[ubuntu] VirtualBox Ubuntu wont restart after running tasksel

I have been trying for ten days to create a virtual Ubuntu server using Oracle VirtualBox which is running on Windows 10.

In general I am able to create the virtual machine with no problems.

I then run tasksel to install LAMP and Samba.

Now, after a restart I see a message like

/dev/sda5: clean, 129507/4571136 files, 2058864/18269184 blocks

and the restart hangs.

A second attempt at restart throws me into a terminal from which I can't seem to do anything.

I suspect it has something to do with the configuration of the virtual drive but nothing I've tried seems to help.

Any suggestions? Thanks