virtualbox.org

I installed the extension pack. Then I started up the guest machine. At the top of the guest window, I clicked on the "devices" menu item. Then I selected "USB Devices" then selected the name of my USB drive. Then I did the "ls /media" command and all I see is "cdrom" in blue text. It looks like I still cannot see the USB drive.

In the Virtual Box Manager window, I selected USB from the left side menu, then checked the box that says "Enable USB 2.0" I still only see "cdrom" in blue text after doing the "ls /media" command.

When I try to use the --help feature for Linux commands, some topics have so much information that it scrolls off of the top of the window and I can't get back to see it. Is there a Linux attribute that will stop the display before all of the info scrolls off of the window? I know there is something like "/p" for DOS. Then once the display is stopped, what command do I use to get it to continue to the next page of information.

The following should help to get the device working with a Windows host. Linux just works but Windows has its issues I am afraid.
viewtopic.php?f=25&t=55483#p255997

Or if you have issues with USB that can't be overcome then use shared folders.

Linux guest shared folders

The forum link you referred me to was related to running Windows as a guest, I am running Windows as a host.

I read the link about shared folders and I setup a share folder called "VirtualBox" on my USB drive. Then I tried to mount it using "sudo mount -t vboxsf share VirtualBox" command and I get a message saying "mount point VirtualBox does not exist"

Then I tried the "ls /media" command again and I still only see "cdrom" in blue

I think the shared folder setup should work but it appears that I am not setting it up properly still.

I knew it was for a WIndows guest but the principle was the same. Nevertheless shared folder would be easier for you so lets go over that.

First the guest additions must have been installed (in the guest)
Next the mount point needs to exist. I prefer to use /mnt for mounting media so the first thing to do is create the mount point. assuming that you named the share "share as you indicted then the statement would be as follows. Remember that Linux is case sensitive.

Also you should add the read write option so as to have proper permission

In the terminal type id and it will show your uid and gid so the best mount statement would be as follows (assuming the uid and gid are 1000). Note the -o is the letter o not zero

Thanks for your patience, sorry I seem to be making this so difficult, it is just that I follow all of the instructions very closely and things still don't work.

Do I have to reinstall the Guest Additions every time I start up a new Guest?

I restarted the Guest. When I click on "Devices/Shared Folders" I get a message saying that VirtualBox Guest Additions do not seem to be available.

Then I click on "Devices/Install Guest Additions" I get a message saying "unable to mount the CD/DVD image" and it points to the location of the VBoxGuestAdditions.iso file on my computer. Then there is a second message that says "unable to mount the "media/drive" and it points to the location of the VBoxGuestAdditions.iso file on my computer also. Then it says (VERR_PDM_MEDIA_LOCKED)

Then there are two buttons "Force Unmount" and "Cancel"

I guess I will back up and just build a new VM Guest and see if I can install the Guest Additions there.

I built a new Guest VM and in the guest window I click on "Devices/Install Guest Additions" and I get the same "unable to mount..." messages

Does this mean that the Guest Additions are already installed properly?

Hard to say. Does the guest have a desktop or only text?
You can shut the guest down, open the settings for the guest and go to the storage section to see what is in the CD. If is is the guest additions then you simply need to manually run it.

Is it possible for me to talk to you by phone for a few minutes to save all of these back and forth forum conversations?

I don't do phone. Here will do, and I will watch for your replies.

The guest is text only.

Do the Guest Additions have to be installed every time I startup a guest? Or are they permanent once they have been installed the first time?

once they are installed they are installed. Only thing is if a kernel update is done and you do not have DKMS installed (Linux) you would need to run the following to get them to re-build the kernel modules. You can also see if they are installed by clicking the Machine tab at the top and then Session Information.