Cannot change Host key => Fixed in SVN

[Alexey Izbyshev]

Host key is not changeable in GUI. When I select Host key field in settings and type any other key, nothing happens. There is a similar problem with VBox 2.1.4 in forums, but I had no problem with changing host key in it, the problem appeared only in 2.2.0. Now the only way to solve it is to edit xml with VBox settings.

[Frank Mehnert]

The interesting information is

1. which host are you using (Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris)
2. which Linux distribution (if you are on a Linux host)
3. which window manager (if you are on a Linux host)

[Alexey Izbyshev]

I am using Windows Vista SP1. Both VBox 2.1.4 and 2.2.0 was installed on the same host. Before installing 2.2.0 I fully uninstalled 2.1.4 and deleted its configuration xml.

[Bill Bauman]

I have confirmed this to be a problem with 2.2.0 on Vista Business x64. Any clean installation of 2.2.0 will not allow me to change the host key.

My workaround: Install 2.1.4 first, set host key, upgrade to 2.2.0. Host key cannot be modified, but at least it's set.

[Dave Jack]

Confirmed with Vista Home Basic (32-bit). Worked around by editing VirtualBox.xml and adding <ExtraDataItem name="GUI/Input/HostKey" value="93"/> to the ExtraData collection (93 is the decimal code for the 'Application' key on Windows keyboards).

[chice]

Confirmed with Windows 2003 Server SP2 (x86), VirtualBox 2.2.0, clean installation.

I can not set HostKey in GUI

I have to set <ExtraDataItem name="GUI/Input/HostKey" value="161"/> for Right Shift as HostKey

[Ehsanullah Jan]

Perhaps an easy way of changing the HostKey until the fix is released is to use VBoxManage with the setextradata option. So if you wanted to change the HostKey to the Right Shift key (numeric code 165), you would execute the following command:

VBoxManage.exe setextradata global GUI/Input/HostKey 165

[Ehsanullah Jan]

Update -- The command in my earlier comment would set Right Alt, not Right Shift, as the HostKey. I've also posted details of this bug and its solution, along with some other small issues, on my blog here: ​http://sooperwiz.blogspot.com/2009/04/virtualbox-220-bug-hostkey-cant-be.html.

[spbrereton]

not fixed for me...

Running Jaunty/Karmic as host. XP as guest.

[Frank Mehnert]

spbrereton what happens exactly? Changing the host key of VirtualBox on Karmic is no problem here.

[spbrereton]

The same as descriptions for this bug that I've seen elsewhere... The field could be selected but no change occurred - regardless of which key was pressed. However, as I went to take a screenshot it worked, so now I'm confused. I believe I did accept an update of VirtualBox a few weeks ago - that may have fixed the error.

[Frank Mehnert]

Ok, in that case I will close this bug. Thanks for the feedback.