How to Enable File Sharing in Virtual PC
If you’ve ever worked with Virtual environments then you know the importance of file accessibility. In my case I have a preset list of programs that I install when testing Windows environments as such seamless access to these files is essential. Virtual PC has a set of additions that enable users the ability to share folders with the host PC, the software does this via the creation of network drives that are enabled in the virtual environment which link files/directories to the host machine. The guide below will demonstrate how to add shared folders from your host computer to the virtual environment. If you have any comments or questions, please post them below.
Note: I used Virtual PC 2007, Windows XP SP3 as the virtual environment, and Vista SP1 Premium as the host for this tutorial.
1. Install Virtual PC Additions by following this tutorial, you can skip this step if you have already installed virtual machine additions.
2. While running your Virtual Machine, click on Edit > Settings
3. A dialog box will appear, it states that some settings cannot be modified while the Virtual PC is running, in this case is does not matter, so click OK to proceed.
4. Select Shared Folders from the list to the left, an empty shared folders list will appear to the right, click on the Share Folder button below the list.
5. Browse and select the directory you wish to share, before clicking OK you have two options available; the ability to re-share the directory (Share every time check box) and the assignment of a Drive letter.Once you’ve chosen your settings click OK to return to the Shared Folders list.
6. Click OK to return to the Virtual PC
7. Open My Computer in the virtual environment and you will see the folder you just shared listed as a network drive in the virtual environment
Article posted on 11 5th, 2008
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21 Responses to “How to Enable File Sharing in Virtual PC”
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Gil (163)
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We have tried this option for no longer it’s not working. I have installed the add on applications, but no luck.. please help me out.
Thanks,
Velmurugan
@velmurugan: Can you please be more specific? Where is it that you are getting stuck? Thanks.
Share Folder in Virtual PC is not working
1. My host pc is Vista Home Basic,
2. I have installed Virtual PC 2007
3. I have installed Guest OS XP in Virtual PC
4. Action –> Install or Update Virtual Machine Additions - done
5. Then I tried to enable share folder in virtual pc as per above mentioned steps.
6. For me still Share Folders — current value showing not installed, Share Folders button not enable in right side.
Please help me out to resolve this issue.
Thanks,
Velmurugan
@velmurugan: Thanks for getting back to me. I think I found your problem. The host PC for Virtual PC 2007 per Microsoft’s website has to be Vista Business and above, it seems that you are running Home Basic and it is unsupported by Virtual PC 2007. There are several people online that have installed it successfully in Home Basic and Premium, but Microsoft warns that it is at your own risk. Those that have installed it seem to have the same issue.
Before giving up I would try to reinstall the Virtual Machine Additions on guest PC. To uninstall head over to the control panel and locate Virtual Machine Additions.
You can also install Virtual PC on another computer (supported OS) or try dragging and dropping files from Host to Guest…it should work, but I’m not sure if it will work with the whole unsupported issue.
Hope this helps you understand the error you are receiving. Please see the link below.
Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 Requirements
This seems to be the standard method I’ve found for enabling file sharing. However, I find this method to be extremely slow. I want to use Virtual PC to test programs I write in different environments *without* having to copy/install them to each virtual machine. In some cases I get a “The parameter is incorrect” error message when attempt to launch an .exe file on the shared drive.
Any ideas?
@DonBakke: I’ve had similar issues while transferring large files from the Virtual PC to the host via shared folders. I resolved this by mounting the VHD files using Gizmo, but this sounds like a different issue. Have you verified that you host PC meets the minimum requirements set by Virtual PC? I had a user on this page whose problem seemed to stem from the fact that he was running Vista Home edition. If that isn’t the problem, have you considered creating an image file (ISO) of these files to load onto each virtual machine as a CD-ROM and then running the files from there? This will keep you from copying them to each virtual machine and you just keep one copy.
If that doesn’t work for you try using Virtual Box instead. Please follow up with your solution so that everyone can learn from your experience. Thanks and good luck.
I have vista ultimate 64 operating system as host. I would like to add a virtual machine with a shared file to run Quickbooks 2009 mulituser version from both the virtual machine and host operating systems. Do you forsee an issue with doing this? i.e. - is it possible, will there be performance issues, etc.
