[Solved] Devices Menu

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Linux hosts.
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Devices Menu

Post by mpack »

You understand that it's a virtual CD drive right? The fact that your host doesn't have a physical CD is not unusual. All of a VMs drives are simulated using the content of host files.

To run the Windows GAs installer exe, double click on it. It would help if you enabled the viewing of file extensions so you could more easily identify exe files.
fth0
Volunteer
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Joined: 14. Feb 2019, 03:06
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Linux, Windows 10, ...
Location: Germany

Re: Devices Menu

Post by fth0 »

In the Windows Explorer, just double-click on VBoxWindowsAdditions.
MikeGreen9
Posts: 17
Joined: 9. Mar 2023, 22:20
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Windows 10
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Devices Menu

Post by MikeGreen9 »

Okay I'm Good.
I finally figured out how to get those blasted Guest Additions installed :D .

In Terminal, on the host Ubuntu machine:

sudo apt-get install virtualbox-guest-additions-iso

And that's it.

Thanks for all the help on this topic.

Now I have to figure out setting up a shared folder so that Data can be exchanged between the Guest and the Host, and a Network setup. Of course if I have problems here, I will let you know :D .

Thanks again,
M....
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Devices Menu

Post by mpack »

MikeGreen9 wrote: sudo apt-get install virtualbox-guest-additions-iso

And that's it.
Nope. That's not it. That installs the fork GAs from the Linux repo, and the version it installs is completely unpredictable (and usually wrong IME).
MikeGreen9
Posts: 17
Joined: 9. Mar 2023, 22:20
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Windows 10
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Devices Menu

Post by MikeGreen9 »

Yikes!

It does seem to be working so far.

Would it be best to uninstall and try to do it the usual way (which I'm having trouble doing) ?

Would this remove it properly:
sudo apt remove virtualbox-guest-additions-iso

or
or sudo apt purge virtualbox-guest-additions-iso



Thanks,
M...
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Devices Menu

Post by scottgus1 »

My opinion is that if it is working now, then let it sit. If issues come up later, then these Linux Distro GAs can be uninstalled and official GAs installed in place, by getting the bundled GAs ISO that comes with official Virtualbox into the VM via "Insert Guest Additions CD Image" and running the installer inside the VM's CD drive.
MikeGreen9
Posts: 17
Joined: 9. Mar 2023, 22:20
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Windows 10
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Devices Menu

Post by MikeGreen9 »

I'm looking into installing Guest Additions from the Windows Guest. It will want to install Guest Additions 6.1. Is this correct?
Guest Additions Install From Windows Explorer.png
Guest Additions Install From Windows Explorer.png (86.23 KiB) Viewed 1082 times
If this is correct, should I "sudo apt purge virtualbox-guest-additions-iso" first?

Thanks,
M...
MikeGreen9
Posts: 17
Joined: 9. Mar 2023, 22:20
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Windows 10
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Devices Menu

Post by MikeGreen9 »

Finally got my act together. From within the WIN7 Guest, I brought up Windows Explorer and clicked on "CD Drive D" and "VBoxWindows Additions -x86".

This invoked the Setup Procedure to install "Guest Additions 6.1.38". When completed, I rebooted the WIN7 Guest and I could then access the shared folder that I had previously created.

I never totally understood why this had to be done from within the Guest. Now I realize that it is making mods to the Guest Operating System, probably the infamous Registry, to allow the shared access. So if I want to create another Guest, say WIN8, i will have to install the Guest Additions for that operating system.

Now I will work on USB access and an internet connection.

My next problem - how to mark this post as SOLVED ?

Oracle Virtual Machine is awesome. It's all good. Thanks for all your help,
M....
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