Frequently asked questions and issues

related to the
“DigitalSystemsVM” virtual machine
Contents

Downloading the virtual machine

1. Multiple failed attempts to download: Download is always interrupted

Decompressing the virtual machine

2. Incorrect decompression with OS X

3. Decompression failures in Windows with 7-zip

4. Error 0x80004005 during decompression in Windows 7 and 8

5. Error "Unknown method in filename" during decompression in Windows

6. Decompression failed after downloading the virtual machine through a slow and/or unstable
Internet connection

About the installation, startup and operation of the virtual machine

(excluding the use of VerilUOC_Desktop)
7. Can any VMware application be used to run the virtual machine?

8. Can I install the virtual machine in Windows XP?

9. Error in Windows 7 "Failed to create the VirtualBox COM object"

10. Error in Windows 7: "… Kernel panic - not syncing …"

11. When starting, a vertical menu with the following option appears:

- SliTaz GNU/Linux (cooking) (Kernel vmlinuz-2.6.37-slitaz)

12. The top menu in the VirtualBox window containing the virtual machine disappears

13. Virtualization tools VT-d cannot be activated.

14. Difficulties with the best-fit screen resolution of the virtual machine.
Question and Answers – Problems and Solutions

1. Problem: My Internet connection is slow and/or unstable. The download process interrupts
and I have to start over. That issue happened several times.

Solution: To avoid that issue, you can use a download manager as JDownloader or Mipony.
These programs know how to manage a download when the Internet access is interrupted and
in case of slow connections.

2. Problem: In OS X, decompression of DigitalSystemsVM is unsuccessful, although I’m

following the recommended procedure

Solution: Do not use the decompressor included in OS X but the Keka decompressor. The
virtual machine installation manual explains how to install and use Keka for that purpose.

3. Problem: I’m using Windows and I have 7-zip installed from long ago. While decompressing
the virtual machine I get the error message "Unsupported compression method for…" and the
decompression process fails:

Solution: Maybe you have an older version of 7-zip which is not compatible with the one
recommended for the course. Uninstall the old version and install the 7-zip version indicated in
the virtual machine installation manual.
4. Problem: While decompressing the virtual machine in Windows 8 (or Windows 7), I get the
error 0x80004005 as shown below:

Windows 8

Windows 7

Solution: You are using the decompressor included in Windows 8 (or Windows 7) instead of 7-
zip. Consult the virtual machine installation manual to see how to install 7-zip and use it to
decompress the virtual machine.
5. Problem: While decompressing the virtual machine in Windows, I get error messages saying
“Unknown method in filename” (see figure), and no decompression is done.

Solution: You are using WinRar (probably an old version) instead of 7-Zip to decompress the
virtual machine. Consult the virtual machine installation manual to see how to install 7-Zip and
use it to decompress the virtual machine.

6. Problem: The decompression process fails even though I can see the files inside the zip file.
It looks like the file is corrupted. That happens any time I try to download the virtual machine.
My Internet connection is slow and sometimes unstable.

Solution: Maybe you are using the decompressor included in Windows instead of 7-Zip.
Consult the virtual machine installation manual to see how to install 7-Zip and use it to
decompress the virtual machine.

In case you are actually using 7-Zip, maybe the file get corrupted because your Internet
connection. To prevent this situation, you can use a download manager as JDownloader or
Mipony.
7. Question: I have skills in the use of virtual machines, and I commonly use VMware instead of
VirtualBox. Can I use VMware to run the virtual machine instead of VirtualBox?

Answer: No. SliTaz, the Linux distribution used as operating system of the virtual machine,
does not properly work with VMware software.

8. Question: I am still using Windows XP. Can I install the virtual machine under this operating
system?

Answer: Yes, you can install the virtual machine under Windows XP.

Minimum requirements are:

- Pentium 4
- At least 1GB RAM free (not used by other processes)
- 2,5 GB of free disk space

Recommended requirements are:

- multicore processor
- At least 2GB RAM memory
- 2,5 GB of free disk space

To install the virtual machine follow the instructions of the Windows Vista installation
manual, although some figures may differ from those you see in your computer during
installation.

9. Problem: In Windows 7, while starting VirtualBox the message "Failed to create the
VirtualBox COM object" appears (see figure)

Solution: As discussed in the VirtualBox Forums, this error seems to stem from improper
installation of VirtualBox. Several possible solutions are reported:
 - 1st solution: Run in compatibility mode for Windows XP SP 3, and enable “Run the
program as administrator” in the section referring the privilege level.
- 2nd solution: Repair the installation.
- 3rd solution: Uninstall and install it again so that it can be run by all users.

10. Problem: In Windows 7, when starting the virtual machine in VirtualBox the process stops
and the following message appears (see figure):

[X.xxxx] kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill init! exitcode=0x00000004

Solution: Usually this problem is solved by performing the following actions:

- Turn off the virtual machine

- Select the virtual machine and click on Configuration.
- Choose the System option and change the Chipset to ICH9 instead of PIIX3
- Select "Enable IO APIC".

After that the virtual machine should boot without problems.

11. Question: When the virtual machine starts the screen shows a menu with the option:

- SliTaz GNU/Linux (cooking) (Kernel vmlinuz-2.6.37-slitaz)

There is no reference to this screen or the option to be chosen in the installation

manual. What do I have to do?

Answer: This screen usually appears when the machine was not properly shut down the last
time it was used (Applications  Logout  Shutdown system: halt).

Simply click Return to start the operating system (Slitaz).

12. Problem: I cannot see the top menu of the virtual machine window, and therefore I cannot
run the commands (for example, the Guests Additions installation). See in the figures the
difference between the virtual machine screen without (first figure) and with (second figure)
the top menu.

Solution: Type the combination

Right Ctrl + C (Windows and Linux)

Left + C (OS X)
13. Problem: My processor supports VT-d virtualization technology. Using the VirtualBox
setting options I tried to configure the virtual machine to take advantage of VT-d virtualization
technology, but I didn’t success because the Acceleration tab appears disable (see figure).

Solution: Some computers require that the VT-d technology was previously activated in the
BIOS to use it. Check if the BIOS has an option related to the VT-d technology and activate it if
you are interested to use VT-d.

Hardware acceleration cannot be activated when the virtual machine is running.

Therefore, shut down the virtual machine before enabling the hardware acceleration.

14. Problem: I cannot adjust the screen resolution of the virtual machine. When starting, the
screen is so small that VerilUOC_Desktop windows barely fit inside.

Solution: Reinstall the Guest Additions. There is a chapter about installing the Guest Addition in
the virtual machine installation manual.