Problem opening large files with a certain program

[Reto]

I have an Ubuntu 14.04 Host and a WinXP SP3 guest system. A shared folder is set up. I have a problem and cannot really estimate where to ask, because the error is very weird:

1. Using a program called Stimfit, the same file of 114 MB can be opened if it is on the Windows desktop, and cannot be opened when it is on the shared folder. Copying is no problem however.

2. To get even more weird, other programs like ImageJ have no problems to open large files from the shared folder.

3. When I access large files (~ 1 GB) on the shared folder using a third program called TillVision, it will corrupt them from time to time for no obvious reason.

4. All these things do not happen when the programs are running under a native WinXP, so I think this is a problem of Virtualbox.

Any ideas? :/

[Martin]

Shared folders are designed for an easy transfer of files between guest and host, not for active use by applications.
They don't support advanced features like access controls, attributes and some locking methods.

[Reto]

Thanks Martin. I tried an older version of Stimfit (the first program I mentioned) and this seems to work without problems. In case I have to use the latest version again - could you think of an easy workaround?

[Martin]

Create a network file share on your host and connect it to your guest through the normal networking functions.

[Reto]

Whoa.. this worked so far I tried it (new Stimfit version) - thanks again, I guess you made my week (because I absolutely hate such kind of problems).