Ubuntu
virtualbox package

  1. Bug #1762491
  2. Comment #0

Comment 0 for bug 1762491

Revision history for this message
Akos Nagy (nagyak) wrote : No graphics after update, caused by virtualbox

After performing an "apt-get update && apt-get upgrade" on a Ubuntu 16.04.4 box, graphics fails to start. I use my laptop with text boot, then I log in and issue "startx", with "/usr/lib/gnome-flashback/gnome-flashback-metacity" in my ~/.xinitrc file. After update, "startx" (Xorg) returns me to character prompt. Same with KDE, and while WMaker seemed to start, I still couldn't run apps like Firefox or Konsole. Tinkering with my system for about two hours I managed to figure out that this behaviour is caused by some Virtualbox package. After issuing "apt-get purge virtualbox*", the normal behaviour returned. Fortunately I don't use Virtualbox, it was installed 'just in case', so I could remove it without affecting everyday usage. But it seems that something in Virtualbox is seriously broken.

A cut from apt's history.log after upgrade and before package removal:

virtualbox:amd64 (5.0.40-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2, 5.1.34-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2)
virtualbox-dkms:amd64 (5.0.40-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2, 5.1.34-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2)
virtualbox-guest-additions-iso:amd64 (5.0.40-0ubuntu1.16.04.1, 5.1.34-0ubuntu1.16.04.2)
virtualbox-guest-dkms:amd64 (5.0.40-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2, 5.1.34-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2)
virtualbox-guest-utils:amd64 (5.0.40-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2, 5.1.34-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2)
virtualbox-guest-x11:amd64 (5.0.40-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2, 5.1.34-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2)
virtualbox-qt:amd64 (5.0.40-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2, 5.1.34-dfsg-0ubuntu1.16.04.2)