Unable to resize Ubuntu Desktop in Oracle VM Virtual Box

**michael220** · October 9th, 2014

Good morning! I am an absolute newbie to Linux and Ubuntu and I'm in a bind.

I am running Ubuntu 14.04.1 within the Oracle Virtual Box 4.3.16 on an HP 6000 Pro Desktop with 4 GB RAM.

The issue is with the sizing of the Ubuntu Desktop in VB. I am unable to resize it to full screen within Virtual Box.

Any ideas on how to resize to full screen? The screen shot below is the actual size of the Ubuntu window within the Virtual Box.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

**slickymaster** · October 9th, 2014

Moved to the Virtualisation sub-forum

Hi michael220, welcome to the forums.

Do you have the VirtualBox guest additions installed? This will give the guest full control of the virtual hardware offered by VirtualBox including the virtual graphics card. With the guest additions installed the guest should resize the resolution of the monitor to whatever the interface window size is or even fullscreen if you want.

**ibjsb4** · October 9th, 2014

Also be sure to install 'virtualbox-guest-dkms' in the ubuntu guest.

**michael220** · October 9th, 2014

I have attempted to install the guest additions several times over the last couple of days and I get the attached error....vb.JPG

**slickymaster** · October 9th, 2014

It's advisable to install DKMS before installing the Linux Guest Additions. If DKMS is not available or not installed, the guest kernel modules will need to be recreated manually whenever the guest kernel is updated.

On your guest OS, please open a terminal and run the following command:

Code:

sudo apt-get install virtualbox-guest-dkms

and reboot.

**michael220** · October 9th, 2014

sudu command not found is the error that I receive now

**slickymaster** · October 9th, 2014

Originally Posted by michael220

sudu command not found is the error that I receive now

You mistyped the command. It's sudo, not sudu.

Just copy/paste the entire command line from my post into your terminal.

**WacoJohn** · October 26th, 2014

Did not think I should open my own new thread .... I have the same issue .. but need help.

Code:

sudo apt-get install virtualbox-guest-dkms

returns

Code:

Unable to locate package

Running Lubuntu as guest.

thanks in advance for any help.

EDIT:

I think I have done something right. I retried the install of dkms and this time it worked. Before, Lubuntu had only one screen res. choice .. 640x480. It now has 3, .. that and 800x600 and 1024x768. Problem still is, no matter which I choose, the screen is 'not right' .. either too small, or images etc are flat and wide. In Windows, screen res is 1366x768 (that I use) with several more choices.

resolutions.jpg

Also ... not sure I am in compliance with installing dpks BEFORE Virtual Box guest additions. I have a feeling I did them before succeeding with dkms. If I must, can TOTALLY start over ... and do everything in the right order ... soon as I get some advice. Again, thank you in advance.