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I run AutoCAD in Windows XP on the virtual machine. Flash drives and other externals are not recognized. How can it be fixed? Where can I find the VM log file?

Note that if you are trying to use the USB drive to transfer documents between the host and a guest, there are two other easy ways to transfer files: a shared folder set up via Guest Additions, or a real shared folder with a network.

See the manual, section 4.3, to set up a Guest Additions shared folder. Note that this kind of shared folder is for file copying betwen host and guest only, and should not be relied on to open and edit files still on the host from your guest's programs. Copy the file to the guest first, then open & edit.

See the manual, section 6, for setting up a real network between host and guest. Using such a network you can use real shared folders that would allow editing files without copying them first, as well as using printers that have been shared on the host or from the host's network. If you want the guest to see just the host's shared folders and printers, use Host Only. If you want the rest of the computers on your network and the guest to see each other use Bridged.

Keep in mind that the Virtualbox guest is just like another separate PC residing within your physical PC. Two PCs side-by-side won't be able to see each other's hardware, unless you make up some network or other such system to allow them to see the other hardware. Treat your guest and the physical host PC the same way. The Virtualbox guest has its own hard drive environemnt, so the C drive in the guest is not the same as the C drive on the host, etc.