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I am trying to install VirtualBox guest additions on Windows 10 technical preview, and am getting the following error:

Cannot be installed

I imagine I am not the only one having this issue, is there any way to force it to install?

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  • 1
    You actually got it to install on VirtualBox? o_O
    – kinokijuf
    Oct 2, 2014 at 20:09
  • 6
    Yup. Just pick windows 8 (NOT OTHERS) as the vm type on a suitable host. Also runs fine on KVM, and vmware.
    – Journeyman Geek ♦
    Oct 2, 2014 at 23:55
  • @Journeyman Geek: For me, it installed using Other Windows as the VM type (i.imgur.com/hNCwJVG.png). Maybe the host OS matters? I use Kbuntu 12.04 (32 bit).
    – Silviu G
    Oct 22, 2014 at 11:02
  • hm. Maybe cause I'm running a 64 bit guest on a 64 bit system on mine.
    – Journeyman Geek ♦
    Oct 22, 2014 at 14:48
  • 1
    @JourneymanGeek He's specifically asking about the installing the VirtualBox Guest Additions in the guest, not installing the OS in a VM.
    – Jonathon Reinhart
    Oct 23, 2014 at 0:30

3 Answers 3

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Use of Windows Compatibility settings (or use /force) will not work: installer will run, but with no real effects.

Install VirtualBox 4.3.18 or newer. It has improved compatibility with Windows 10.

Note: Menu Help > Check for updates may not reflect the newest as being the latest. Download it manually instead.

Download of New Versions

Windows Host: Download from Virtualbox Download page for latest.

Ubuntu Host: run the following commands to register the virtualbox.org repository with the package manager and update from it:

sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian xenial contrib"
wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install virtualbox-6

If you prefer, you can install the oldest virtualbox-5.2.

According to your distribution, replace xenial with any other Ubuntu release, like zesty, yakkety, xenial, vivid, utopic, trusty, raring, quantal, precise, stretch, lucid, jessie, wheezy, or squeeze.

Others: Check the download page here.

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  • Thank you. VitualBox 4.3.18 works with Windows 10. Do you know, why checking for a new version from VirtualBox menu shows me that latest version is already installed, but it is not?
    – some_engineer
    Oct 27, 2014 at 20:23
  • For Macbook Pro running OSX 10.9.2: Right-click VBoxWindowsAdditions-amd64.exe in the Windows 10 VM, choose properties and set the compatibility to Windows 7. Then "Direct 3D Support (Experimental)" won't be checked and you can proceed without install error. Source: 4sysops.com/archives/…
    – Loren
    Oct 31, 2014 at 12:03
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It's a preview version, so I suspect it's doing naive version checking. An update for VirtualBox or Windows 10 should do the trick eventually.

For now, right click on it, select Properties, the Compatibility tab, and select Windows 8 compatibility there. Much easier than using the compatibility troubleshooting I did initially.

However, the drivers don't actually seem to work once installed, so an update would probably be needed. (Can't believe I actually missed that.) Once again, it's a preview version, and it doesn't quite work right.

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  • 4
    Cheers, yeah I ended up re-installing on vmware which worked much better :)
    – JMK
    Oct 2, 2014 at 13:39
  • 5
    Nice visual, very clear answer! +1
    – Raystafarian
    Oct 2, 2014 at 14:01
  • 1
    It works alright for me sans additions. Also seems to work alright on KVM on another box.
    – Journeyman Geek ♦
    Oct 2, 2014 at 14:09
  • 20
    Why do people click Apply and then OK?
    – Josh M.
    Oct 2, 2014 at 22:33
  • 3
    Good question. I have no idea either. Pavlovian conditioning?
    – Journeyman Geek ♦
    Oct 2, 2014 at 23:54
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Use the Force...

VBoxWindowsAdditions.exe /force
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  • 4
    This worked, but also locked up my Windows 10 TP vm after a reboot
    – twig
    Oct 2, 2014 at 23:54

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