WinXP freezes when accessing shared folder

[pascal]

Hi,

I'm using WinXP as guest in an Ubuntu 8.10 host system. VB is version 2.1 PUEL. Newest Guest Additions are installed.

I can connect to a shared folder - but when I try to open it, Win freezes completely. The only thing I can to is to stop the virtual machine ( = close the window) and to reboot XP. But this doesn't help, when I try to access the folder after the reboot, the same problem occurs.

The location of the shared folder does not seem to have any effect. It doesn't matter if it is on a fat32 or a ext3 partition (I tried it out).

I don't have any problems with Win2000 on the same host - it's just WinXP...

Any idea? I can spend more information, but I don't know which...
Here is the VBox.log: http://media.ubuntuusers.de/forum/attac ... 5/VBox.log


Pascal

[Sasquatch]

Try disabling the WebClient service on your Guest. It's reported that it can give problems (like a BSOD) when you access an SF when it's running.

[pascal]

Hi Sasquatch,

thank you for your reply - unfortunately WinXP still freezes.

Yesterday I tried out a few things and I noticed following: when WinXP is connected to the shared folder, it also freezes when I try to access any other folder - independently whether it's a shared folder or a folder within a virtual device. The problem only occurs when I try to access the folder with the explorer - there's no freezes with the command line. With the command line I can even access my shared folder...

... strange ...

Perhaps, I'll reinstall WinXP...

Pascal

[sandervl]

Could you check if the fix posted here works for you?

[pascal]

Hi Sander,

YES - that's it!! It work's perfectly!
The only thing I had to to was to rename the file to "VBoxSF" (without ".sys") to override the existing file.

Pascal

[HokiePerogi]

I'm having the same issue, but I'm trying to run WinXP as the guest on my Leopard host. Unfortunately VBoxSF does not exist with the VirtualBox application Contents.

Every once in a blue moon I can get the share folders to work without freezing. However, 9 times out of 10, as soon as I open up explorer after mounting the share, I get a freeze. Same thing happens when I'm in Quicken and try to access a file in the share.

[pascal]

You have to put the file to "C:\Windows\System32\Drivers" on your Client. And don't forget to rename it to "VBoxSF" to override the existing file.
To do this without a freeze, open a command line in windows and type the following:

net use x: \\vboxsvr\FOLDERNAME
( with FOLDERNAME = name of your shared folder )
copy x:\VBoxSF.sys c:\windows\system32\drivers\VBoxSF

then reboot windows


Pascal

[HokiePerogi]

Okay, that makes sense.

I was able to replace the file on the Client and reboot. However, it did not resolve my issue. My client is an XP client, and I know this fix was for a different Windows client. However, I"m trying anything to get these shares to work. I'm going to have to resort to Live Mesh instead at this point until this issue is resolved.

[HokiePerogi]

Okay, so I tried replacing both the VBoxSF and VBoxSF.sys file in the Drivers directory. My last two attempts to browse the share have worked flawlessly. Must be the difference between XP, NT, or 2000.

Thanks for the help. Keeping my fingers crossed it keeps working like it has the last few minutes.

[tshann]

Hi,
I've tried downloading the file (Vboxsf.sys) to Winnt/system32. It has no effect. I can actually browse Host shares (they are mapped). However, when I try to click on a file in a host share or run a program from a host share, the guest freezes. I'm running Ubuntu Intrepid X64 (8.1), Vbox x64 and the guest is windows 2000 SP4.

It is UNBELIEVABLE how awesomely fast the Win 2K guest runs in Unbuntu using Virtualbox. If I could get this to resolve, I'd be all set. if anyone has any ideas, I'd appreciate it.
Peace

[Sasquatch]

You could use Samba shares as a work around. If you use NAT, mount the shares through 10.0.2.2.

[tshann]

>You could use Samba shares as a work around. If you use NAT, mount the shares through 10.0.2.2.

Thanks for your input - super appreciate it. I'm a newbie to Linux and using this win guest to phase me away from Windows. I don't know samba and am currently reading up on how to set it up. So I may try it, though I don't know how that is a workaround. Seems like my guest gets temperamental when reading off a network drive. In my limited understanding, I thought that what samba will do - just give more network drives. But I'm assuming there is more to it.

What I've done so far, as a workaround, is use truecrypt. I set up a 7 gig file on one of my NTFS partitions. Truecrypt mounted the file as a local partition. I then copied all my documents, pdfs, video files, music, etc onto that pseudo local drive. I set up a batch file that mounts the truecrypt file as local drive t:. I put the batch file in my windows guest startup file. So when I boot up, the fake local drive comes up. So now my quickbooks, and other programs think I'm running everything from a local drive (which I actually am anyway, because all my ntfs partitions are shared by my vista dual boot).

It was a bit of a pain to set up, but now that it's all set up, the win2000 guest appears to be buying it. It's also a solution to my Quickbooks which rejected network shares. But it sees this as local and doesn't complain. So a bit of a pain, but a workable workaround. I do hope they get it fixed ultimately. But for now, I have a workaround that appears to solve all the problems.

Again thanks for your suggestion. I have to learn Samba anyway because my laptop is a server for other windows boxes in my office. currently they connect to my Vista partition when I'm running that. So I'll soon have to learn how to configure samba so they can read off their customary partitions located on this laptop . Once it's all set up, I'll get a chance to try out your workaround and let you know.

Peace

[tshann]

It turns out my workaround is an illusion. Using truecrypt as a solution enables SOME access, but not much. I created a truecrypt volume (a big 7 gig file) that truecrypt mounts in my dual boot of win vista 64 and buntu x64. The mounting works, I have access to the volume via both operating systems. The problem is when I'm in Buntu and have my win 2k guest booted, I get problems. When I'm in the guest OS and am trying to read or write to data on the truecrypt volume, it slows both guest and host to a crawl. I can type in the guest, but very slowly. There is NO typing or input in the host while I'm using data in the shared truecrpyt volume on the guest.
So unfortunately, my solution is not a solution. I would try the samba share as someone else was so kind to suggest, but am a bit hesitant to try it unless it has the potential to really work. I've already spent many hours porting data to the truecrypt volume, rebooting in both OS's several times and setting up automount batch files. So I'm hoping there is a solution or workaround that is a bit more certain. I'm skeptical about using a samba share (whatever that is) if the guest OS still sees that share as a network drive. That appears to be the source of the problem. Can someone either enlighten me as to how it could work, or give another suggestion?
Peace

[tshann]

The problem appears fixed in Vbox version 2.1.2. Here's the reference: http://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/2764
Peace

[tshann]

Like others, I had to downgrade from 2.1.2 to 2.1.0 because of the super slow virtual machine (win 2k). However, that brought back the shared folders fiasco. So I re read through here and found I'd mis-read it. Putting VboxSF.sys in Winnt/System32/Drivers - absolutely solved the share problem. So now, with 2.1.0 I'm up and running responsively and well. Thanks for everyone's great suggestions.
Peace[/quote]