virtualbox.org

Afer installing vbox 4.2.16 on my Windows 7 machine via an RDP connection, I noticed immediatley that I was not able to access file sharing, or any other service provided by that computer from another on the same LAN. I can't even ping the computer in question.

The computer has an IP assigned, can access the internet, as well as ping other computers on the network.

It has something to do with Windows Firewall. If I disable it, I can access all the services again, but that is not desirable.

The question is: Does anyone know what rule is causing this?

Google hasn't been much help. It has been mostly providing info on how to allow specific programs through.

You've already came up to the conclusion that Windows Firewall is the issue here.
Shouldn't you ask in a Windows forum?

I apologize in advance if I come across as a little snarky, but this isn't just a Windows firewall issue--it is also a VirtualBox issue, because it seems that vbox is butting heads against the firewall.

Since I am having difficulty with network issues, I can't help but wonder if this is one of the problems I'm running into. (I don't think it is, though.) If someone knows the answer to this issue, there's really no reason why the answer shouldn't be here! And that's even considering that asking this question on a Windows forum wouldn't be out of place, either.

It probably has to do with the way Windows sees the host-only adapter and sets it to public (IIRC).
If you are not going to need the host-only adapter I would simply disable it and see if things work properly.

There is a way to actually fix this and it requires a regedit but I don't remember exactly what it is since I don't use Windows hosts any more. Google should provide that answer if no one tells you how here.