virtualbox.org

Hi there,
My host machine runs on Mac OS X 10.13 and the guest is windows 98; and I need to exchange data between the two.
If I have read and understood VirtualBox user manual (Version 5.2.18) correctly, the Share Folders feature is not supported with Mac (chapter 4.3: "Shared Folders are supported with Windows (2000 or newer), Linux and Solaris guests."). But Drag and Drop should work (chapter 4.4). I have therefore set the option Drag and Drop on Bidirectional ... but no way! Dragging files from the Finder on the window of the emulated Win98 pushes them back systematically in the Finder window: no way of transferring anything!!!
Is the issue known? Do I do something wrong??
Thanks for your support.

Drag and Drop depends on the Guest Additions, same as the Shared Folders. So, can't do.
An easy way to transfer files would be to create an ISO and mount that in your guest. An easy program that you could try for this is Keka, but your mileage may vary.

Efkaristo Socratis!
In the meanwhile I discovered the following error message at launch of Win98 guest, confirming what you say:
"Unable to insert the virtual optical disk /Applications/VirtualBox.app/Contents/MacOS/VBoxGuestAdditions.iso into the machine Windows 98.
Could not mount the media/drive '/Applications/VirtualBox.app/Contents/MacOS/VBoxGuestAdditions.iso' (VERR_PDM_MEDIA_LOCKED).
Result Code: NS_ERROR_FAILURE (0x80004005)
Component: ConsoleWrap
Interface: IConsole {872da645-4a9b-1727-bee2-5585105b9eed}
Callee: IMachine {85cd948e-a71f-4289-281e-0ca7ad48cd89}"

Should I try to unlock that VBoxGuestAdditions.iso file in the Finder?
Moreover I don't understand your point with KeKa and the mileage that may vary. What do you mean?

Regards,
esteban

macesteban wrote:VERR_PDM_MEDIA_LOCKED

That means that you have another instance of the VBoxGuestAdditions.iso and you upgraded VirtualBox. Go to File » Virtual Media Manager » Optical disks. See in the Information tab at the bottom what's using the ISO and Release it (from the toolbar) then Remove it.

macesteban wrote:Moreover I don't understand your point with KeKa and the mileage that may vary. What do you mean?

That you may have another favorite program for creating ISOs, instead of the one I suggested.

Hi socratis. I did what you said. Then in VM I went to Devices >> Insert Guest Additions CD image... and it did:
When checking via File >> Virtual Media Manager >> Optical disks, I see the VBoxGuestAdditions.iso properly attached.

But then, unfortunately, the Drag and Drop feature still does not work
And within the guest (Win98) I don't see (or know) where the Shared folders are!

Any idea why it still does not work?
Regards
esteban

You quoted the manual, ch. 4.2.1 where it says that there are no Guest Additions for Win98.
I told you that both Shared Folders and DnD require the Guest Additions to be installed.
What's the conclusion?

Your question is not easy socratis! I actually quoted chapters 4.3 and 4.4, letting me understand that Shared Folders are not possible with a Mac OS host (4.3) but, being not stipulated that way in 4.4, DnD could work in Mac OS.
But now you bring me to chapter 4.2, where it says "Guest Additions are available for virtual machines running Windows, Linux, Solaris or OS/2."

Should I therefore conclude that the file VBoxGuestAdditions.iso - though included in VirtualBoy.app for Mac OS X - is completely useless?
And would that the mean that the work-around is KeKa?

Have I come across the right conclusion?
Regards
esteban

I told you chapter 4.2.1. Guest Additions for Windows, not 4.2, which states (I'll quote the whole thing so there's no misunderstanding):

The VirtualBox Windows Guest Additions are designed to be installed in a virtual machine running a Windows operating system. The following versions of Windows guests are supported:

• Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 (any service pack)
• Microsoft Windows 2000 (any service pack)
• Microsoft Windows XP (any service pack)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (any service pack)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2008
• Microsoft Windows Vista (all editions)
• Microsoft Windows 7 (all editions)
• Microsoft Windows 8 (all editions)
• Microsoft Windows 10 RTM build 10240
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012

Which means that there are no Guest Additions for Windows 98!
Which means that there are no Shared Folders nor DnD for Windows 98!

And no, the Guest Additions ISO is not useless. At all. Just for your case.

Thanks socratis for your help! Things seem now to be clear.

Just a check to be sure I will proceed correctly: I create an ISO using KeKa and hook it in VM as an optical disk (via File >> Virtual Media Manager). Then any data that must be transferred between host and guest and vice versa will be integrated into that ISO, correct?

Regards
esteban

macesteban wrote:an ISO using KeKa and hook it in VM as an optical disk (via File >> Virtual Media Manager)

The easiest way is to click on the CD icon in the VM window.

The reverse (Win98 to Host) might be more problematic. I haven't tried it to tell you the truth...