Video mode change in client creates a new window

[Shahar Or]

Dear ones,

This is a repost from Ubuntu's bugtracker (title changed):

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Binary package hint: virtualbox-ose

It appears that when a Virtualbox instance changes its video mode, this causes Virtualbox to destroy its window and create a new one.

If the user has switched to a different workspace in the meantime, the new window will be drawn in the currently active workspace, effectively causing Virtualbox to appear to switch workspaces on its own.

While booting a client image (e.g. any recent Ubuntu live CD), this happens multiple times in fairly rapid succession.

This is annoying a disruptive when you are attempting to get some other work done while booting an image. I frequently click "start" and switch to a different workspace in order to do some other work while the image starts, but because of this behavior, Virtualbox will not stay on the workspace where I started it. Instead, it pops up on top of the current window, in the worst case stealing password input or other sensitive keystrokes.

vnix$ apt-cache policy virtualbox-ose virtualbox-ose:

Installed: 2.0.4-dfsg-0ubuntu1 Candidate: 2.0.4-dfsg-0ubuntu1 Version table:

* 2.0.4-dfsg-0ubuntu1 0

500 ​http://fi.archive.ubuntu.com intrepid/universe Packages 100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

vnix$ lsb_release -rd Description: Ubuntu 8.10 Release: 8.10

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The URL for the downstream report is: ​https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/virtualbox-ose/+bug/351518

Blessings, Shahar

[Michael Thayer]

Could you please check whether this behaviour still occurs with version 4.1.14 and if so, please attach a log file and check whether disabling 3D makes a difference if it is enabled?

[Michael Thayer]

Also, please test with the upstream version of VirtualBox.

[rbt]

This issue occurs on Ubuntu 12.10 running VirtualBox 4.2.6 + Oracle Extensions both with 3D enabled and disabled.

To replicate:

1. Create an Ubuntu 12.10 Guest, including GUI (desktop) rather than just CLI.
2. On the Host, ensure you have 2 or more workspaces. By default, Ubuntu has 4 workspaces.
3. Boot the guest.
4. Immediately on starting boot of the guest, you see the VirtualBox BIOS logo, switch to a different workspace using the workspace switcher.
5. Wait a few seconds, when the Ubuntu Guest changes video mode (from Ubuntu Boot logo to X desktop, or from the VirtualBox BIOS to the Ubuntu Boot logo) it will jump to your current workspace.

The host workspace switch will occur with a Windows Vista and Windows 7 Guest too in switch from the Virtualbox BIOS logo to the operating system boot screen.

[aeichner]

Please reopen if still relevant with a recent VirtualBox release.