Bad 3D display in Virtualbox 6.0.14

[BertiN45]

I have a terrible 3D display in some of my VMs on my Ryzen 3 2200G with Host Ubuntu 19.10/Linux 5.3.0-18 using Virtualbox 6.0.14. I did not have those problems with Ubuntu 19.04/Linux 5.0 and Virtualbox 6.0.12.

• Windows 7, half the time the screen is unreadable after booting, the screen is black with say 2" of horizontal display of a part of the screen.
• Ubuntu 16.04, the top bar and unity dock are completely garbled.
• Ubuntu 19.10, the wall paper is covered by a strange pattern of blocks.

All other VM are correct, Xubuntu 18.04, Windows XP, Ubuntu Mate 19.04, Xubuntu 19.10, Ubuntu Mate 19.10, Linux Mint, Peppermint and Windows 10.

Currently I had to switch of the 3D acceleration for those 3 VMs.

[BertiN45]

My laptop (i5-2520m with IGP) runs Host Ubuntu Mate 19.10/Linux 5.3.0-18 using Virtualbox 6.0.14. I copied the Ubuntu 19.10 VM and on my laptop I had no problems with the same Ubuntu 19.10. The other VMs are OK too, but I'm still using Guest Additions 6.0.12 on those other VMs.

[Socratis]

1. It's usually better and faster, if issues get first addressed in the ​VirtualBox forums, a lot more eyes there. More than 95% of the issues are resolved in the forums, which keeps the developers focusing on the bug fixes and enhancements, and there is no need for another ticket to keep track of. For example, yours is most probably not a bug and someone from the developers has to deal with it and close it as "Invalid".

Plus a discussion and analysis on the bug tracker is going to help me, is going to help you, and potentially a future drive-by user or two. Not so in the forums, many more tend to benefit...

2. You were supposed to follow these steps when you filed the bug, and provide a VBox.log:

   Attach a (full) log file ("Machine" menu/"Show Log" in the main VirtualBox Manager window) straight away to save time for you and for us. The log file contains a lot of useful information about both the host and the guest systems as well as information about what happened during a particular machine run. Please do not cut and paste it.

Please, open a new thread in the ​VirtualBox on Linux Hosts section of the forums. Please be sure to mention that you came from the bug tracker and include the ticket number.

[helgo1506]

Same here. Got it after i installed Guest Additions 6.0.14 in Vista 32bit. In Vista 64bit it worked with the same Graphic Settings. Graphic Settings : VBoxSVGA with both graphic acceleration turned on. Had the Interface all over the place und could just close the vm with the host. (Interfaces got resized all over the place and only for a second, the "real" screen was visible) Seems only related to Vista/7. Windows 8.1 64bit worked too.

Could "fix" it with 3D acceleration turned off too. Log Attachment follows.

[helgo1506]

Windows Vista 32bit (VBox.log)

[helgo1506]

Windows Vista 32bit (VBoxHardening.log)

[BertiN45]

Vbox log of Ubuntu 19.10

[BertiN45]

Vbox log of Ubuntu 16.04

[BertiN45]

vbox log of Windows 7

[BertiN45]

Ubuntu 19.10 screensshot

[BertiN45]

Ubuntu 16.10 screenshot

[BertiN45]

Screenshot of windows 7 after logging in normally.

[BertiN45]

OK, I provided a lot of info of different guests. As a retired developer, I know the difference between a bug and user-error. When it is my first bug report in many years, I wait for you to tell me, what you need. If you need more I could provide it.

[BertiN45]

Another one with the same problem: ​https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2429831

[sunlover]

Please try the latest (6.0.x revision 134343+) build from https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Testbuilds

Both the host package and the guest additions must be updated.

[BertiN45]

The Ubuntu Guests 16.04 and 19.10 still have the same problem (VMSVGA). The Windows 7 Guest seems OK now, I have restarted it 5 times (VBOXSVGA). I also tried 64-bits Windows Vista Business and 32-bits Windows Vista Home Premium and also those seemed OK (VBOXSVGA). I still had Vista in my vm-archives.

[BertiN45]

On Sunday 6 hours later Windows 7 started up with the garbled display again. After it goes wrong, it continues to go wrong each time. I used Vista a few times, so far OK.

Five hours later I detected the problems with Vista.

• The 32-bits Vista Home completely garbled the screen after changing to the Aero look. \
• the 64-bits Vista Business produced a blue screen when I started 32-bits Firefox 52.9 with 3D enabled. I have added the log file.
• running the performance evaluation in the control panel of Vista Business produced the following error: "C:\Windows\system32\VBoxDispD3D.dll is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error". That is probably the reason that the Aero look is blocked in that VM.

