windows - VirtualBox Guest Additions do not turn on shared clipboard and mouse

31
2013-10
  • KutaBeach

    I have Windows 7 host with several Debian 7.1 guests installed via VirtualBox 4.2.14. I dont have X Window, or some other GUI addon on my Debian. I have installed VirtualBoxGuestAdditions with option --nox11, but still got an error about installing X Window drivers. Neverthless people on the forums say that its ok and that parameter just prevents the installation from failing, but not prevents the error itself. VirtualBoxGuestAdditions start when I load the guest machine: it is printed to the screen. The additions really work: I can use the shared folders.

    Now I want to use

    1. Shared clipboard
    2. Mouse

    Unfortunately, both of them do not work.

    1. I try to copy in all the ways and directions: ctrl-c/ctrl-v, ctrl-u/ctrl-y, nano editor shortcuts, bash clipboard shortcuts, copying by mouse in Windows to paste in Debian and vice versa - no results. I wonder can I use Shared Clipboard without the GUI inreface in my Debian?

    2. And the mouse is just captured as it was before by virtual machine. When its captured inside the machine window - I cannot see and use it.

    Where I went wrong? Or, may be, I just cannot use these features without installing X Window? If yes, can I istall X Window AFTER the additions installation?

    UPDATE: I have installed a very useful gpm utility which enables a mouse on my guest machine! Still I dont have a shared clipboard.

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    Related Question

    virtualization - VirtualBox shared clipboard?
  • Greg Mattes

    Where is the configuration option for sharing clipboards (copy & paste) between the host OS and the guest OS?


    • Related Answers
  • 8088

    With Guest Additions installed, the clipboard of your guest OS can be shared with your host OS.

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    Highlight the Guest VBox in the VirtualBox console, open General > Advanced. here you can choose between various Shared Clipboard settings: Disabled, Guest to Host, Host to Guest or Bidirectional

  • A Dwarf

    Install Guest Additions for Windows XP. That will allow you to integrate the guest operating system with the host.

    Some features:

    • Shared Folders - Meaning you can create folders that are accessible by both the guest and host systems.
    • Accelerated Video
    • Mouse Integration - You no longer need to capture the mouse. Focus follow your mouse.
    • Shared Clipboard

    To install the Guest Additions, refer to the User Manual, Chapter 4.

  • Lee

    In order to share your Host clipboard you will need the Guest Additions installed first.

    As for the options for the clipboard, Right click the Guest VM within Virtual Box, Select Settings, In the General section select the Advanced tab.

  • Indrek

    Windows 7 64-bit host, Ubuntu 12.10 64-bit guest.

    I enabled clipboard and drag and drop before installing Guest Additions. After installing Guest additions clipboard and drag n drop did not work. I disabled clipboard and drag n drop, uninstalled guest additions, rebooted, reinstalled guest additions - still failed.

    To fix I did this:

    Uninstalled guest additions and disabled clipboard and drag and drop. Then from the terminal I used 

    $ apt-get install make gcc linux-headers-$(uname -r)

    Reinstall (should be error free), reboot, enable clipboard and drag and drop. Voilà!