virtualBox

[Emass]

Hello.

I'm running Kubuntu 9.10. Running like a charm, but I have to use the latest version of adobe photoshop regularly. So I thought I'd try virtualBox and install windows 7 as guest OS and do my windows things in there once I need them. I got it all installed but now I found it does not support usb devices. I need to use my external harddisk because it has most of my data and I want to save my photoshop work to it.
Now I spend some time googling and it seems they disabled it on purpose so you'd need to buy virtualbox PUEL. I'm even willing to pay for it but I'm pretty lost at what exactly I'm supposed to do in order to get this working. I've tried various guides but each of them don't really apply to me for some reason, like me being on Kubuntu and the guide is written for Ubuntu users.
So can anyone please help me to get this working? I'd really appreciate it.

[Detonate]

Re: virtualBox

Did you install the virtualbox from Sun, or did yo install vitualbox-ose from the repoitories? If you did the latter, you need to remove it and go to the Sun Virtualbox site and and install the full edition from there. Then once you have installed Windows 7 in virtual box, you need to run the "Install Guest Additions" . With Windows running, click on "Devices" the on "Install Guest Additions" and follow the prompts. This will give you USB support. Then you can mount your USB devices from the "Devices" pull down menu. Also see this "Howto".

http://tinyurl.com/yee6axp

It's about installing XP in Virtualbox, but the same info applies to Win7.

This is the site to download the full Virtualbox.

http://www.virtualbox.org/

[sithlord48]

Re: virtualBox

you should also be able to run photoshop in wine w/ little to no problem.

[Detonate]

Re: virtualBox

I forgot to say, Virtualbox PUEL is free for personal use.

[sithlord48]

Re: virtualBox

that is it is i use use it as well, but have had no luck w/ usb. they show but i can't enable my usb devices... , hence the wine suggestion.

if you want to try virtual box check my 3rd party repo list for there non-OSE repo. for an ez install / upgrade

[Fintan]

Re: virtualBox

I have played with virtual box at times but find vmware player much faster.
Now with vmware player 3.0 you can install your guest os and configure it as needed.

http://downloads.vmware.com/d/detail...QlJSpiZGVkZA==

Get the bundle.

I need xp for all adobe stuff (PS, DW, Flash) and it is fast, stable and safe.
Better than my HD install of xp (which I deleted about 2 years ago.

I also have a win7 RC running on vmware player.
Depending on the amount of ram you have at your disposal use the defaults. (mine is 512)

Try and enjoy

[Emass]

Re: virtualBox

Thanks for the help. I have followed the guide posted by Detonate, but still my external harddisk is not showing. I did find a work around though, because the guide also showed how to configure sharing maps. So now I have a shared map between kubuntu and W7.
I'd still like to see this fixed though. Also sound on W7 is not working, but I think that's a driver problem.
I might try vmware player if I really can't solve this, but I already spend my diskspace and time installing windows 7 via virtualBox, so if it's not really nessesary I'd rather not remove-and reinstall the whole thing again.
I have 4 gig of ram so that must be enough to go around for two OS'es.
How would it react if I'd play a (heavy) game on windows 7 through virtualbox? I thought I'd had to say goodbye to playing games when switching to linux but this might be a work around to still be able to play windows games. If it's not going to murder my computer that is.

Thanks for the quick replies!

[Detonate]

Re: virtualBox

So now I have a shared map between kubuntu and W7.

That's good thinking. If you can't access your external drive, mount it then share it. Should work.

[robfish]

Re: virtualBox

that is it is i use use it as well, but have had no luck w/ usb. they show but i can't enable my usb devices... , hence the wine suggestion.

A common problem with USB devices showing but not enabled is that the user is not in the vbousers group.

[sithlord48]

Re: virtualBox

that is it is i use use it as well, but have had no luck w/ usb. they show but i can't enable my usb devices... , hence the wine suggestion.

A common problem with USB devices showing but not enabled is that the user is not in the vbousers group.

i have already checked that and i am in the vboxusers group