Access guest Windows XP filesystem from Ubuntu host.

[NERV Agent]

I know how to access a folder on the host machine (Ubuntu) from the guest machine (Windows XP), but how do I do the reverse?

I need Ubuntu to access "C:\Windows" on my virtual machine from my host environment.

[andyp73]

Your best, in fact possibly only, option is to share the folder in Windows XP using its standard sharing mechanism and then mount it as a disk in Linux.

I'm not sure why you would want anything to have access to the key Windows directory that isn't Windows. It strikes me as a catastrophe waiting to happen.

-Andy.

[NERV Agent]

How do I got about doing that?

There is an important file in "C:\WINDOWS\system32" that I must edit "from the outside".

Don't worry, I'm not trying to pirate software because I actually bought my Windows XP 64-bit disc.

[andyp73]

Don't worry, I'm not trying to pirate software because I actually bought my Windows XP 64-bit disc.

Please don't feel you are being accused of pirating software. I was more concerned about files inadvertently getting deleted and then the guest not booting.

How do I got about doing that?

The short version is: In Windows, right-click on the folder in Explorer and select the option that talks about sharing (I don't have my XP guest to hand). You'll need to set appropriate permissions. In Linux you will need to use the mount command with the "-t cifs" type and then other path information.

The longer version of the answer is probably to use a search engine and look for "share Windows XP folder" and "mount windows share in Linux".

-Andy.

[mpack]

It should perhaps be mentioned that in order to share a folder over a network with your host, the VM and the host need to be on the same network. Effectively that means that the VM must be configured for bridged or "host only" networking, not NAT.