virtualbox.org

How do you transfer files between the Mac side and the windows side once you set up the Windows virtual machine? Cut and paste doesn't work, and I can't find any way get sharing to work.

Help!

Ritchie

make sure you have installed Guest Additions in the guest (see section 4 of the user manual), and then setup Shared Folders (see section 4.6 of the user manual).
If you have specific problems or error messages when doing the above, please ask.

Yes, I read that I need to install the guest additions, but I can't figure out how to install the guest additions. The manual says they are provided on a single CD-rom image file called VBoxGuestAdditions.iso. But I can't find where to get that file.

Thanks for your help!

I figured out how to install the guest additions. But now how do I transfer files from the host to the virtual machine (from my Mac desktop to the windows desktop)?

"and then setup Shared Folders (see section 4.6 of the user manual)"
- to quote markC

I have the same problem, except that I have not figured out how to mount GuestAdditions.iso. Actually, I cannot find it. when I start VirtualBox (on which have installed Windows XP), I open the Virtual Media Manager from the top bar, click on CD/DVD images, click <ADD>, but do not see GuestAdditions.iso. ???? Where is it ?

Start up the VM

Select from left side of Menu Bar "Devices"

Select from DropDown menu "Install Guest Additions"

If autorun does not automagically start, then open the CD/DVD drive
and start it

I am missing something here. I am not sure what Menu Bar you are referring to.

When I click on the VirtualBox app icon, I get a popup window labeled "Sun VirtualBox". At the top of the popup box are four buttons: New Settings Start Discard. in the left pane is the XP Virtual Machine I have created. there is no button labeled "Devices" in the popup window. At the top of the screen, the bar reads: "VirtualBox File Machine Help". Again, nothing saying Devices. Also, nowhere do I see GuestAdditions.iso..

Start up the Virtual Machine. Start up the Virtual Machine. Start up the Virtual Machine.

then follow the steps

Start VirtualBox app.

Highlight Windows XP VM in the left side of the popup box. Select <Start> from the menu bar on the popup window. Start Windows XP VM.

Menu Buttons in the popup window change to "New Settings Show Discard". Buttons at the top of the screen: "VirtualBox File Machine Help".
Nothing on the left side of the Menu Bar at the top of the Virtual Box window saying "Devices".
Log on to Windows XP machine.

Still nothing on the left side of the Menu Bar at the top of the Virtual Box window saying "Devices".

However, if I click on the <File> at the top left of the Menu Bar, I get a drop down menu with "Virtual Media Manager" "Import Appliance" "Export Appliance".
Click on "Virtual Media Manager".
A new popup window appears: Virtual Media Manager
Menu Buttons at top: New Add Remove Release Refresh
Buttons on Bar below this: "Hard Disks" "CD/DVD Images" "Floppy Images"
Click on "CD/DVD Images"
blank window.
Click on "Add" button.
A new Popup window appears. The window says it is listing CD/DVD-ROM images (*.iso) in a folder labeled VirtualBox in my Library folder.
A list of folders appears:
Hard Disks
Machines
VDI

Finally, on the left side of the window (although not on the Menu Bar) is the standard OSX list of DEVICES followed by PLACES.

Unfortunately, there is no VBoxGuestAdditions.iso listed. There are no *.iso files listed in any of the folders.

I hope VDI stands for Virtual Disk Images. Unfortunately, the folder only contains "Windows XP Pro on Intel MacBook Pro.vdi" -- my name for the VM.

That's it. So, where and how do I find GuestAdditions ???

Hi Dummy,

Perhaps a "picture is worth a thousand words" . . .
Follow ChipMcK's instructions and you should be fine. Best of luck completing your install!

YES. I never saw that screen. After your screen shot (How do you do that ?), I watched more closely on the startup and found the screen you showed. It appears for 2-3 seconds before morphing into the Menu Bar I described: "VirtualBox File Machine Help".

After repeated restarts (to click on Devices then "Install Guest Additions" before the Menu Bar morphed), I finally did it.
(BTW, do you know how to keep the Menu Bar from morphing ?)

when XP started, I opened an Explore window and see the VirtualBox Guest Additions image. Now I have to select from the various files there to run. At the top level, there are two .exe files which seem like they might work:
VBoxWindowsAdditions.exe
VBoxWindowsAdditions-386.exe

What is the difference ? (I am running this on a MacBook Pro4,1 with 2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor).

Thx.

Hi Dummy,

Usually you can just run the VBox Guest Additions ISO (often the D:/ 'CD Drive') from your WinXP "My Computer" by double clicking on it. If you are having trouble with the Autorun, then give the VBoxWindowsAdditions.exe installer a try. See section 4.3 of the VBox 3.1.2 User Manual for details on Windows Guest Additions.

Good luck with finishing the GA install. . .

Finally got it and it works perfectly for what I want.

Many thanks to all who helped me.

Best Wishes for the Holidays and the New Year.

JS

Guys - I'm a newbie VirtualBox user - and I REALLY appreciate this thread. It helped was *exactly* what I needed! You guys ROCK!

Merry Christmas,

Bob