Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 15

Thread: Oracle VM and no shared folders

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Kubuntu

    Oracle VM and no shared folders

    I used Oracle VM about 4 years ago ( https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread....2#post13580112 ) and didn't encounter the types of problems with not being able to do file sharing. Seems things have changed since then.

    Kubuntu 20.04
    Oracle VM Virtual Box Version 6.1.18 r142142 (Qt5.12.8)
    Windows 8.1 as the Guest

    I can't get shared folders to work at all. They need the "guest additions". Have downloaded the ISO, added that under Virtual box; it recognises the ISO in the settings keep getting a message that the Virtual box guest additions doe snot appear to be available on this virtual machine. Have even tried

    Code:
    sudo apt install virtualbox-guest-dkms
    still no go. In further desperation (LOL) I tried adding a USB to see if Windows 8.1 recognises that - nope. The shared folder is setup correctly and is shown under the settings. To be able to use this VM I need to either get shared folders going via Guest Additions or solve the problem of the usb not being recognised.

    Reading through a few posts here, there is mention of a product called VMWare, and no doubt there are other tools available. Although I really don't want to have to install Windows 8.1, plus MS Works plus MS Money again in another VM environment, if there is an easier and better tool that "works out of the box" then I will do that.

    One other thing, performance is terrible running Windows 8.1 in this VM. It has 40 Gb of hard drive space and only uses about 12 Gb, plus there is 2 Gb ram and have checked whilst it is running and not much over 15% memory being used by it, plus CPU use is low. yet it is so SLOW.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    I think I'm here! Maybe?
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Xubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish

    Re: Oracle VM and no shared folders

    You first need to insert the a CD drive in Windows if it doesn't already have one using the VBox settings for Win 8.1, then in the VM itself go to Devices -> Insert Guest Additions ISO (I can't remember the exact wording of this but it's obvious when you see it.)

    A dialogue box should appear in the Windows VM with autorun offering to install from the virtual CD ISO and following the various prompts will install the Guest Additions in the VM itself; all you have done so far is install the Guest Additions in VBox manager, not the guest.

    I have done this in a VM of Windows XP and 10 but not 8.1 but they should all follow the same process as far as I'm aware.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Kubuntu

    Re: Oracle VM and no shared folders

    Quote Originally Posted by ajgreeny View Post
    You first need to insert the a CD drive in Windows if it doesn't already have one using the VBox settings for Win 8.1, then in the VM itself go to Devices -> Insert Guest Additions ISO (I can't remember the exact wording of this but it's obvious when you see it.)
    Thanks, I was trying to avoid having to burn a CD, it seems so primitive these days. But it seems it is the only way. My attempts to add the ISO from a folder were done within the Windows 8.1 guest/client, and it was shown as being enabled/active, yet it didn't get to install.

    Now, do you think I will have to load the CD each time I want to use the VM ? From memory that is what I had to do 4 years ago. I do hope they have progressed there and it is installed in place, and not a merry go round that I have to jump on...lol

    Thanks for your help.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Galiza
    Beans
    4,009
    Distro
    Ubuntu

    Re: Oracle VM and no shared folders

    Thanks, I was trying to avoid having to burn a CD
    it has nothing to do with burning a CD.
    It's all virtual.
    Your Windows VM needs to have a (virtual) "CD/DVD drive" first of all so you can use Virtualbox's Devices menu > Insert Guest Additions ISO (or CD?)... Then it should appear to the guest system exactly as a physical drive would. From there you run the installer for guest additions. It's really this simple.

    You don't install "guest additions" in the host, with APT. That is only for when Ubuntu is the guest and you want to conveniently install the guest additions from the Ubuntu repository instead of the VB's software like you must do in a Windows guest.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Kubuntu

    Re: Oracle VM and no shared folders

    Quote Originally Posted by CelticWarrior View Post
    it has nothing to do with burning a CD.
    It's all virtual.
    Yes, that was my assumption, but clearly it didn't work for me at all. Meaning, I tried many times to add the ISO (from disk, not CD) yet, even though the guest/client recognised the ISO on disk, it was never installed, the guest/client gave mo indication to install.

    Quote Originally Posted by CelticWarrior View Post
    Your Windows VM needs to have a (virtual) "CD/DVD drive" first of all so you can use Virtualbox's Devices menu > Insert Guest Additions ISO (or CD?)... Then it should appear to the guest system exactly as a physical drive would. From there you run the installer for guest additions. It's really this simple.
    Yes, and as you have pointed out "it should appear" - recognise yes, install no.

    Quote Originally Posted by CelticWarrior View Post
    You don't install "guest additions" in the host, with APT. That is only for when Ubuntu is the guest and you want to conveniently install the guest additions from the Ubuntu repository instead of the VB's software like you must do in a Windows guest.
    Of course, how can APT run in a windows client ? When I finally did burn the CD, the windows client was able to install it. Yet, horror of horrors, now all I see in Windows is a blank screen.

