

score 23 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 02 '14 at 14:03

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Use the Force...

VBoxWindowsAdditions.exe /force

answered Oct 02 '14 at 14:03

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This worked, but also locked up my Windows 10 TP vm after a reboot – twig Oct 02 '14 at 23:54

Installing VirtualBox Guest Additions on Windows 10?

3 Answers3

Download of New Versions

Linked