Virtualbox , Ubuntu 11.10 , linux-kernel 3: cannot start virtual machine

Question

I've got installed oracle virtualBox v.4.1.2_Ubuntu r38359.
The program VM starts with errors:

WARNING: The character device /dev/vboxdrv does not exist. Please install the virtualbox-ose-dkms package and the appropriate headers, most likely linux-headers-generic.

You will not be able to start VMs until this problem is fixed.

(VirtualBox:5642): Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "pixmap",

(VirtualBox:5642): Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "pixmap",

(VirtualBox:5642): Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "pixmap",

(VirtualBox:5642): Gtk-WARNING **: Unable to locate theme engine in module_path: "pixmap",

As supposed i've done:
1)

sudo apt-get install virtualbox-ose virtualbox-ose-dkms

the answer:

virtualbox-ose is already the newest version.
virtualbox-ose-dkms is already the newest version.

2)

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r`

answer:

linux-headers-3.0.0-12-generic-pae is already the newest version.

---

If i try to launch virtual machine i got 2 windows:
1) The first:

Failed to open a session for the virtual machine winxp. The virtual machine 'winxp' has terminated unexpectedly during startup with exit code 1.

Result Code: NS_ERROR_FAILURE (0x80004005)
Component: Machine
Interface: IMachine {5eaa9319-62fc-4b0a-843c-0cb1940f8a91}

2) The second:

Kernel driver not installed (rc=-1908) Please install the virtualbox-dkms package and execute 'modprobe vboxdrv' as root.

Tried:

$sudo modprobe vboxdrv
FATAL: Module vboxdrv not found.

;

$ /etc/init.d/virtualbox start
* Starting VirtualBox kernel modules
* No suitable module for running kernel found [fail]

Answer 1

Have you tried to build the kernel module?. It should have been builded during the installation, but it looks like it failed. You can try:

sudo dkms install virtualbox/4.1.2

This should build the module.

Answer 2

Go to Dash and then software center and delete all virtualbox package...

Adding VirtualBox repository:

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

Installing VirtualBox 4.1:

    sudo apt-get install virtualbox-4.1

If you want USB 2.0, VirtualBox RDP and PXE boot for Intel cards support on your guest machines, you have to install extension pack that can be downloaded here.

Installing extension pack

Once extension pack downloaded, open VirtualBox and navigate to "File -> Preferences", at the "Extensions" section, click icon "Add package" and locate your downloaded extension pack.

• What are PPAs and how do I use them?

---

Follow your petition :

sudo apt-get install kernel-package 
sudo apt-get install linux-source

Try removing the old module.

sudo apt-get remove virtualbox-ose-modules*
sudo apt-get purge virtualbox-ose-modules*

Then install the new one.

sudo apt-get install virtualbox-ose-modules-`uname -r`

and Try this

sudo /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup

Answer 3

I have no idea!, but I got the problem like you. I just tried to solve by install vbox version support on kernel version. it worked fine. I mean that if ur vbox version is 4.X.X support which is your os kernel version ( your computer). If you want check kernel version, go to terminal type: uname -s .

Answer 4

Well, the first thing that strikes me, is that you seem to be mixing the open source and proprietary versions of VirtualBox. I don't know if that's significant, but it may.

Make sure you're running the open source version of VirtualBox, or install the drivers for the proprietary version with the package virtualbox-dkms

Answer 5

In my case I did the following:

1. Go here: https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads and download from there the Virtualbox Package

2. Download from the site link the Extension Pack

3. Install the package (Do not worry about the PPA/Repository or anything since the package will eventually add it to your repo)

4. Install the Extension Pack using the Virtualbox Manager

NOTE - To save yourself from problems you must eliminate the virtualbox you have installed and any repositories related to it.

After this, when an update appears the System will notify you about it like all other Ubuntu programs.

The current version right now is 4.1.4

Answer 6

Just use the Ubuntu Software Center GUI, rather than having to use the apt-get command line

Search for Virtualbox

• Should get at least two hits.
• First remove x86 virtualization solution-base binaries (highlight and click remove)
• Then highlight and remove Virtualbox

Once both are removed, install Virtualbox

• This will automatically re-install the base binaries and rebuild the Virtualbox kernel

That should do it.

Answer 7

Had the same problem: "WARNING: The character device /dev/vboxdrv does not exist. Please install the virtualbox-ose-dkms package and the appropriate headers, most likely linux-headers-generic." Even though all VirtualBox packages were installed.

1. Uninstall all virtualbox: sudo apt-get purge virtualbox

2. Go to the: https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads (Download the one for Ubuntu 12.10 my case)

3. Install the package.

4. All is working fine now and have a lot of fun with Linux!

Answer 8

What solved the problem for me is simply reinstalling - first purge the base package and any related config files:

sudo apt-get purge virtualbox

And then install it once again (assuming you also want the GUI):

sudo apt-get install virtualbox-qt

I upgraded from 12.10 to 13.04, so I'm assuming some of the drivers or configs got messed up in the transition.