virtualbox.org

I have a windows 7 host which uses Virtualbox to run an XP guest. I'm trying to send text data from the guest to host, and vice versa.

I know that guest additions allows for shared folders, but I use the XP guest for testing and therefore re-install XP every few weeks. This means I don't want to go through the process of re-adding a shared folder everytime.

Is there a way to send text data to the guest from the host (and guest-to-host) perhaps through DOS or something? Currently I'm using the bi-directional clipboard function to pass text back and forth, but I'm wondering if there's a more solid method?

Thanks for your help.

If it is text data, then presumably fairly small files are involved. If they are less than 1.4Mb, then a simple way is to use a floppy image.

You could always email an attachment to yourself.

re-install XP every few weeks

What I would do is get an XP install just the way I want it, get the network established if desired, install Guest Additions if desired, and map the shared folders as needed.

Then I'd full-clone this XP guest, drive & all, and use the clone for testing. All the settings I made in the source XP will be present in the clone. When I've butchered the clone sufficiently, I would delete the whole cloned guest, drive & all, and make a new full clone off the source XP guest. Rinse & repeat, as they say.

Cloning would likely be a whole lot faster than re-installing and re-configuring XP every time.

As for passing text, if Guest Additions are installed (as it appears they are if you're using the clipboard now), there is the Vboxmanage.exe Guestproperty get & set commands on the host, and Vboxcontrol.exe Guestproperty get & set in the guest. Text can be passed, but I don't know how much. These can be used in batch files, vbscripts & command windows, etc., so may provide another way to get your text passed.

Of course if the user is reinstalling XP every few weeks because he's using a trial version that times out, cloning the original install won't help.

Ignore my post above about disk images - I must have been half asleep. I use this method for transferring data between guests. It is more awkward if the host is involved.