virtualbox.org

Reviewed the instruction on how to enable copy / paste between Host and VirtualBox

1) Installed VirtualBox Guest addition (via Devices / Install Guest Additions)
- Rebooted the VirtualBox system

2) on VirtualBox selected menu :Machine / Settings / General / Advanced
- Shared clipboard is Bi-directional

To cover the "just-in-case", I rebooted my whole system.

No copy / paste in EITHER direction (it should the "one-way" no-enter symbol

Please direct me to further instructions

Bi-directional Shared clipboard only works with text. What are you trying to copy paste?

I need to copy word-docs and Excel spreadsheets.
I use the VirtualBox platform (XP and Office 2003) to make sure that docs and spreadsheets display and work correctly (many macros in Excel)

In the end, it will be an entire directory with its subdirectories and files (drag and drop)

Files are not text. You can only copy and paste text. drag and drop between host and guest does not exist.

Interesting, I know it was working for me right after installation (Dec-31-2011).

If you are correct, how do I transfer files between host and Vbox?

You transfer file between the host and the guest with either a network share of by using the shared folders feature of VirtualBox

Using the Shared folder selection from menu Devices. Both the Host and VirtualBox have a C drive defined

Say I want to share the C: from the host In VMbox selected Devices / Shared Folder. Then from the icon "Add a new shared folder definition" used Folder path / Other selection to pich the Host C drive. I also selected AutoMount and Permanent.

The list displayed has the C drive shown

However, It does not seemed to make any difference. The Paste is not allowed (in either direction)

"C:" is not a folder designation. "C:\" is.

Having said that, you would be certifiable IMHO if you designated your hosts system root folder as shared.