Can I access windows software from both bootcamp and VB?

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Mac OS X hosts.
Post Reply
OTP Tech
Posts: 1
Joined: 4. Oct 2010, 23:52
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Windows 7

Can I access windows software from both bootcamp and VB?

Post by OTP Tech »

Some of the software I run is Windows-only and requires access to the firewire port. Therefore, I have created a 150 GB bootcamp partition on my MacBook Pro and installed Windows 7. However, I also want the convenience of dragging files between the Mac OS and Windows, and am now experimenting with Virtualbox. I am wondering if I can create a virtual machine that accesses the bootcamp partition and the software installed there rather than having to install a second copy of the windows OS and other windows software on the Mac partition. Furthermore, I was wondering if the files that I save to the virtual machine will expand it on the Mac side or on the bootcamp partition.
Sasquatch
Volunteer
Posts: 17798
Joined: 17. Mar 2008, 13:41
Primary OS: Debian other
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows XP, Windows 7, Linux
Location: /dev/random

Re: Can I access windows software from both bootcamp and VB?

Post by Sasquatch »

First of, you can't drag'n'drop files from your Mac to the VM. That feature is not (yet) available. Unless you can somehow get the bootcamp partition as a raw disk in VB, files you put inside the VM won't be on the bootcamp installation. The software you need to run on Windows won't work properly in the VM due to the lack of firewire support.
I find it odd that you have to go the VM way to get files across the systems, as Bootcamp allows you to install the drivers and such for it that allows your Windows access to the Mac partition.
Read the Forum Posting Guide before opening a topic.
VirtualBox FAQ: Check this before asking questions.
Online User Manual: A must read if you want to know what we're talking about.
Howto: Install Linux Guest Additions
Howto: Use Shared Folders on Linux Guest
See the Tutorials and FAQ section at the top of the Forum for more guides.
Try searching the forums first with Google and add the site filter for this forum.
E.g. install guest additions site:forums.virtualbox.org

Retired from this Forum since OSSO introduction.
Post Reply