VirtualBox, Add Files HOW?!

[SteveGG]

Got Oracle's virtual machine installed. Host is Windows 7 Home premium
and Virtual Maching is Windows XP, needed for older programs that
won't run in anything later. Programs are all simple affairs developed
in Quick Basic 4.5 and Visual Basic 3. Just the executables and run
times. How doe I get the files on the virtual machine. I enabled clip
board sharing and drag 'n drop, both bidirectional, but NG. Can't get
the virtual machine to recognize the D: CD drive or I could just use
that. It reports that the CD is corrupt and can't read it, but I know
it's OK. All very frustrating.

Also how can I get a product key or whatever to activate the XP so I
don't have to reinstall every 30 days ? I wouldn't mind paying for a
liscense etc.

[Paul]

Post by SteveGG
Got Oracle's virtual machine installed. Host is Windows 7 Home premium
and Virtual Maching is Windows XP, needed for older programs that
won't run in anything later. Programs are all simple affairs developed
in Quick Basic 4.5 and Visual Basic 3. Just the executables and run
times. How doe I get the files on the virtual machine. I enabled clip
board sharing and drag 'n drop, both bidirectional, but NG. Can't get
the virtual machine to recognize the D: CD drive or I could just use
that. It reports that the CD is corrupt and can't read it, but I know
it's OK. All very frustrating.
Also how can I get a product key or whatever to activate the XP so I
don't have to reinstall every 30 days ? I wouldn't mind paying for a
liscense etc.

VirtualBox has a menu item for "VirtualBox Additions".

It adds drivers to the installed OS (i.e. do this after the
guest OS is installed), and the drivers help communicate
between the guest and the host. In theory, that's how bidirectional
buffers and so on, are made to work. Normally the Guest OS
would not know about any VirtualBox attempts to extend
functions, but once the VirtualBox drivers are added, then
that will change. Once you reboot, if the drivers "took",
you may see changes in how the Settings panel works
in the future.

If you add a "shared" folder in the Settings panel, that
is interpreted inside the Guest as a "file share". You can
also use File Sharing explicitly between the host and guest.

I don't know where the "CD is corrupt" is coming from.
I've not had any problems with either adding an ISO9660
to the settings panel, or making a physical drive support
the CD function inside the guest.

Paul

[SteveGG]

I see no menu item for "VirtualBox Additions"

I really don't see any menu period, just : File Machine Help

Please advise.

[Paul]

Post by SteveGG
I see no menu item for "VirtualBox Additions"
I really don't see any menu period, just : File Machine Help
Please advise.

The menu item is shown in the running Guest window...

(Not in the main control box consisting of File Machine Help.)

Loading Image...

Paul

[T]

Post by Paul

Post by SteveGG
Got Oracle's virtual machine installed. Host is Windows 7 Home premium
and Virtual Maching is Windows XP, needed for older programs that
won't run in anything later. Programs are all simple affairs developed
in Quick Basic 4.5 and Visual Basic 3. Just the executables and run
times. How doe I get the files on the virtual machine. I enabled clip
board sharing and drag 'n drop, both bidirectional, but NG. Can't get
the virtual machine to recognize the D: CD drive or I could just use
that. It reports that the CD is corrupt and can't read it, but I know
it's OK. All very frustrating.
Also how can I get a product key or whatever to activate the XP so I
don't have to reinstall every 30 days ? I wouldn't mind paying for a
liscense etc.

VirtualBox has a menu item for "VirtualBox Additions".
It adds drivers to the installed OS (i.e. do this after the
guest OS is installed), and the drivers help communicate
between the guest and the host. In theory, that's how bidirectional
buffers and so on, are made to work. Normally the Guest OS
would not know about any VirtualBox attempts to extend
functions, but once the VirtualBox drivers are added, then
that will change. Once you reboot, if the drivers "took",
you may see changes in how the Settings panel works
in the future.
If you add a "shared" folder in the Settings panel, that
is interpreted inside the Guest as a "file share". You can
also use File Sharing explicitly between the host and guest.
I don't know where the "CD is corrupt" is coming from.
I've not had any problems with either adding an ISO9660
to the settings panel, or making a physical drive support
the CD function inside the guest.
Paul

And set up standard Windows file sharing on the host.

[John]

On Fri, 02 Jun 2017 16:40:45 -0400, SteveGG

Post by SteveGG
Got Oracle's virtual machine installed. Host is Windows 7 Home premium
and Virtual Maching is Windows XP, needed for older programs that
won't run in anything later. Programs are all simple affairs developed
in Quick Basic 4.5 and Visual Basic 3. Just the executables and run
times. How doe I get the files on the virtual machine. I enabled clip
board sharing and drag 'n drop, both bidirectional, but NG. Can't get
the virtual machine to recognize the D: CD drive or I could just use
that. It reports that the CD is corrupt and can't read it, but I know
it's OK. All very frustrating.
Also how can I get a product key or whatever to activate the XP so I
don't have to reinstall every 30 days ? I wouldn't mind paying for a
liscense etc.

Try DOSBOX.
https://www.dosbox.com/ it runs old Win-stuff under newer Windows as
well as running DOSsy stuff under MacOS and *Nix.
J.

