Guest screen resolution

[avmad]

Hi,

I have Windows XP Pro as a guest and Windows XP Pro as the host and am using VirtualBox 3.0.6.

Could someone tell me how I can have my guest use the full host screen resolution? i.e. I use my Dell E4300 at 1280 x 800 and would like to use my guest VM to watch DVDs at the whole of that resolution if possible.

Hope you can help!

[Perryg]

Are the guest additions installed?

[avmad]

Hi again,

Is there any way I can tell if the additions are installed properly? Reason I ask is that I have installed and re-installed them (according to the manual) and I dont seem to detect any difference or enhanced functionality.

Thanks.

[Perryg]

If the guest additions are installed you will have an icon by the clock that when you put the arrow there it will tell you the version of the guest additions.
You mag need to hit host+g to turn on the auto re-size feature then host+f will toggle full screen and back.

[Sasquatch]

I would personally use the Host to watch DVDs. Two things: performance, the DVD might stutter or drop frames and quality. The output might not be as smooth as on the Host when upscaling the resolution from native DVD to full screen.

[avmad]

It seems that the guest additions *are* installed as I do see the version number (3.0.2) in the mouse over and I am able to resize the screen as you directed, so that is great. Thank you.

I guess I'm still doing something wrong as I am still unable to mount the host C and D drives.

If I select "Devices" then select mount, I see a "Host drive E:" entry. If I select this, what actually happens is that a Windows Explorer window comes up for the D: drive (my CD/DVD drive) instead. Any ideas on this one?

Thanks again.

avmad
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[avmad]

I would personally use the Host to watch DVDs.

Thanks Sasquatch. I'm sure you will be proved right on that. However, the main reason that I want a good VM to use is that my company does not like staff to install "non-standard" apps on its laptop images. These could and do include apps that I want to use regularly without polluting the standard environment, such as TomTom One, Home HP printer drivers, media players etc. I'm hoping that VirtualBox will allow me to do this stuff.

Cheers!

[Sasquatch]

A free and small player that plays DVDs natively is Media Player Classic. No installation required, runs from where ever you put it (USB stick, DVD, CD, phone memory).

The Guest will certainly be able to do what you want. To access the Host file system, you have to read the manual, section Shared Folders. It's part of the Guest Additions. And have you checked the links in my signature?

[avmad]

Thanks - No I haven't. Will start reading first thing tomorrow as it's getting later here now...

[avmad]

Following a read of the manual pertaining to shared folders, I went ahead and created some shared folders that point to the host disks (see attachment). However, inside the XP Pro VM, if I go to network places, I cannot see the shares. I must have missed something fundamental. Could anyone assist?

Thanks.

[Perryg]

Assuming you have installed the guest additions:
You create a share in the guest settings of the VBox program then start the guest and then open a command window and type the following to mount the share in Windows.

Code: Select all

net use x: \\vboxsvr\sharename -p

Replace sharename with the name you gave the share in VirtualBox. It will now show up in your file manager.

Do this for each share you have and give them separate drive letters.
If you want to see the network shares without mapping you need to switch the file browser to classic and then they should show.