Shared folders don't appear in Network Places (Vista)

[cbrownkramer]

First off, let me apologize for my extreme naivete regarding this whole thing... I'm NOT a computer person but I want to use Windows applications on my Mac, so if I'm not explaining something clearly/correctly, I'm sorry! I would really appreciate any help you could provide using baby steps and words a 6-year-old could understand.

I successfully installed VirtualBox on my host Mac (running the newest version of OSX Leopard) to run Windows Vista as my guest. So far so good. I installed the Guest Applications ISO. Looks good. I'm now trying to figure out how to share files between the Mac host and the (virtual) Vista guest, and things aren't working smoothly for me.

On the host side, I created 3 shared folders ("Personal," "Work," and "Desktop" to parallel those folders on my Mac) and allowed full access to the guest VM. Now what I need to do is set up the guest to recognize those shared folders and read/write to them. The user's manual says, "You can mount the shared folder from inside a VM the same way as you would mount an ordinary network share"... but since I'm a complete noob, I don't know how to fix the problems I'm encountering with it.

Attempt #1: I went through the instructions in the user's manual to try to do this (it suggests My Network Places-->Entire Network-->VirtualBox Shared Folders-->Map network drive). However, when I go into my guest VM and go to Network (the Vista equivalent of My Network Places) all that shows up is the guest VM. The "VirtualBox Shared Folders" folder doesn't appear.

Attempt #2: The user's manual also suggests using Command and typing net use x: \\vboxsvr\sharename, which I tried (I used M:\\vboxsvr \Personal given the folder names I set up). It tells me "the network name cannot be found."

I've tried restarting my guest VM and that doesn't seem to do anything.

Any suggestions would be VERY appreciated!

Thanks,
Carolyn

[vbox4me2]

Did you try:
net use x: \\vboxsvr\personal
and
net use x: \\vboxsvr\Personal
?
In fact I am in a vista VM updating it and see the same thing, but the net use works fine.

[cbrownkramer]

OK, so it turns out the solution is pretty simple. I was typing "net use M:\\vboxsvr\Personal" instead of "net use M: \\vboxsvr\Personal" (with a space after M:). *blush* It seems to be working 100% fine now.

Interestingly, though, the shared folders don't appear in Network (the Vista equivalent of My Network Places)--they only appear in Computer (the Vista equivalent of My Computer). Go figure.

[hycho]

By the way Windows XP is the "Host" and Windows 7 RC is the "Guest", the "net use Z:\\vboxsrv\Program" or "net use Z: \\vboxsrv\Program" cannot work. Can you guys help me?!

[Perryg]

@hycho,

Have you installed the guest additions?
If so have you setup the share in VirtualBox within the guest settings?

[hycho]

share in VirtualBox within the guest settings? "General": Boot Order "CD/DVD-R" and "Hard Disk", "Extended Features": "Enable ACPI" is setting, "Enable IO APIC" and "Enable PAE/NX" is not setting, "Shared Clipboard" is "Bidirectional", "IDE Controller Type" is "PIX4".

[Perryg]

In the guest settings see the attachment. You must setup the share there first then in the guest open a command window and type this: net use x: \\vboxsvr\sharename -p where sharename is the name you gave the share in VBox. This is all in the users guide that came with your copy of Vbox.

[hycho]

It is Host (Windows XP) Shared Folders's Machine Folders "Program E:\Program Files Full"

It is Guest (Windows 7 RC) is "net use Z: \\vboxsrv\Program -p", does not work.

[vbox4me2]

Its vboxsvr not vboxsrv.

[hycho]

"net use z:\\vboxsvr\Program"
System error 67 has occurred.

The network name cannot be found.

"net use z: \\vboxsvr\Program"
System error 53 has occurred.

The network path was not found.

[hycho]

"net use z:\\vboxsvr\Program -p"
System error 67 has occurred.

The network name cannot be found.

net use z: \\vboxsvr\Program -p"
System error 53 has occurred.

The network path was not found.

[vbox4me2]

Its "net use z: \\vboxsvr\Shared"
Since you called the share name 'Shared".

[hycho]

It did not work.

[Perryg]

hycho,

What did you call the share (exactly) that you made in the guest settings of VirtualBox?

[hycho]

guest(Windows 7 RC} it is "net use z: \\vboxsvr\Shared"