DOS programs fail to list files on Shared Folders

[VWC]

I am using VirtualBox 4.1.0. The host runs Windows 7 Professional 64bit. The guest is Windows XP Professional (32bit).

I share a number of folders / drives from the host using Share Folders and there is no problem in seeing/using the contents in Windows programs in the guest.

In the guest I am also using a number of DOS programs (WordPerfect, DataPerfect).

However, when I call up a listing of available files in eg WordPerfect the program shows no files on the shared folder. But I can open a file in WordPerfect from the shared folder if I know its name.

For example, if on the host is a folder called "c:\temp", and a file called "extra.wpd". The host folder is shared with Shared Folders as drive P. When I call a file listing in WordPerfect for drive P: no files are shown. But if I use the file open command in WordPerfect and type in "P:\temp.wpd" I can open the file (and edit it, save it, print it).

Is there a setting / solution to this (ie that DOS programs can see files stored on a shared folder)? Help with this would be very gratefully received.

[mpack]

That is a Microsoft support question, not a VirtualBox question. You are saying that 16 bit apps running under the WOW16 API in XP do not see shared folders, and yes, I believe I've heard that before. It has nothing to do with running XP as a VM.

[VWC]

Thank you for your response.

I am not an (technical) expert so forgive me if I have posted in the wrong place.

But the DOS programs when operating under a 'real' version of Windows XP Professional (ie not run as a virtual machine) do list the files and the other virtual programs I have used (Windows Virtual PC and VMWare) when running a Windows XP guest have both, when using their equivalent of Shared Folders, allowed the DOS programs to show the list of files.

Obviously I made a wrong assumption that a problem arising in one virtual program but not others has nothing to do with that virtual program.

[mpack]

the DOS programs when operating under a 'real' version of Windows XP Professional (ie not run as a virtual machine) do list the files

Really? That certainly makes the problem more interesting. I assume that when you say "Shared folders" you are talking about the VirtualBox Guest Additions feature, and not true network shares. In that case it implies that the VBox feature somehow does not support 16 bit apps... in which case I suspect you'll have trouble getting the devteam interested in your problem - the features provided by the GAs are what they are.

You could try setting up a true network share instead. For that you need to be using "bridged" or "host only" network mode, and both guest and host need to be part of the same workgroup (see Computer Name tab in My Computer - both host and guest). You have to right click a folder in the host OS and enable sharing: and for security I would not keep anything in there that you don't want the wider world to see. When you run the guest you should be able to find your folder in \\HOSTNAME\Foldername.

Tip: make sure the shared folder name is as simple as possible: for example "Shared", "Downloads" etc. One word, no spaces, no punctuation or non-English characters, not too long.

[VWC]

Thank you very much for the information.

You were right, I did mean the VirtualBox Guest Additions feature (Shared Folders).

I changed the network connection to Bridged, and created a true network share (using Net Use), and now can see a list of files in the DOS programs I use (both host and guest were already both joined to a domain).

Thank you again.