VM shortcut start does not work (anymore) -> fixed after (not in) 6.0.0 and in test builds

[DJ Doena]

I tried to use the old 5.x shortcut to start a specific machine, but got

--startvm ist eine Option für die VirtualBox VM-Ausführungs-Anwendung (VirtualBoxVM), nicht den VirtualBox Manager.

which basically says "--startvm" is not a valid parameter. OK, so something's changed with 6.0 No prob. Use VirtualManager 6.0

VirtualBox graphische Benutzeroberfläche
Version 6.0.0 r127566 (Qt5.6.2)
Copyright © 2018 Oracle Corporation and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

to create a new shortcut. Said and done. Same error.

Shortcut created puts the execution instruction as such:

"C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VirtualBox.exe" --comment "VM-Name" --startvm "{139ad888-e3c1-4220-8a36-751414cb3c47}"

[Bigos]

Please try VirtualBoxVM.exe instead of VirtualBox.exe. I think the executable for launching VMs has changed in 6.0 and is now different from the dashboard one.

[pjanssen]

When using 6.0 to create shortcuts on the desktop it still uses VirtualBox.exe. Manually changing the shortcut to VirtualBoxVM.exe works. The shortcut should be created with the correct executable.

I think the problem is in these lines:
 UIDesktopServices_x11.cpp#L50
 UIDesktopServices_win.cpp#L39

[ploni]

Same issue also occurs on Linux.

[socratis]

Replying to pjanssen:

I think the problem is in these lines:

Great finding! However, I find it best to link to the source code directly, instead of a copy of the tree in Github (which is not maintained BTW) from 2014:

• https://www.virtualbox.org/browser/vbox/trunk/src/VBox/Frontends/VirtualBox/src/platform/x11/UIDesktopServices_x11.cpp?rev=74942#L50
• https://www.virtualbox.org/browser/vbox/trunk/src/VBox/Frontends/VirtualBox/src/platform/win/UIDesktopServices_win.cpp?rev=74942#L54

[kyrios]

Same problem on linux. Replace the executable "VirtualBox" with "VirtualBoxVM"

[j1simon]

Same here on Arch Linux

[pentagonik]

Thanks for the report. This issue will be fixed in the next upcoming maintenance version.

[michael]

Please try a current test build<1>. Please note that non-development test builds should be as stable as release builds for most purposes.

1. wiki:Testbuilds

[andaris]

Apparently, the file associations for .vbox and .vbox-extpack file extensions also do not work anymore (Virtualbox 6.0.0 on Windows 10 1809)

Thank you!

[socratis]

@andaris

This ticket is for the shortcuts only. There are two other tickets for all file associations:

• #18206 Error when installing Extension Pack
• #18197 OSX: Dbl-clicking on registered file types results in no action

[pentagonik]

Right, creating shortcuts (what this ticket is about) and actually launching stuff from registered file types are two completely separate things.

[andaris]

Ok, thank you very much for your feedback. Then I'll watch the other tickets for the file associations.