    Now considering either VMWare or KVM, I hope they don't give the problems that Oracle VirtualBox has given.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Beans
    13

    Re: Oracle VM and no shared folders

    Although I really don't want to have to install Windows 8.1, plus MS Works plus MS Money again in another VM environment, if there is an easier and better tool that "works out of the box" then I will do that.
    Have you considered using Wine? I can't speak for Works in general, but I am running older versions of Excel, Word and MS Money without major issues on Ubuntu 18.04. I have those programs running in a VM as well, but in my experience they run much snappier in Wine. Also Wine won't require the use of shared folders or USB devices to exchange data with your Windows programs.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    I think I'm here! Maybe?
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Xubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish

    Re: Oracle VM and no shared folders

    Quote Originally Posted by oygle View Post
    Yes, that was my assumption, but clearly it didn't work for me at all. Meaning, I tried many times to add the ISO (from disk, not CD) yet, even though the guest/client recognised the ISO on disk, it was never installed, the guest/client gave mo indication to install.

    Yes, and as you have pointed out "it should appear" - recognise yes, install no.

    Of course, how can APT run in a windows client ? When I finally did burn the CD, the windows client was able to install it. Yet, horror of horrors, now all I see in Windows is a blank screen.

    Now considering either VMWare or KVM, I hope they don't give the problems that Oracle VirtualBox has given.
    It really isn't as difficult as you seem to be making it by using an actual CD disk, if that's what you mean you did.
    Follow this list one by one and you should get the Guest Additions added to Windows with ease.

    1. Download the Extension Pack from https://download.virtualbox.org/virt...8.vbox-extpack using your host, not the guest.
    2. Double click on the Extension Pack and it will install in the VirtualBox application.
    3. Check in VBox settings for Windows VM that there is a virtual optical drive available; it doesn't matter if it's empty.
    4. Start Windows VM.
    5. Go to Device in the VM's menus and click on Insert Guest Additions ISO/CD, The wording may not be exact but it is pretty obvious.
    6. A dialogue box should open in the Windows VM offering to install Guest Additions, so accept that and follow the prompts.
    7. Reboot the VM, as you will be prompted to do, and you should then have the shared folder that you setup in the VM's settings.

    Good luck; let us know if it doesn't work.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Kubuntu

    Re: Oracle VM and no shared folders

    Quote Originally Posted by kema77 View Post
    Have you considered using Wine? I can't speak for Works in general, but I am running older versions of Excel, Word and MS Money without major issues on Ubuntu 18.04. I have those programs running in a VM as well, but in my experience they run much snappier in Wine. Also Wine won't require the use of shared folders or USB devices to exchange data with your Windows programs.
    I did try WINE a few years ago, from memory it proved to be a mess and too many problems. It will still be like a VM, meaning it is still a system within another system, so performance issues will always be present with those types of models.

    Quote Originally Posted by ajgreeny View Post
    It really isn't as difficult as you seem to be making it by using an actual CD disk, if that's what you mean you did.
    Follow this list one by one and you should get the Guest Additions added to Windows with ease.

    1. Download the Extension Pack from https://download.virtualbox.org/virt...8.vbox-extpack using your host, not the guest.
    2. Double click on the Extension Pack and it will install in the VirtualBox application.
    3. Check in VBox settings for Windows VM that there is a virtual optical drive available; it doesn't matter if it's empty.
    4. Start Windows VM.
    5. Go to Device in the VM's menus and click on Insert Guest Additions ISO/CD, The wording may not be exact but it is pretty obvious.
    6. A dialogue box should open in the Windows VM offering to install Guest Additions, so accept that and follow the prompts.
    7. Reboot the VM, as you will be prompted to do, and you should then have the shared folder that you setup in the VM's settings.

    Good luck; let us know if it doesn't work.
    Thanks for your reply, very much appreciated. However, I have now decided to erase an old laptop, purchase a Win 8.1 key, download the ISO from Microsoft and then have it all running on a seperate box. The VirtualBox had performance issues, making it almost impossible to use, even with 2Gb ram and a 4 core CPU. Then there were the problems with the 'guest additions' and I finally left it after all I see now is a Windows blank screen. So it is not suitable for me, and having it all on a seperate box means there shouldn't be performance issues, the file sharing will not be necessary, and it I get to choose when the necessary file conversions take place, without it becoming an encumbrance to the Kubuntu 20.04 laptop.

    Thanks for your help though.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    I think I'm here! Maybe?
    Beans
    Hidden!
    Distro
    Xubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish

    Re: Oracle VM and no shared folders

    Jußt a warning, but I think you'll find that 2G ram for Windows 8 might be insufficient though I've never used 8 so could be wrong; it is certainly not enough for Windows 10.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Boston MetroWest
    Beans
    16,326

    Re: Oracle VM and no shared folders

    With 4 GB, I give 2.5 GB to Windows and keep the rest for the Linux host.
    If you ask for help, do not abandon your request. Please have the courtesy to check for responses and thank the people who helped you.

    Blog · Linode System Administration Guides · Android Apps for Ubuntu Users

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •