How to install XP from CD into VirtualBox?

Well, I've never tried the VMLite...so I don't know how that product works.

I do know with the new VMWare products that you can simply cut and paste files from the host to the guest. No drive mappings needed whatsoever. It just works. It is part of the vmware tools...but they auto load with the guest VM's.

I find that aside from installing a few apps that I might have on my host in the guest...that I rarely want to access the host from the guest. My VM's are usually pretty task specific and for testing...rather than having long term usage. So, doing the "shared folder" thing works just fine.

Or I just put the files on a USB key and move them that way. Or via an FTP...sometimes that's faster than grabbing my USB key or sharing the drive.

Edit: I'm off to bed for the night. I'll catch up on this thread tomorrow.

So does anybody know how to get the clipboard to handle files in VBox? (Drag and drop from desktop to desktop)

HughShaw said:

So does anybody know how to get the clipboard to handle files in VBox? (Drag and drop from desktop to desktop)

I don't believe this can be done based on some research that I did this morning. As of Oct 16, 2009 this was a question outstanding in their forum. The shared clipboard only allows for text to be moved back and forth...but not files and folders.

This does however work in the new VMWare Player 3.0 (free) and VMWare Workstation 7 (not free).

Anyone know where I can get a genuine XP iso file? I used a downloaded XP iso, and it won't validate because I was not given the option to put in my genuine cd key.

If you have a valid key, ask a friend or the local computer store whether you cannot borrow the installation disk.

HughShaw said:

Anyone know where I can get a genuine XP iso file? I used a downloaded XP iso, and it won't validate because I was not given the option to put in my genuine cd key.

Hi

If you can change the product key then you should be able to activate Windows.

Activation is based on the KEY not the ISO itself - this must be true since zillions of us download iso's from Technet - the same ISO's but are issued different keys.

Since you have a valid product key THIS trick should work on Windows XP

(Mods - I'm not bypassing Windows security since the OP says he has a valid key).

Begin by opening the Registry Editor and navigating to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Current Version\WPAEvents

In the right pane, right-click the ODBETimer binary value and select Modify. Change at least one character of this value to either a number from 0 to 9 or to a letter from A to F, then click OK and close the Registry Editor. This renders the current product key invalid and deactivates Windows.

Now, it’s time to reactivate Windows using your new product key. Click Start | Run and enter the command:
%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe /a

where %systemroot% is your Windows directory. In many cases, this command will look like:
C:\windows\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a

At this point, Windows will launch the Product Activation Wizard.

I'd still suggest you check your ISO against the official one (SHA1 etc).

Note however that you probably won't be able to install XP on current REAL hardware unless you both apply at least SP2 - better SP3 and slipstream SATA drivers into the install disk. Otherwise you'll get the No Hard drives found message. (Virtal machine installation is fine however).

You can get all sorts of drivers at the Driverpacks site. Use nLite to slipstream and create the ISO.

To slipstream etc just check the site.

http://users.telenet.be/jtdoom/basetute/Eng_tut6b.htm


Cheers
jimbo