[Nil]

Post by John
Try DOSBOX.
https://www.dosbox.com/ it runs old Win-stuff under newer Windows
as well as running DOSsy stuff under MacOS and *Nix.

I'm sure that's not correct. It will only run DOS stuff. It has no
Windows subsystem.

[Wildman]

Post by Nil

Post by John
Try DOSBOX.
https://www.dosbox.com/ it runs old Win-stuff under newer Windows
as well as running DOSsy stuff under MacOS and *Nix.

I'm sure that's not correct. It will only run DOS stuff. It has no
Windows subsystem.

Right, Windows programs cannot be run directly under Dosbox,
however, pre-95 versions of Windows can be installed under
Dosbox and the old programs run from there.

Loading Image...

[SteveGG]

... , pre-95 versions of Windows can be installed under

Post by Wildman
Dosbox and the old programs run from there.

Thats about a quarter century back. Even my QB45 stuff post dates
that.

[SteveGG]

Well, it just seems incredible to me, that there is apparently no
simple way to copy simple computer files to the virtual machine ! Just
incredible !

[Brian Gregory]

Post by SteveGG
Well, it just seems incredible to me, that there is apparently no
simple way to copy simple computer files to the virtual machine ! Just
incredible !

It's a virtual PC.

You can only copy stuff to it in ways you would copy stuff to another PC.

The easiest way is usually over the network.

Read the manual.

[Paul]

Post by SteveGG
Well, it just seems incredible to me, that there is apparently no
simple way to copy simple computer files to the virtual machine ! Just
incredible !

You'll figure it out.

Paul

[SteveGG]

Thanks Paul & Everyone. Working great now and I've got access to all
44 of my older QB45 & VB3 programs.

NOW, any idea how I can get some kind of a license code or whatever
for XP, so I won't have to reinstall every 30 days ?! I'd be willing
to pay for it etc. Interestingly, it still says 30 a day after the
fact. If it stays like that, I'd be fine, but I don't think it will .

[SteveGG]

PS - It warns me about viruses. I have Kaspersky on the Host. I didn't
think anything was needed for the virtual system, especially if it
doesn't have Internet access. Any way to ensure it doesn't etc.

[Paul]

Post by SteveGG
PS - It warns me about viruses. I have Kaspersky on the Host. I didn't
think anything was needed for the virtual system, especially if it
doesn't have Internet access. Any way to ensure it doesn't etc.

If you're running WinXP as a guest on Windows 7, yes, you
should have an AV. If you think about the mechanism WannaCrypt
can use, the SMBv1 file sharing on the WinXP guest still
works. You can do file sharing between host and guest.
So if the WinXP machine was infected with WannaCrypt,
the WannaCrypt could get out of the guest and "worm"
into the host.

*******

As for "where can I get a licensed version of WinXP",
that sounds like Windows 7 Pro and "WinXP Mode". But
that won't be using VirtualBox.

For running WinXP on VirtualBox, you'll need a real license key.
Transferring a retail key would work (but that's not
something everybody has lying around). A Dell or HP
version of WinXP won't work, because the proper SLIC
activation won't exist inside the Guest.

Paul

[SteveGG]

Since my guest doesn't have Internet access, only using it to run
older programs, how could it get infected ?

Since I can't seem to find a source of XP, it looks like I'll be
reinstalling every time I want to use it, after each 30 days.

Further thoughts & thanks ...

[Paul]

Post by SteveGG
Since my guest doesn't have Internet access, only using it to run
older programs, how could it get infected ?
Since I can't seem to find a source of XP, it looks like I'll be
reinstalling every time I want to use it, after each 30 days.
Further thoughts & thanks ...

On more modern OSes, the "re-arm" command is:

slmgr.vbs -rearm

On WinXP, you run this in a Command Prompt as administrator,
to reset the clock. Do this on the 29th day. You will likely
get a total of 3 re-arms, or approx 90 days worth.

rundll32.exe syssetup,SetupOobeBnk

*******

You could also warm up your Registry Editor...

https://raywoodcockslatest.wordpress.com/2016/06/12/ways-to-activate-windows-xp/

It's all in the name of science of course.

Paul

[Brian Gregory]

Post by SteveGG
Since my guest doesn't have Internet access, only using it to run
older programs, how could it get infected ?
Since I can't seem to find a source of XP, it looks like I'll be
reinstalling every time I want to use it, after each 30 days.
Further thoughts & thanks ...

Can't you just carry on using it unactivated after 30 days.
Microsoft won't give you access to updates but there aren't any so who
cares?

[SteveGG]

I was trying to avoid reinstalling XP every 30 days on 2 machines ...

[Brian Gregory]

Post by SteveGG
I was trying to avoid reinstalling XP every 30 days on 2 machines ...

I'm trying to point out that you don't have to.

[Brian Gregory]

Post by Brian Gregory

Post by SteveGG
I was trying to avoid reinstalling XP every 30 days on 2 machines ...

I'm trying to point out that you don't have to.

But I think I'm remembering wrongly.

[Nil]

Post by SteveGG
I was trying to avoid reinstalling XP every 30 days on 2 machines ...

Buy or steal a license.

[SteveGG]

As I've said, I'd be perfectly willing to buy a license, BUT WHERE ?!