[BertiN45]

The Vista Bussiness Blue screen after starting firefox on a page with a YouTube video.

[sunlover]

6.0.x revision 134780+ builds contain a number of 3D related fixes.

Could you please try to reproduce the blue screen with the latest test build? If the crash still happens, then please attach the corresponding VBox.log. Also please attach a minidump from the guest: ​https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/315263/how-to-read-the-small-memory-dump-file-that-is-created-by-windows-if-a

[BertiN45]

The results:

• Ubuntu 16.04, no change. Unity dock and top panel garbled.
• Ubuntu 19.10, no change, Wallpaper area garbled.
• Windows 7, improved, Aero transparency display worked fine, till I started the Chrome browser, the complete Chrome window has been garbled. Firefox displayed correctly. The graphics interface seems slower, since the performance dropped from 4.9 to 2.0 in the built-in Windows performance evaluation of the control panel.
• Windows 10, after the latest Windows update 19.03 of my evaluation copy, the transparency added to the bottom bar and the start menu seem to garble the display often, if using the 3D acceleration. This latest version of Vbox did not improve it. The garbling is easy reproducible by pressing the "start" button or by using the News application. The graphics seems slower in 3D than in 2D, since YouTube videos and the Dutch TV viewer (BVN) stutter in 3D mode. Windows 10 with 3D acceleration is unworkable, since all window titlebars in fullscreen completely disappeared.

I will look more in detail to Vista this evening or tomorrow.

[BertiN45]

The Windows 10 log file after the last Win 10 upgrade.

[BertiN45]

The log for Windows 10 is in attachment vbox.3.log and vbox.4.log, both are the same. Windows 10 with 3D acceleration is unworkable, since all window titlebars completely disappeared in full screen.

[BertiN45]

Windows Vista Business (64-bits) almost OK. The problem with Firefox disappeared after I reinstalled it. The remaining problem is that I can't use Aero mode (transparency of windows title bar and start menu bar), because the windows performance measurement from the control panel failed with the following messages: c:\Windows\System32\VBoxDispD3D.dll is not designed to run on windows or contains an error. The YouTube video display had a small problem that every time say between line 40 and 680 of a 720p display, the next n lines shifted ~1 mm to the left or right on the display. That I could notice say each 5 seconds.

Windows Vista Home (32 bits) same problems as the 64-bits version, however the windows performance measurement from the control panel failed without an error message, but both graphics tests has still the starting values of 1.0. The shift of the picture in youtube videos also occur, but somewhat more frequent and say 2mm instead of 1.

To summarize:

• Ubuntu 16.04 and 19.10 unchanged, still garbled display
• Windows 7 and Vista improved, but not yet without problems.
• Windows 10 showed new problems after the last update that introduced transparency for menu e.g bar and menu display

[sunlover]

It turned out that Ubuntu 19.10 indeed broke some of 3D functionality. This is now fixed in the latest 6.0.x revision 135060 from https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Testbuilds

[BertiN45]

I did not see any difference running the latest 6.0.x revision 135060 and I tried Ubuntu 16.04 and 19.10 and Windows 7. Are you sure, it has been solved? Maybe the solution will be in the next release.

[BertiN45]

Just as a reminder after 2 months. Exactly the same problems are also present in Virtualbox 6.1.0

[sunlover]

There is a known problem with Windows 7 guest Aero interface ( https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/19115 )

I could not reproduce problems with Ubuntu guests.

[BertiN45]

The current situation using VirtualBox 6.1.0:

• Windows Vista during the installation of Guest additions 6.1.0, it refused to install the Guest with 3D acceleration until I installed DirectX 9.
• Windows Vista, The VBox Manager refuses to select VBoxSVGA in combination with 3D acceleration. On selecting 3D acceleration it set back the driver to VBoxVGA. It will not allow the combination of 3D acceleration and VBoxSVGA.
• Windows 7 Pro, during installation of the Guest, it did give and error message. Following the manual and indicated log, the system seems to miss a module that is part of DirectX 9. I installed DirectX and the error message disappeared and the system seemed to work, till I tried it again this morning. Half the time I still get a garbled display.
• Windows 10 version 19041.1, since the introduction of the new transparency, the display gets garbled especially in combination with the menu display.
• Windows XP does not allow to select 3D acceleration during the install in safe mode after pressing F8.
• Ubuntu, the error looks different, the distortion is very consistent. The Windows distortion is more unpredictable and sometimes not even there. The Ubuntu distortion is very consistent and always shows up directly after login. I do not have that problem on my i5 laptop with its IGP, it only occurs on my Ryzen 3 2200G with Vega 8 graphics.

Some general remarks:

• It seems that after adapting VirtualBox to newer Linux versions than 5.0, you introduced a dependency on DirectX, that before never has been there. Maybe it explains partly your current problems with Windows. I think it should have been mentioned prominently in the change log!
• Tomorrow I will introduce an ancient GeForce 8400GS video card in my Ryzen 3 2200G, if the problem disappears, maybe we should start nagging Ubuntu and AMD about their Vega driver.

[BertiN45]

Replying to BertiN45:

The current situation using VirtualBox 6.1.0:

• Windows Vista during the installation of Guest additions 6.1.0, it refused to install the Guest with 3D acceleration until I installed DirectX 9.
• Windows Vista, The VBox Manager refuses to select VBoxSVGA in combination with 3D acceleration. On selecting 3D acceleration it set back the driver to VBoxVGA. It will not allow the combination of 3D acceleration and VBoxSVGA.
• Windows 7 Pro, during installation of the Guest, it did give and error message. Following the manual and indicated log, the system seems to miss a module that is part of DirectX 9. I installed DirectX and the error message disappeared and the system seemed to work, till I tried it again this morning. Half the time I still get a garbled display.
• Windows 10 Insider Preview, version 19041.1, since the introduction of the new transparency, the display gets garbled especially in combination with the menu display.
• Windows XP does not allow to select 3D acceleration during the install in safe mode after pressing F8.
• Ubuntu, the error looks different, the distortion is very consistent. The Windows distortion is more unpredictable and sometimes not even there. The Ubuntu distortion is very consistent and always shows up directly after login. I do not have that problem on my i5 laptop with its IGP, it only occurs on my Ryzen 3 2200G with Vega 8 graphics.

Some general remarks:

• It seems that after adapting VirtualBox to newer Linux versions than 5.0, you introduced a dependency on DirectX, that before never has been there. Maybe it explains partly your current problems with Windows. I think it should have been mentioned prominently in the change log!
• Tomorrow I will introduce an ancient GeForce 8400GS video card in my Ryzen 3 2200G, if the problem disappears, maybe we should start nagging Ubuntu and AMD about their Vega driver.

[sunlover]

Replying to BertiN45:

• Windows 7 Pro, during installation of the Guest, it did give and error message. Following the manual and indicated log, the system seems to miss a module that is part of DirectX 9.

Some general remarks:

• It seems that after adapting VirtualBox to newer Linux versions than 5.0, you introduced a dependency on DirectX, that before never has been there.

Would you elaborate? What was the error message? Which log do you refer to and what module was missing? And how "adapting VirtualBox to newer Linux versions than 5.0" is related to DirectX?

[BertiN45]

Replying to sunlover:

Replying to BertiN45:

• Windows 7 Pro, during installation of the Guest, it did give and error message. Following the manual and indicated log, the system seems to miss a module that is part of DirectX 9.

Some general remarks:

• It seems that after adapting VirtualBox to newer Linux versions than 5.0, you introduced a dependency on DirectX, that before never has been there.

Would you elaborate? What was the error message? Which log do you refer to and what module was missing? And how "adapting VirtualBox to newer Linux versions than 5.0" is related to DirectX?

As a ZFS user, I could rollback the situation and do it again, so: The error message during the Guest installation said that DirectX was incomplete or corrupted and the details said for both d3d9.dll and msd3d9.dll, that "the vendor is not the Microsoft Co-operation".

Googling it, it said that they belong to DirectX-9 and after downloading and installing DirectX from Microsoft the install error disappeared, but the garbling problem remained. The same install errror happened with Windows Vista.

Remember my remark from 3 weeks ago: "The remaining problem is that I can't use Aero mode (transparency of windows title bar and start menu bar), because the windows performance measurement from the control panel failed with the following messages: c:\Windows\System32\VBoxDispD3D.dll is not designed to run on windows or contains an error".

I moved for the Host from Ubuntu 19.04 to Ubuntu 19.10 and thus from Linux 5.0 to Linux 5.3. At the same time I had to move from Virtualbox 6.0.12 to Virtualbox 6.0.14, because of the 6.0.14 support for Linux 5.3. The problems with the 3D garbling appeared after those changes. So on one hand I have the sloppy tendency to blame everything on the VBox changes I needed after the upgrade to Linux 5.3. On the other hand it seems that we already had a problem probably related to DirectX-9 three weeks ago.

