Shared folders

[buster953]

Hi There,
I am running 4.3.12 on Windows 7 64bit and want to view the files on the VM from the host machine. Is this possible please?
The Help and Setup instruction seem to only talk about access of files of the host machine from within the VM.
I tried to created a shared folder but I seem to be able only to select a folder on the host machine.
I read online that I needed to insert guest additions but I can't find that option.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

[mpack]

You could only do that with a normal network share. I suggest that you also think about the malware implicatons of exposing all VM folders to the host.

[buster953]

Thanks for that.
There is nothing sensitive on the VM and I only use it to run a particular program that is embedded into the VM.
Also, this is my machine at home and only I have access to it, unless of course it gets stolen!
Does that make it safer to share?
I really need access to the output files on the VM so do you have any other ideas please?
I previously used to view the files by the following:
1. Go to Computer Management in Control Panel.
2. Storage, click Disk Management, then Right click, Attach VHD.
3. Choose the VHD file and click Ok.
4. Open Windows Explorer and you see a new "disk" and open to see the file contents.
The problem with this is that it worked great but I then couldn't get VB to work again and I had to go to the early version cos some security thing happened. This was the subject of an earlier forum post that I made. Maybe it won't happen with the earlier version I am now using. What do you think?
Thanks again.

PS, I was just reading about accessing a VHD as shown above and it says that you have to "eject" the VHD once you have used it. I never did that and just let it be shown as accessible. Maybe that's why VB wouldn't work again? Maybe it would have if I had "ejected" it?

[mpack]

It is true that VirtualBox cannot use a disk image that is already in use by other software. I can't advise you on the use of "Attach VHD" on Windows Hosts, because I never use it. If I need the host to have access to a guest file then I place that file in a shared folder, just as I would with two physical PCs.

[buster953]

Hi mpack,
I couldn't find any way to share a folder in the VM that was then visible to the host. I got into the VM files and shared the file I needed but I can't see it anywhere on the host.
What I have found is that the following work around works:
1. Go to Computer Management in Control Panel.
2. Storage, click Disk Management, then Right click, Attach VHD.
3. Choose the VHD file and click Ok.
4. Open Windows Explorer and you see the VM and you can open it to see the file contents.
5. You can't use the VB whilst the VM is attached.
6. In Computer Management, "detach" the VM after you have finished and then VB can be used again.
Unless you have a solution for the file sharing I guess I'll have to go with this work around.
Cheers

[socratis]

Read Chapter 4.3 Shared folders of the user manual on how to setup a shared folder between your host and guest. Or use a Windows network share.

[buster953]

Thanks for that.
I don't think that works for me though. You see, the VHD is from an old machine (15yrs) which when started up, enters a purpose made environment which does not allow file access, only the use of the programs. Also, it seems that the file share is made at the host and shared to the VHD. I made the shared file in the host and then linked it in the VHD. That basically got me nowhere.
What I need to do is access a file on the VHD from the host.
This is what I do with the VHD.
1. Start the VHD
2. Operate an analysis program within the VHD.
3. View the results of the VHD from within the VHD.
4 THEN, I want access to the results in the host for spread sheets etc.
Am I missing something? Maybe it's because the VHD is not just like a windows program where you can access everything I don't know.
Cheers