External USB HD

[blimpman]

Just plugged in a USB 2.0 external hard drive, and its not showing up in windows?

[Perryg]

Extension Pack installed? User name in the vboxusers group?
Remember that USB drives that are mounted and yanked away from the host is dangerous. Release it from the host before you try to mount it in the guest. Or share it and the host and guest can both use it.

[blimpman]

Perryg, so what I've done is gone to virtualbox Downloads and clicked on the

If you are using VirtualBox 4.0.16, please download the extension pack here.

But when when I try opening the file, Windows doesn't recognise the file type?

[Perryg]

What version of VirtualBox are you using?
Click on about in the main manager

[blimpman]

Version 4.1.16 r78094

[Perryg]

Here is a link http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/4.1.16/
Here is how to install it How to install Extension Pack

[blimpman]

Perryg, do i install this via OSX or Windows?

[Perryg]

Just follow the instructions I sent. The Extension Pack goes in the host. Open the VirtualBox main manager and then click on preferences and extension pack. Click the add button and drill to the location of the file.

[blimpman]

Just got the following error message?


Failed to install the Extension Pack /Users/blimpman/Downloads/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-4-1.0.16-75491.vbox-extpack.

VBoxExtPackRegister returned VERR_VERSION_MISMATCH, pReg=0000000000000000 ErrInfo='VirtualBox version mismatch - expected 4.0 got 4.1'.

Result Code: NS_ERROR_FAILURE (0x80004005)
Component: ExtPackManager
Interface: IExtPackManager {3295e6ce-b051-47b2-9514-2c588bfe7554}

[Perryg]

You need to download the one from the link I sent you. The versions *must match.

[blimpman]

Helps to follow instructions

[blimpman]

Perryg,

I've installed the extension pack, however I still can't get any external HDD's mount in Windows.
Not sue if these screen grabs help.

[Perryg]

Looks like the everything is working *but remember I said that you need to release it before it would be available to the guest? Greyed out means it sees it but it is not available. I still say you are better off sharing the device because it is safer and both host and guest can use the device at the same time. Unfortunately I Don't know exactly what to tell you to do on your Mac to release it.

[blimpman]

Thanks Perryg.

The sharing works just fine.

[ChipMcK]

do on your Mac to release it.

Eject works for me