VirtualBox Screen Resolution Too Small During Installation

Question

I'm trying to install a new Ubuntu distribution using VirtualBox, but on this particular distro (Pop!_OS), the initial screen resolution in VirtualBox is too small for the guided installation. There are buttons that I need to click, but I can't see them, move my mouse to them, or resize the window.

I know the usual solution is to install the Guest Additions for VirtualBox, but when I select "Devices" -> "Insert Guest Additions CD image..." I get an error since the virtual optical drive is already being used by the distro's installation image. How can I increase the screen resolution so I can continue through the installation?

Answer 1

Boot the installer in EFI mode not legacy-BIOS mode.

It's Settings->System->Enable EFI (special OSes only).

I just tested this with POP!_OS 20.10. BIOS mode: tiny 800x600 window. EFI mode: window is large enough to fit the installer.

If you do get an 800x600 window, you can also move the installer window so that you can see the desktop, right-click on the desktop, choose "Display Settings", and increase the resolution.

Answer 2

Encountered same problem a week ago.

If you can't see the title bar to move it, hold down left-Alt then left click anywhere in the window, you will see hand tool to move the window screen and you will see the buttons which were not visible before.