Shared Clipboard and Drag'n'Drop do not work

[tmarex]

Hi,

Shared Clipboard and Drag'n'Drop do not work for me if I want to use it for files.

Host: Windows 8 (same for Windows 7)
Guest: Windows XP SP3
Virtualbox 4.2.4 r81684
Shared Clipboard: Bidirectional
Drag'n'Drop: Bidirectional

Should it work as in VMware?

Thanks and regards,

Marex

[tmarex]

I'm attaching logs from virtual machine folder

[mpack]

These features are disabled by default. Enable them in the VM settings if you want them, and note that drag and drop is currently only available for Linux guests (at the time of writing: VirtualBox v4.2.4).

[Perryg]

Code: Select all

00:00:02.901260 Shared clipboard mode: Bidirectional
00:00:02.914084 Drag'n'drop mode: Bidirectional

Log shows them as enabled. However the drag'n'drop only works for Linux guest (for now) as Don says and only set to "host to guest ".
As for the Clipboard, I have no answer Usually something it installed on the Windows host that conflicts somehow. Look through bugtracker and add you information to an already opened ticket.

[antrombe]

Hi,

I opened a ticket #11280 where I asked to correct this behaviour.
They replied that clipboard does not support files copy/paste, neither they are intended to add this functionality!

Does anybody know why?
I think this will force me to use VMWare instead.

[mpack]

Did you mention files in your original post, or was that your edit to it?

Anyway, the devteam response is correct. Copy and paste of files between PCs is not supported, has never been supported, and will probably never be supported. By all means try VMWare.

[Twisted Lucidity]

I have noticed copy/paste randomly failing. I suspect Office (specifically Outlook) but I haven't yet managed to narrow down the steps to recreate (so I haven't opened a bug or added info as I don't have enough info). I have also see the exact same problem with VMWare Workstation as well.

My preferred solution on both platforms is a common folder that the host shares with the guests. It's super-easy and any worries about different host/guest OSs evaporate.

[antrombe]

Anyway, the devteam response is correct. Copy and paste of files between PCs is not supported, has never been supported, and will probably never be supported. By all means try VMWare.

but I was just wondering WHY it "will probably never be supported".
VMWare supports it, I don't think it is so hard to implement.

[mpack]

Even if VirtualBox supported such a feature, I would disable it. That's because I'm a programmer and understand the dangers implied by giving the VM a hidden ability to open, read and write files on the host without the network permission constraints of shared folders. I hope you understand that drag and drop is just a command metaphor - the actual function performed being file copying.

[antrombe]

Even if VirtualBox supported such a feature, I would disable it. That's because I'm a programmer and understand the dangers implied by giving the VM a hidden ability to open, read and write files on the host without the network permission constraints of shared folders. I hope you understand that drag and drop is just a command metaphor - the actual function performed being file copying.

You are right, thanks for the reply.
And I know that already now the shared clipboard comes disabled by default just because of security issues.
Anyway, it would be great if it was up to me to decide wheter to enable it or not, wouldn't it?

[mpack]

I'm sure that if enough of Oracle's paying customers demand the feature then it will be added. Until then - not.

[Hitower]

I know this is an old thread but I'm here because its among the top 3 Google search results when trouble-shooting the drag'n drop / shared clipboard functionality, and I suspect other people in the same situation will follow.
I wanted to mention that since both the OPs (and mine too) Guest and Host machines are Windows-based, we could just enable Windows Remote Desktop (Terminal Services) on the Guest thereby achieving drag'ndrop and shared clipboard functionality that way. It depends on which Virtualbox features are needed of course, but if its just those 2 features then yeah works great.

[novahux]

As its a top Google search and I ended up here, try this in case you were still looking for a way (in windows XP/V/7/8).

(CAUTION - THIS WILL BREAK THE SANDBOX - Security)

Set guest network adapter from NAT to Bridged,
Share a folder on the VM guest, "everyone read/write"
On the host PC, run this from the start. search or run command
\\nameofguestcomputer eg: \\vm-pc
or
\\ip-address of guest eg: \\192.168.1.3

[mpack]

@novahux: Your post has absolutely nothing to do with drag and drop, or with shared clipboard. Time to lock this old thread I think.