Sharing Drives on Vbox

[Ewen]

Some time ago I installed VirtualBox and successfully "shared" all the complete drives on the computer. I have since had to re-install the entire system (VirtualBox included) and I can't remember the syntax I used to connect to the drives. I have used the syntax on page 60 of the manual but it fails each time. I seem to remember that there are two things to be done to achieve this but I'm blowed if I can remember.

To clarify my use of other drives I have two systems (Vista and Win 7) on two drives in the tower and I access them by altering the priority in the BIOS. I also have a third disk partitioned into three where I keep documents, videos and photographs. I use XP in a virtual drive in Vista and would therefore like to be able to access the other drives as opposed to other folders.

[stefan.becker]

Version?

And what is the exact input and what is the exact error message?

[Sasquatch]

Not much changed when you look at the GA part in the manual. It's still the command net use x: \\vboxsrv\share. Use -p to make it survive a Guest reboot. Of course, the GA need to be installed and the share must exist in the VM settings.

[Ewen]

Thank you Sasquatch... I used the command net use x: \\vboxsrv\share etc. but it is the last bit that I need. Whatever I use I am presented with this message:

System Error 67 has occurred
The Network name cannot be found

I have a hard copy of the manual but apart from the section 4.5 Folder Sharing I can find no syntax for sharing Drives.

Thank you also stefan.becker the version I am using is 3.0.6r52128. I have downloaded the latest version but not yet installed until I can get this bit sorted out.

[Sasquatch]

Did you install the Guest Additions? And do you also have a shared folder defined? You need to use the name given there instead of 'share' from my example. It's all described in the manual.

[Ewen]

Thank you Sasquatch... I do have "Guest Additions" installed and I do substitute a description for the word "share" but no matter what description I use I still get the same error.

I'm going around in circles here, what I need to know is the bit that goes at the end thus: net use G: \\vboxsvr\what goes here to link to a drive for example to link to my drive e:\ which contains maybe 20 folders.

I have done it before and it worked perfectly but I can't remember how I did it

[Sasquatch]

That's why you must read the User Manual. Please don't waste our time with questions that are answered there.

[Ewen]

I am so sorry to have wasted your time and I won't ask any more questions of you. Please be aware that I have printed the entire manual from beginning to end and I have gone through it meticulously to find the answer without success (section 4.5 in particular). I have no trouble linking to a folder but I cannot link to a drive.

Bear in mind also that the users of VBox are not all mental giants and some of us although capable are not so well versed in the mechanics of the programme to understand some of it's more complex aspects... some of us do need help end some of us do ask questions which may seem puerile to the learned nevertheless we do need help.

It is of no value saying "don't waste our time... read the manual". You may as well make that statement to every question posed here and do away with the forum altogether.

I have no doubt that eventually I will find out how to do this and it will be without your help. Please accept my thanks for the help I have received in the past ( I have previously asked some silly questions).

Regards.

[Sasquatch]

Update your profile too, we have to keep reading your previous posts to figure out which OS you run as Host and Guest. If you have some problems with something, but have difficulties explaining it, attach a screenshot. A picture tells more than a thousand words after all.

[Ewen]

I'll do that but it is difficult to provide a screen-shot of a line of text... Net use x: \\vboxsvr etc. etc.

[Sasquatch]

But the Shared Folder definition shouldn't be too hard to capture? You run Vista too, it has the Snipping Tool. Run the net use command in the Guest, grab the SF definition (by right clicking the folder icon in the status bar) and capture both in one shot with the snipping tool.

[Ewen]

I have since managed to create paths to my other drives and this is how you should have answered my post which would have avoided endless posts with the accompanying ill temper.

1.) Open VirtualBox and click the Settings icon
2.) Navigate to "Shared Folders" and click to open
3.) Use the icon on the right of the box to add a shared folder
4.) In "Folder Path" click "Other" and navigate to the drive or folder you wish to add. Note that the drive/folder must already exist.
5.) In the space provided enter the name you intend to use in the "net use etc." Command
6.) Finally Start the Vbox and open the Command Prompt
7.) Use the command "net use x: \\vboxsvr\sharename" and for the sharename use the name you gave the folder/drive you used in the Settings dialogue. For "x:" allocate the drive letter you wish to use

Someone else is bound to ask this question (or something similar) and you have an instant answer. I appreciate that you are busy and work voluntarily, I also appreciate that you are asked foolish questions which really don't deserve an answer, but and a BIG BUT you should develop the ability to recognise a legitimate question and perhaps the posters inability to understand the sometimes complex dialogue used in the User Manual.

Regards