[Invalid] Using Copy & Paste in Windows 10 VirtualBox

[Patrick1991]

Hello,

using MacOS for the first time and installed Windows 10 in the virtual machine. It works fine, but I cannot use copy & paste or do the @-sign. I read that I have to change the host-key but that didn't do anything. How do I fix the issue?

[socratis]

but I cannot use copy & paste

You need to install the Guest Additions in the guest (see ch. 4. Guest Additions), and enable the Bidirectional Clipboard in the VM Settings » General » Advanced » Shared Clipboard » Bidirectional, or choose the setting of your choice.

or do the @-sign

I'm not sure what that means. Do you have a non-US keyboard layout on your host? What about your guest?

I read that I have to change the host-key but that didn't do anything

Change it for what reason?

[Patrick1991]

Hello,

I have a German keyboard. Installed the guest additions, now the screen automatically scales with my screen. Whey cool, but the @-sign (for emails) does not work, neither does the copy & paste command. I changed the host-key because I read somewhere that it does solve the issue.

[socratis]

I need to see two files. First, a complete VBox.log, from a complete VM run, where the problem occurs:

• Start the VM from cold-boot (not from a paused or saved state) / Observe problem / Shutdown the VM (force close it if you have to).
• With the VM completely shut down (not paused or saved), right-click on the VM in the VirtualBox Manager and select "Show Log".
• Save only the first "VBox.log", ZIP it and attach it to your response. See the "Upload attachment" tab below the reply form.

Second, the "VirtualBox.xml" file. You can find it in "/Users/<you>/Library/VirtualBox/VirtualBox.xml". ZIP and attach that file.

[Patrick1991]

Hello,

reuploaded as described.

[socratis]

since the file is too big by a few KB, I splitted into two parts.

I'm sorry, but the instructions were more that clear. I even highlighted the important part, I'll make it a bigger font now:

• Save only the first "VBox.log", ZIP it and attach it to your response. See the "Upload attachment" tab below the reply form.

So, I'll need to to Compress the VBox.log, then Edit your message, Delete the two attachments and Attach the ZIPPED file...

Looking for the xml file right now, cannot find it on my Mac.

I gave you the exact location, I didn't say to search for it. OSX won't return it, because it's in a "safe"/"hidden" location. Search for "Show Library on OSX"...

[Patrick1991]

Better?

[socratis]

Better?

Definitely yes!

[quote=""VirtualBox.xml""]

<ExtraDataItem name="GUI/Input/HostKeyCombination" value="54"/>

[/quote]Great, you read my mind! I use the RightCmd key as the HostKey as well...

[quote=""VirtualBox.xml""]

<ExtraDataItem name="GUI/Input/AutoCapture" value="false"/>

[/quote]Mine is set to Auto-Capture the keyboard, not sure if that would make a difference though, I highly, highly doubt it...

00:00:01.632091 VirtualBox VM 6.0.4 r128413 darwin.amd64 (Jan 25 2019 19:26:11) release log
00:00:01.740252 File system of '/Users/patrickpeyre/Downloads/VBoxGuestAdditions_6.0.0_RC1.iso' (DVD) is unknown

Never, ever download the Guest Additions (GAs) ISO directly. You might end up with the wrong version, just like you did! The GAs ISO comes bundled in with the main VirtualBox application.

If you want to install the GAs, with the VM window having the focus, go to the host's menu "Devices" » "Insert Guest Additions CD Image...". If not prompted by auto-run, run "VBoxWindowsAdditions.exe" from the CD.

00:00:01.767459 Shared clipboard mode: Off
...
00:00:31.673186 VMMDev: Guest Additions information report: Version 6.0.0 r127378 '6.0.0_RC1'

I believe that I mentioned what you need to do.:

You need to install the Guest Additions in the guest (see ch. 4. Guest Additions), and enable the Bidirectional Clipboard in the VM Settings » General » Advanced » Shared Clipboard » Bidirectional, or choose the setting of your choice.

Make sure that the Shared Clipboard is enabled (with the VM shut down of course), and then re-install the GAs.

[Patrick1991]

Hello,

because of privacy I don't want to share my macOS clipboard with the virtual machine. No way around it?

In the Devices menu in the virtual machine's menu bar, Oracle VM VirtualBox has a menu item Insert Guest Additions CD Image, which mounts the Guest Additions ISO file inside your virtual machine

Err, not on my machine. Where could it be hidden?

[socratis]

Using Copy & Paste in Windows 10 VirtualBox

because of privacy I don't want to share my macOS clipboard with the virtual machine. No way around it?

Am I missing something obvious here? What's going on here? I thought that the whole idea was to use the clipboard between host and guest. No???

As for the GAs, try again; with the VM window having the focus and NOT in full-screen mode, go to the host's menu "Devices" » "Insert Guest Additions CD Image...". If not prompted by auto-run, run "VBoxWindowsAdditions.exe" from the CD.

See this picture from the User Manual for reference, the last entry is the one I'm talking about:

[Patrick1991]

Err, no. I want to use the clipboard shortcuts at all and do that nice, handy @-sign to write emails. Does not work on the VM at the moment.

In the Devices menu in the virtual machine's menu bar, Oracle VM VirtualBox has a menu item Insert Guest Additions CD Image, which mounts the Guest Additions ISO file inside your virtual machine.

Ah yes, it worked. Thanks.

[socratis]

Err, no. I want to use the clipboard shortcuts at all

So, you mean you want to use the Copy/Paste within the guest alone? Only? Do you know that the Copy/Paste shortcuts in Windows/Linux/Other are not the same as in your OSX host? For Windows (for example) the keyboard shortcuts are Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V. Most applications show the shortcuts in their menu.

do that nice, handy @-sign to write emails

What's the keyboard layout in your guest? Is it just the "@" key that doesn't work? Please make sure that the keyboard layout on your host matches what you're supposed to have...

[Patrick1991]

Hello,

German on both. Context menu does not work, copy & paste does as I just noticed, all signs usually accessed by the "Alt"-button on windows such as "", @, & are not. Keyboard layout on the Windows box is German.

[socratis]

I don't have a clue what's going on. On all my computers I have the standard ISO keyboard, primary layout is US, secondary is Greek. Same layout on all of my guests, from DOS to ... anything. Never had an issue.

I'll let someone that has a "unique" keyboard layout help you out...

BTW, can you please tell me: does the Copy/Paste within the guest work with Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V? Yes or no?

[Patrick1991]

Yes it does.