Running XP using shared directories

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Linux hosts.
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pinnerite
Posts: 40
Joined: 27. Jun 2020, 13:09

Running XP using shared directories

Post by pinnerite »

Until now I have use samba to provider access to Linux directories from XP.

Moving to Linux Mint 21.1 has broken this because the SMB1 or NT1 security protocol has been removed from the default version of samba. (An update in Mint 20.3 did so too but I was able to restore an earlier version of Samba.

The only way I can run it now is to use the VirtualBox shared folders.

This means that instead of say: cd G:\timac\timac.exe, i have to use something like: \\VBOXSVR\timac\timac,exe.

This works for some things but not for others - the point of this topic post.

BUT to test it in cmd.exe I get an error message saying it cannot handle commands in that format.

I have also tried say, Z:\timac\timac.exe

Surely there must be others who have to use XP for certain important programs?

I would be grateful for advice.
scottgus1
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Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Running XP using shared directories

Post by scottgus1 »

Right here is the kicker:
pinnerite wrote:SMB1 or NT1 security protocol has been removed
XP only has SMB1.

So if your host no longer has SMB1, it will not share folders to XP. My web-searches tell me that XP cannot be upgraded to SMB2 or higher. XP simply can't talk to higher-than-SMB1 shared folder services.

Using Virtualbox Shared Folders through Guest Additions may not work for all typical shared folder operations. File & folder copy, yes. Other stuff, maybe, maybe not.

Only other possibility is to see if a more modern OS like Windows Vista or 7 can run your old apps. These have SMB2. If you're stuck with XP, though, you're stuck.
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