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flat6

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 24, 2004
244
0
I installed VirtualPC and WinXP, but now can't find WinXP's directories from within OSX. That is, I need to transfer some files onto 'WinXP' from my OSX directories, and I thought the best way to do that would be from within OSX, since it should see both itself and the WinXP installed on it. (WinXP, on the other hand, only sees itself on a 'C:' drive)
 
You can't do that. The entire WinXP file system is a single file on the OSX filesystem. You need to use the virtual networking to transfer the files between OSX and WinXP.
 
Usually programs like Virtual PC simply create one big file that contains the entire (virtual) harddisk used by the client system (WinXP). So you can't get at that from OSX, at least not in any easy way.

The best way to copy the files is by sharing the folder in either XP or OSX and then copying it over the network.
 
Ah, I see. Thanks.

robbieduncan said:
You need to use the virtual networking to transfer the files between OSX and WinXP.

Is virtual networking an option under VirtualPC?

reflex said:
The best way to copy the files is by sharing the folder in either XP or OSX and then copying it over the network.

Which folder would this be? And are there any particular options I should be watching for?
 
You probably don't need to bother with setting up a virtual network, Virtual PC offers Shared Folders built-in.

You need to install Virtual Machine Additions, which will give you a folder (or folders) on your Mac that appears as a network share under XP.

IIRC, while running XP under Virtual PC go to the (OS X Menu for VPC) PC -> Install or Update Additions.

This will start the installer on XP, so follow the instructions on screen.

When finished (and I think you need to reboot XP), with XP running you can go to Settings on the "Virtual PC List", click Shared Folders and assign a folder on your OS X installation that will appear as a network drive under XP. It can also be configured from the Virtual PC status bar.

(Or thereabouts ... I haven't done this since installing VPC last year, and I am not sure if there are any limitations wrt XP versions, I am running XP Pro SP 2 and it works perfectly).
 
Couple of screenies:

vpc1.png

vpc2.png
 
AlmostThere, those instructions were excellent. I've now got WinXP-OSX file sharing going on. Thank you so much.
 
If you need to move documents into the Windows XP system from OS X, just drag and drop while the Desktop on XP is showing, drag it to the desktop and there ya go.
 
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