Thanks,
Randy
@Randy West: Performance wise it depends on the specs for the host PC. Regarding the shared file for QuickBooks, I don’t think you can do that…I ran into some issues using QB08′ on a shared directory and using the Offline files feature in Vista. I looked up it on their website and they confirmed it.
I’m not sure how related that is to sharing a file on a Virtual share, but it’s worth the try.
One word of advice though. Back up your QuickBooks file…please. I went through a really bad scare and if it wasn’t for a backup I’d be SOL. Hope this helps and good luck.
Guys i’ve tried it and it didn’t work the share folder is not accessible it doesn’t let you mark or unmark it simple stuck.. please help
@Arthur: Have you verified that meet the minimum requirements (correct OS, etc)? Also do you have Virtual Machine Additions installed? Let me know so that I can help you.
http://www.gilsmethod.com/how-to-install-virtual-machine-additions-for-virtual-pc
Hello i have installed virtiual PC-SP1 and have shared the files from host to virtual Pc. Now the problem i have is that i want to share the files of VIRTUAL PC to my HOST PC. So can you help me providing the easy steps of doing this?
Thanks Gilberto. I was successfully able to share my folders.
Bharath.
@Razeshzone -Have you configured the Virtual PC to share folders? In other words is the Virtual PC a part of your network? You can usually run the networking Wizard to accomplish this. Let me know if this helps.
Try this article for setting up the network - http://www.gilsmethod.com/share-your-printer-and-files-with-windows-xp
i have already shared the files and folders on virtual pc sp1 from host pc, now what i want is to share the files and folders of virtual pc on host pc. Do plz provide some simple steps to achieve it.
This is a follow up to my previous question: “I have vista ultimate 64 operating system as host. I would like to add a virtual machine with a shared file to run Quickbooks 2009 mulituser version from both the virtual machine and host operating systems. Do you forsee an issue with doing this? i.e. - is it possible, will there be performance issues, etc.” Well did all of this and it does not work. I can access word, excel files from the shared folder but the Quickbooks data file will not open from the Virtual PC (it opens fine from the host machine fromt he same folder). Quickbooks fromt he Virtual pc comes up with -6000, -77 error codes - which is some sort of permissions issue but unable to sort out. The shared folder on the virtual pc says that it is “disconnected” even though I can access word and excel files. Any suggestions?
@Randy West: Have you reviewed the document below? It looks like you need to configure QB and windows for files running off a network - I know that the Virtual PC resides on the host, but it is mimicking a network to share files, so this might be the issue. Please let me know if this helps. Good luck!
QuickBooks 2009 Network Install
Thanks Gil….Very usefull artical.
Gil. You were surely of great help to me.
After intalling microsoft’s vm2007 I was so desperate of using a usb that I had reverted to the vmware. Unfortunately I had to join the waiting list for the vmware’s free research licence but as I was waiting I read your note about folder sharing. That is all I needed.Now I’m rolling.Only thing remaining now is to figure out how to save a file directly to the shared folder from either the host side or the client side. For example, if I create an access data base file in the vm and I need to save it in a flash drive, dont I need to first save it in the designated shared folder in order to view it from the host side and consequently be able to save it in the USB?
Again thank you so much Gil.
HI Gil,
I’ve been experiencing a sort of problem with my shared foldes on the virtual PC. My host m/c is Win XP SP3 and my s/m is of 2 gigs RAM. I created a VPC for Win Server 2008 and alloted 1 gig for it.
When I share the folder of my host m/c, the driver name appears in MyComputer of guest m/c, but I’m not able to get into it and see the files. Sometimes the guest m/c hangs and I need to turn-off it.
The same I did with Win Server 2003 and it is working fine.
Please help me resolve this problem.
Thanks,
Vijay LP
@VJ - I haven’t looked at the specs for Server 2008, is 1GB of RAM enough? Now when you state that you cannot get in is it because it hangs or is it because the files are inaccessible? Let me know thanks.
Gil,
I had gone thru the specs before installing the OS. It said 512 MB is the min requirement. However, I’ve specified 1GB and stuffs work fine until I share the folders.
When I share the folder the guest OS hangs. Even clicking on Start button would throw an error. However, I tried opening MyComputer first and then sharing the folder. This time, the network drive would appear on the screen, but when I try accessing it, the guest OS would hang.
Please suggest what can be done to share folders,
Thanks,
Vijay LP