Warning VMLite screws your VirtualBox setup!

My fellow virtualization friends, here's a warning:

Do not in any circumstances install and use VMLite, if you don't want to screw your VirtualBox!

This is how my Sun VirtualBox looked before installing, a few different Linux distros and Windows versions, all working perfectly well:



To test VMlite, I downloaded and installed it yesterday. Let it setup VMlite XP Mode. It took ages but was finally done.

Launched VirtualBox. First sign that something was wrong was this:



My registered, English Sun VirtualBox shows me an empty registration form in German! WTF, I thought and closed it, only to see this:



All my virtual machines gone, replaced with VMLite XP Mode. AND MY ENGLISH VIRTUALBOX HAD CHANGED THE LANGUAGE!

I'm running an English Windows 7 Ultimate, my working language is English, all my software is English and I would never install or use a German version of anything if there is an English or a Finnish version available.

VirtualBox was downloaded and installed as an English version, on an English Ultimate. So VMLite, without asking my permission, checked the system location data and decided that this user is certainly happier when we surprise him and change the language of one of the most important applications he has!

So, next logical step was of course to uninstall VMLite. After unstalling, I launched VirtualBox, only to get this:



Of course it was also in German, saying that the COM-object can not be used and the application must be closed.

Next step was naturally to try VirtualBox repair installation. Reboot, launch VirtualBox. What a relief! All my virtual machines were there, and VirtualBox was once again in English.

Decided to test and see if my virtual machines work. Launched Mandriva Linux. Got this:



And after pressing Abort, this:



Tried every virtual machine. Same error.

Started the repair process. After manually uninstalling and reinstalling VirtualBox and a couple of reboots, I had to manually setup my virtual machines back. Everything works now but you can be absolutely sure that I am never going to use any products from VMLite, and I am going to tell this to anybody who wants to hear about it, using all the possibilities I have.

I have never seen a program behaving this bad, hijacking and destroying another program.

Notice please: before talking this harsh about a program, before recommending not to use it, I must of course be sure that I tell the facts. I have now repeated this procedure 4 times to be sure; I've uninstalled VirtualBox and VMLite, reinstalled them and exactly same happens every time.

I am as sure as it is possible to be.

Very honestly and sincerely,

Kari

Thanks Kari.

I am using the vmlite plugin for XP Mode in VirtualBox. I haven't had any problems.

Its like running 2 antivirus in one PC.
That was very sad. Kari, could you try doing a system restore to see if it brings back things to normal?

Dinesh said:

Its like running 2 antivirus in one PC.
That was very sad. Kari, could you try doing a system restore to see if it brings back things to normal?

its actually worse than that..
they are both made using Virtualbox OSE source so im not actually surprised this didn't happen...
most likely it overwrote the config files and your images should still be there...
you might just need to recreate the machines...

Jonathan_King said:

Thanks Kari.

I am using the vmlite plugin for XP Mode in VirtualBox. I haven't had any problems.

Did you have any other VBox virtual machines set up prior to installing it?

Dinesh said:

Its like running 2 antivirus in one PC.
That was very sad. Kari, could you try doing a system restore to see if it brings back things to normal?

darkassain said:

its actually worse than that..
they are both made using Virtualbox OSE source so im not actually surprised this didn't happen...
most likely it overwrote the config files and your images should still be there...
you might just need to recreate the machines...

The virtual disks were still there, intact, so no need to system restore. I just recreated them, mounted to new virtual machines.

Did you have any other VBox virtual machines setup prior to installing it?

I really don't remember. Maybe I'll do some testing tomorrow.

Kari said:

Jonathan_King said:

Thanks Kari.

I am using the vmlite plugin for XP Mode in VirtualBox. I haven't had any problems.

Did you have any other VBox virtual machines set up prior to installing it?

Dinesh said:

Its like running 2 antivirus in one PC.
That was very sad. Kari, could you try doing a system restore to see if it brings back things to normal?

darkassain said:

its actually worse than that..
they are both made using Virtualbox OSE source so im not actually surprised this didn't happen...
most likely it overwrote the config files and your images should still be there...
you might just need to recreate the machines...

The virtual disks were still there, intact, so no need to system restore. I just recreated them, mounted to new virtual machines.

just as i thought...:)

Jonathan_King said:

Did you have any other VBox virtual machines setup prior to installing it?

I really don't remember. Maybe I'll do some testing tomorrow.

he is using the VMlite plugin and from what i can infer you tested the full release...
the plugin just adds the funtionality that VMlite does without messing around and reseting VB config...
Install XP Mode with VirtualBox Using the VMLite Plugin - How-To Geek
please correct me if i am wrong...

darkassain said:

just as i thought...:)

Yes. I also back up my virtual disks regularly, so that was not a problem.

darkassain said:

he is using the VMlite plugin and from what i can infer you tested the full release...
the plugin just adds the funtionality that VMlite does without messing around and reseting VB config...
Install XP Mode with VirtualBox Using the VMLite Plugin - How-To Geek
please correct me if i am wrong...

OK, that sounds credible.

But:

• I did not see any reference in documentation that if I use full version, VMLite hijacks the whole VBox
• Installation did not ask if I want to change the language of VBox
• Installation did not mention or warn that VBox virtual machines would be lost
• Uninstallation did not return VBox to the state prior to VMLite installation
• etc.

For me that's enough reasons to think that coders at VMLite do not really know what they are doing. You can not make a program like this and not to think what happens to other programs or what happens if user wants to uninstall. Really bad coding practice.

Luckily Microsoft is now offering XP Mode also to computers without virtualization technology, and those who want to use a non-Microsoft alternative, or have only Windows 7 HB / HP editions can always use WMware player.

I am really angry. I think that if this was a commercial product, I would demand an immediate refund plus a compensation.

Please forget VMlite. Use Windows XP Mode or WMware!

Kari

Kari said:

darkassain said:

....

OK, that sounds credible.

But:

• I did not see any reference in documentation that if I use full version, VMLite hijacks the whole VBox
• Installation did not ask if I want to change the language of VBox
• Installation did not mention or warn that VBox virtual machines would be lost
• Uninstallation did not return VBox to the state prior to VMLite installation
• etc.

For me that's enough reasons to think that coders at VMLite do not really know what they are doing. You can not make a program like this and not to think what happens to other programs or what happens if user wants to uninstall. Really bad coding practice.

Luckily Microsoft is now offering XP Mode also to computers without virtualization technology, and those who want to use a non-Microsoft alternative, or have only Windows 7 HB / HP editions can always use WMware player.

I am really angry.

Please forget VMlite. Use Windows XP Mode or WMware!

Kari

funny enough i think that because of this software made MS back down from having VT necessary in the HW
the only reason now to use it would be for VB 3d acceleration or if you are using Vista or W7 hp or lower (which is against the EULA and ill leave it at that)