VirtualBox Ubuntu 24.04 VM Shows Black Screen on Boot

Abstract: Recently installed Docker Desktop. Tried opening Ubuntu 24.04 Virtual Machine on VirtualBox, but it boots to a black screen with a GRUB menu blinking cursor that disappears after a few seconds.

Created: 2025-03-08 by UserComp.com Editors

Introduction

In this article, we will discuss the issue of a black screen when booting an Ubuntu 24.04 virtual machine in VirtualBox after installing Docker Desktop. We will cover the key concepts related to this problem, including the GRUB menu, VirtualBox settings, and possible solutions.

Understanding the GRUB Menu

The GRUB menu is a boot loader that allows you to choose the operating system you want to boot. In the case of a virtual machine, it is displayed when you start the virtual machine, and you can select the operating system you want to load.

GRUB Menu Black Screen

A black screen on the GRUB menu can occur due to several reasons, such as a misconfiguration of the virtual machine settings, an issue with the graphics card, or a problem with the operating system itself.

VirtualBox Settings

VirtualBox has several settings that can affect the booting process of a virtual machine. One of these settings is the graphics controller, which can be set to VMSVGA, VBoxSVGA, or VGA. Changing this setting can solve the black screen issue.

Changing the Graphics Controller

To change the graphics controller, follow these steps:

Shut down the virtual machine.
Open the settings of the virtual machine.
Go to the "Display" section.
Change the graphics controller to VMSVGA or VBoxSVGA.
Start the virtual machine and see if the issue is resolved.

Possible Solutions

There are several possible solutions to the black screen issue, including:

Reinstalling the guest additions.
Updating VirtualBox and the guest operating system.
Changing the boot order in the BIOS settings.
Allocating more memory to the virtual machine.
Disabling 3D acceleration in the virtual machine settings.

Reinstalling the Guest Additions

The guest additions are additional software that can be installed on the guest operating system to improve the integration with VirtualBox. Reinstalling the guest additions can solve the black screen issue.

Start the virtual machine.
Insert the guest additions CD image.
Run the installation script.
Restart the virtual machine and see if the issue is resolved.

Updating VirtualBox and the Guest Operating System

Updating VirtualBox and the guest operating system can also solve the black screen issue. Make sure that both VirtualBox and the guest operating system are up to date.

Changing the Boot Order in the BIOS Settings

Changing the boot order in the BIOS settings can solve the black screen issue. You can access the BIOS settings by pressing F2 or F10 during the booting process.

Allocating More Memory to the Virtual Machine

Allocating more memory to the virtual machine can also solve the black screen issue. You can do this by increasing the memory size in the virtual machine settings.

Disabling 3D Acceleration in the Virtual Machine Settings

Disabling 3D acceleration in the virtual machine settings can solve the black screen issue. You can do this by unchecking the "Enable 3D Acceleration" option in the virtual machine settings.

References

VirtualBox Manual: Display Settings
Ubuntu Community: GRUB 2
VirtualBox Forums: Black screen after

Tags: Linux VirtualBox

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