Can't access DVD drive in Win 7 under Kubuntu/VB

[Tom_ZeCat]

Linux doesn't quite have all the DVD software that I want, so I want to use a few Windows programs. I therefore have Windows 7 installed to run under VirtualBox. However, in Win 7, I'm unable to access my physical DVD drive. I've been googling around, but have yet to find a solution. The consensus in the links I found in Google was that I needed to go to Settings ==> Storage ==> Controller IDE and then add my DVD drive there. However, I've been unable to do so. Here's a screen shot:


image upload

The Windows 2000 iso is there probably because I've also installed Windows 2000 under VirtualBox. (Long story -- need to run some really old software.)

Anyway, when I click on that icon for adding my DVD drive, the menu comes up and shows all my external hard drives and thumb drives, but not my DVD drive -- if I have no DVD in the drive. If I put a DVD in the drive, then the drive shows, but it doesn't get added when I select it. What am I missing here?

I can delete the Win 2K ISO if necessary. It's already installed and running.

[ajgreeny]

I note there are some invalid user settings detected in your VM which you should put right. I don't know if that will help with your problem, never having used a CD or DVD in any of my VMs, but it probably needs addressing in any case.

You may also find that installing the VBox Guest Additions which you can get from Downloads – Oracle VM VirtualBox will help with the problem.

[TheFu]

Actually, passing through the physical DVD from the hostOS is managed on the virtualbox popup menu from inside the running VM. Something like "mount host CD/DVD drive" is the option. I vaguely recall that menu being in the top/center of the guestOS machine (when full-screen). When not full-screen, it is under "Devices --> CD/DVD --> Host drive X:"

Or are you trying to boot off a DVD? That is handled the way the OP spells out - through the storage menu **before** booting the OS from the optical media. It may be easier to create an ISO from the media, then connect that to the guestOS VM instead. I've done this a few times for MSFT stuff.

Is that not working or did I miss the point (again) completely?

[Tom_ZeCat]

Actually, passing through the physical DVD from the hostOS is managed on the virtualbox popup menu from inside the running VM. Something like "mount host CD/DVD drive" is the option. I vaguely recall that menu being in the top/center of the guestOS machine (when full-screen). When not full-screen, it is under "Devices --> CD/DVD --> Host drive X:"

Or are you trying to boot off a DVD? That is handled the way the OP spells out - through the storage menu **before** booting the OS from the optical media. It may be easier to create an ISO from the media, then connect that to the guestOS VM instead. I've done this a few times for MSFT stuff.

Is that not working or did I miss the point (again) completely?

You understood. I'm not trying to boot to a DVD. I'm trying to access one from within Windows 7. I have sometimes used ISOs as you suggest. That does work, but I'll be accessing a lot of physical DVD disks, and things would move along a lot more quickly if I could work with them directly in the Windows software.

I'm going to try your suggestions now. Thanks.

Edit: We're in business! I was just able to access my DVD drive. Thanks to everyone for their help.

[ajgreeny]

So, what was it that solved the problem?