Question about virtualbox

[Member kaye]

Hi Friends.

I’ve managed to install virtualbox in my antiX system, and then installed Windows 7 64-bit in that virtualbox.

I noticed that the virtual Windows could access my USB flash drive. Here are my questions:

1. Inside the virtual Windows, since I could access my USB flash drive, could I also edit the files in that flash drive?

2. If I install freedos in the virtualbox, could the freedos access my USB flash drive as well?

3. If I put a file or a program in my /home/user/VirtualBox VMs/freedos folder, could I open and edit the file? or run the program?

(I know I can find out on my own but I can’t use that particular computer right now and I’m impatient, plus I need confirmation from other people, so just in case you know the answers, please tell me)

Thanks very much.

[Member PPC]

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Hi! I’m not a big virtualbox user but, if you have VB configured to work with usb devices, I’m assuming it can both read and write files on that usb device- that means open and edit files, also run executable files from that usb device. If the VM you are using allows you can configure use “shared folders”- a folder in your hard drive that you can read and write from your host OS and your virtual OS (Windows in your case or Freedos), making it easy to share files without the need for usb devices (ex: open MS word on your virtual machine, create a .docx file and then open it in LibreOffice Writer on your host OS).

Considering all of the above info:
1. Inside the virtual Windows, since I could access my USB flash drive, could I also edit the files in that flash drive?
a: Yes.
2. If I install freedos in the virtualbox, could the freedos access my USB flash drive as well?
a: Yes, if freedos virtual image allow access to usb devices.
3. If I put a file or a program in my /home/user/VirtualBox VMs/freedos folder, could I open and edit the file? or run the program?
a: yes, if freedos allows access to shared folders and you configure a shared folder to be used by it.

I hope this info helps you,

P.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by PPC.

[Member manyroads]

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To answer the original questions:
1. Inside the virtual Windows, since I could access my USB flash drive, could I also edit the files in that flash drive?
— yes—

2. If I install freedos in the virtualbox, could the freedos access my USB flash drive as well?
— yes—USBs are universially accessible from within any install (so long as a VM mounted os is able to read mounted folders/files). But at any time only one machine or virtual machine (VM) has access.

3. If I put a file or a program in my /home/user/VirtualBox VMs/freedos folder, could I open and edit the file? or run the program?
— In the same manner as you would from any mounted folder.—

Note: Using ancient 8-bit OS will have huge problems with file names if the USB uses (has filenames) longer than 8-bit allows/recognizes.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by manyroads.

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[Anonymous]

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2. If I install freedos in the virtualbox, could the freedos access my USB flash drive as well?
3. If I put a file or a program in my /home/user/VirtualBox VMs/freedos folder, could I open and edit the file? or run the program?

I NEVER TRIED IT AND I DON’T KNOW FOR SURE but, …

Very probably you’ll not be able to access USB flash drives from VBox VM’s.

For VBox shared folder and USB access, you’d usually install VBox Guest Additions.

I’m not aware of such Guest Extensions for MS DOS but, you never know.

No extensions — no public shares (and probably also no USB).

When it comes to USB access, first you’d have to find the propper USB Driver for MS-DOS for your USB pen drive.

Even if it happens that you somehow manage to find one, you’ll still need a matching USB Stick.

These 32, 64, 128, 256 and 512 MB USB Sticks are rare.

Anything bigger will probably not work, maybe max. 1 GB.

It’ll be USB-1 type, if you find it at all.

You’ll need to formate with FAT-16.

Good luck playing around.

P.S.
USB Driver for DOS, you can get here. What HW works with it, it’s another story.
http://hddguru.com/software/2006.02.09-USBASPI-MS-DOS-Driver/

As of file sharing, you might want to look for a more competent place to ask for help. (== VBox forum)
https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=78464
https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Sharing_files_with_DOS
http://wiki.freedos.org/wiki/index.php/VirtualBox

[Forum Admin dolphin_oracle]

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the guest additions are not required for USB access. However, you do need the extensions provided by Oracle to use anything other than USB 1 devices. the extensions are usually available as a seperate download because they are proprietary. the extensions go on Virtualbox on the host, not inside the guest system.

If freedos can otherwise read USB sticks, that should be all you need. Note that the USB will be available to only one system at a time, either the host or the guest.

as noClue said you do need the guest additions for your OS if you want to use features like shared folders between the guest and host system. However, the easy workaround there is to set up a network file share and share the folder that way, although I can’t tell you if you can do that with freedos, no idea there.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 10 months ago by dolphin_oracle.

[Member berghsg]

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I AM NOT SEEING CONNECTED USB DEVICES IN VIRTUAL MACHINE!!!

OLD SYSTEM
Host OS: Antix 19.1
Oracle VBox: Version 6.1.18 r142142
Extension pack: 6.1.18r142142

Guest OS: Windows 7 SP1
Guest additions installed: 6.1.18 r142142
USB Controller enabled
can see the USB devices

NEW SYSTEM
Host OS: Antix 21
Oracle VBox: Version 6.1.36 r152435
Extension pack: 6.1.36r152435

Guest OS: Windows 7 SP1
Guest additions installed: 6.1.18 r142142
USB Controller enabled
can NOT see the USB devices

I have the same result with other VM’s as well.
It does not matter if I select usb 1.1, usb2.0 or usb3.0 no setting works on usb devices in VM on antix 21 as host.
When i go to the top menu of the Virtual Machine > Devices > USB > No USB Devices Connected (greyed out)
Can anyone help me to resolve?

• This reply was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by berghsg.

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