Virtualization Video Guide to run Ubuntu 12.04 on MacBook Pro with VirtualBox, a free Virtualization Software and is really for virtualization for the dummies. It is quite easy to follow Virtualization Video Guide.
Just read this Virtualization Video Guide first, then watch the video with sound on with a headphone. The voice instructions are important and unfortunately I had to use Apple EarPod as my microphone is not with me but after working on iMovie, it appearing to me that EarPod’s microphone is not that bad as I expected. That is ‘Making of Virtualization Video Guide’ part though !
Virtualization Video Guide : The Technical Part
Basically as MacBook Pro 15″ has 4 GB of physical RAM (on Mid 2012 and thereafter models) as minimum and a quad core processor, running any virtualization software is smooth. But, VirtualBox itself will not support the Graphics Card but VESA mode, onboard graphics is not really powerless but VirtualBox is not for production usage, it is nice as a free software for example, you can carry your Windows PC on a pen drive an run on Mac just like we wrote in Virtual Machine From Physical Machine Using Disk2VHD guide.
You can download VirtualBox from Oracle’s website :
1 | http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/server-storage/virtualbox/downloads/index.html |
Virtualization Video Guide : Video Specific Instructions
It is quite easy to follow (and has some funny added sounds!). It is important to watch the Settings part (1:44 onwards) for optimized performance. Do not change settings which you do not know.
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You must know that, Virtualization is a processor intense task and cooling is important part. For running the guest OS / VirtualBox for longer time, it is suggested to use some kind of cooling pad to create a gap for better natural airflow between the metal base of MacBook Pro and your Table. Do not run additional processor intense task.
MacBook Pro has excellent cooling fans, still, if it gets very hot, shut down everything and let the MacBook to cool itself. Only use ice (wit proper wrapping) if you know what you are actually doing. As the body is of Aluminum, cooling a ‘safe corner’ will cool the whole system. It is obvious from basics of physics that, cooling fast can be dangerous itself.
If you get stuck on any step, write on comment.
Hello
I followed your instruction step by step, but when I select “Try Ubuntu” it says
The system is running in low graphics mode
Your screen graphics card and input device settings could not be detected correctly. You will need to configure these yourself
I have a Retina 13″ Late 2012.
Any tips?
Hello Mimmo,
Have to tried to increase the Graphics Memory ? It will be on Settings > Display Settings. Increase it to maximum (128MB) and tick mark “Enable 3D Acceleration”.
As far as I can recall, late 2012 13″ MBP has only Intel HD Graphics 4000.
Check these :
https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=35383
https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=35383
Basic issue is the same like you.
BTW, 13″ will get a bit hot while running any virtualization software for longer time, use proper position to allow the airflow.
-Abhishek
Thank you for your reply Abhishek
Yes my graphics card is a Intel HD Graphics 4000 768 MB
I set the graphics settings exactly how you show in your video, increasing the graphics memory to maximum and enabling the the 3D acceleration.
I will check the two link you gave me and I will let you know if one of them works for me.
Also thank you for the suggestion about the airflow
You are welcome Mimmo. As actually I used 15″ MBP, it possibly created no problem as OS X switched from the Intel onboard graphics chipset. Although inside VirtualBox, Ubuntu runs in VESA mode.
Definitely, please report back what happened after following the guides…
I will give up for the moment.
I followed, as it has been possible, the tips in the link you gave me but I still have the same problem. Nothing is changed.
Honestly after the 10.40, Ubuntu disappointed me, too many resources requested to the computer. Maybe I could try with an older version.
Thank you again for your help. If I will try again, with better results, I will let you know.
Why you are not trying Debian…essentially the commands will the be the same plus better privacy…
Hello Abhishek,
at the end I installed Ubuntu 10.40. I performed all the updates and I installed also the VirtualBox Guest Additions (that, I think was the problem). Then I upgraded to the 12.04 LTS from the Update Manager. And it works, luckily.
Thank you very much again for your tips and support
No problem Mimmo. Just think, how many people will just read the conversion and get helped – you are also contributing to the help !
Ubuntu possibly has some things which are difficult to explain why happens !