How can I copy and paste from one machine to the other?

[virtual_user]

I'm running a macbook air, and I installed virtual box and then a copy of windows on virtual box. However, when I copy text to the pasteboard from either the mac or the virtual machine, I cannot paste it into programs on the other machine. Is there an easy fix for this? Thanks!

[bobthesungeek]

Did you install "Guest Additions" in you guest OS?

[mpack]

VirtualBox version?

Since v4.1.22 the clipboard defaults to disabled. You must explicitly enable it by going to <Settings>|General|Advanced and setting Shared Clipboard to "Bidirectional". And of course the GAs must be installed in each guest.

[virtual_user]

Did you install "Guest Additions" in you guest OS?

I did not install guest additions, thank you! I'll try it now. But I'm a little confused. Am I installing this to my mac (the physical machine on my desk) or to the virtual windows machine?

[virtual_user]

VirtualBox version?

Since v4.1.22 the clipboard defaults to disabled. You must explicitly enable it by going to <Settings>|General|Advanced and setting Shared Clipboard to "Bidirectional". And of course the GAs must be installed in each guest.

Thanks! I'm running version 4.2.1, and I have found and checked the bidirectional shared clipboard option. I'll now work to install the GA.

[rpmurray]

Install the guest additions in the virtual machine.

[virtual_user]

Thanks, all. Got the Guest Additions installed, and it works great!