I expected that say during the upgrades needed to go from Linux 5.0 to 5.1 to 5.2 to 5.3, somebody introduced some issues related to a difference between Microsoft DirectX-9 interfaces and its VBox replacements/adaptations. Remember I did run those VMs with 3D acceleration for Aero without having DirectX-9 installed for many years. There is also a problem between Virtualbox dll's and DirectX dll's, which has been detected by an improved installer for 6.1.0. That installer, that does not give me a choice any more, which versions of 3D acceleration I want (Aero or experimental).

I guess you replaced the VBox Aero supporting dll's with the not compatible former experimental version based on Microsoft's DirectX-9 and that is why I get the error messages first three weeks ago in 6.0.14 and secondly now in the better checking installer for 6.1.0. Unfortunately without warning us sufficiently in the change logs.

[sunlover]

The problem with Windows 7 Aero should be fixed in the latest 6.0.x revision 135471 and development revision 135474 (this is 6.1.x) builds from https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Testbuilds

There are also a couple of fixes for Linux guests which use the VMSVGA graphics controller. I'm not sure if this will help with your Ubuntu guests, but the fixed bugs could cause graphics corruption. Please try the new builds.

[BertiN45]

Replying to sunlover:

The problem with Windows 7 Aero should be fixed in the latest 6.0.x revision 135471 and development revision 135474 (this is 6.1.x) builds from https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Testbuilds

There are also a couple of fixes for Linux guests which use the VMSVGA graphics controller. I'm not sure if this will help with your Ubuntu guests, but the fixed bugs could cause graphics corruption. Please try the new builds.

OK, I will try the 135474 build now. Just a question do I need DirectX-9 or do I first have to remove it.

[sunlover]

You probably need DirectX 9, keep it.

[BertiN45]

Windows XP: Unchanged, still impossible to select 3D acceleration in the Guest install. True for normal mode and safe mode.

Windows Vista: Unchanged, I can't use Aero mode, because the windows performance measurement from the control panel failed with the following messages: "c:\Windows\System32\VBoxDispD3D.dll is not designed to run on windows or contains an error".

Windows 7: So far the Aero mode seems to work without problems.

Windows 10 Insider Preview, version 19041.1, since the introduction of the new transparency, the display gets garbled especially in combination with the menu display or the News App.

Ubuntu 16.04: No change, top bar and Unity Dock are garbled.

Ubuntu 19.10: No change, wall paper overwritten with garbage. The Ubuntu problems are strange, since Ubuntu Mate 19.10 and Xubuntu 19.10 are fine and these Ubuntu issues do not occur on my i5 laptop.

And please add something in the change log(s) about DirectX-9.

[helgo1506]

I want to report that with Version 6.1.2 VBoxSVGA with 3D Accelaration under Windows Vista works now. Both 32bit and 64bit Guests.

[BertiN45]

I like to report that my problem with Vista is NOT solved and I use 6.1.4. I can't use Aero mode, because the windows performance measurement from the control panel still failed with the following messages: "c:\Windows\System32\VBoxDispD3D.dll is not designed to run on windows or contains an error". It looks like VBoxDispD3D is calling a function that is NOT supported by Vista or that is slightly different between Vista and Win 7.

[BertiN45]

I took a fresh look at the issue and I like to precise the problem. I think the problems are related to the interfaces between the 3D guest driver and the Linux host drivers, especially the ones from AMD. With Ubuntu I only have issues on my Ryzen 3 2200G. The Windows Issues are valid on both my i5-2520M laptop and my Ryzen desktop.

[BertiN45]

OK, all Ubuntu related problems disappeared when upgrading from Ubuntu 19.10 to Ubuntu 20.04. So it looks like a problem with the AMD drivers

So the only remaining problems with Windows Vista should be simple to solve, because the error message identifies the module and its problem with the following messages: "c:\Windows\System32\VBoxDispD3D.dll is not designed to run on windows or contains an error".

[helgo1506]

Replying to BertiN45:

OK, all Ubuntu related problems disappeared when upgrading from Ubuntu 19.10 to Ubuntu 20.04. So it looks like a problem with the AMD drivers

So the only remaining problems with Windows Vista should be simple to solve, because the error message identifies the module and its problem with the following messages: "c:\Windows\System32\VBoxDispD3D.dll is not designed to run on windows or contains an error".

Perhaps a stupid question : Did you try to download the GA ISO directly again? Perhaps the update did broke the iso. Or some AntiVirus Software breaks the DLL in the VM. I dont think such an error, happens when the DLL in NOT broken. The other think that comes to mind is perhaps the Install break some registry things during install in the VM.