Ubuntu – Removing default Virtualbox guest additions

guest-additionsSecurityvirtualboxvirtualization

I don't want guest additions.

I have Virtualbox on a Windows host running Ubuntu 16.04 LTS as a guest. How do I make sure that all the guest additions are removed from the Ubuntu guest? I so far have run, in Terminal, these:

dpkg -l | grep virtualbox

Which returned: unity-scope-virtualbox

lsmod | grep -io vboxguest

Which returned: vboxguest

Although it doesn't show up as having the typical virtualbox guest additions, the Ubuntu screen size still resizes to the virtual machine's window. Is that actually a part of Ubuntu or from guest additions?

When first installed as a virtual machine, Ubuntu supports mouse pointer integration and screen (virtual machine window) resizing, which are typically from guest additions being installed.

Is there a way to remove the vboxguest kernel module as well?

Thank you.

Best Answer

From using the commands:

dpkg -l | grep virtualbox
ii  unity-scope-virtualbox      0.1+13.10.20130723-0ubuntu1      all    VirtualBox scope for Unity

And

lsmod | grep vboxguest
vboxguest   282624  6 vboxsf,vboxvideo

Since you want to remove these packages do as follows:

  1. modules vboxguest:

    • Change into /opt/VBoxGuestAdditions-<version_number> folder

      cd /opt/VBoxGuestAdditions-<version_number>

    • In there run:

      sudo ./uninstall.sh

  2. For the guest additions unity-scope-virtualbox: 

    sudo dpkg-query -s unity-scope-virtualbox

Package: unity-scope-virtualbox
Status: install ok installed
Priority: optional
Section: gnome
Installed-Size: 77
Maintainer: Ubuntu Developers <ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com>
Architecture: all
Version: 0.1+13.10.20130723-0ubuntu1
Replaces: unity-lens-vm
Provides: unity-lens-vm
Depends: python3, python3-gi, gir1.2-unity-5.0 (>= 7), gir1.2-dee-1.0 (>= 1.2.5), unity-scopes-runner, gir1.2-glib-2.0
Conflicts: unity-lens-vm
Description: VirtualBox scope for Unity
This package contains the "virtualbox" scope which allows Unity
to search for VirtualBox content.
Original-Maintainer: David Callé <davidc@framli.eu>
Homepage: https://launchpad.net/unity-scope-virtualbox
    • This is used by unity for search and probably be left alone.
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