Can't modify files on shared folders with Ubuntu guest on Vista host

[Aylwin]

Host: Vista Ultimate 32-bit Guest: Ubuntu 8.04

I'm able to create new folders and new empty files, and also delete folders and files within Shared Folders. Copying files to and from the shared folders is also not a problem.

However, I'm not able to modify or overwrite any files on the Shared Folders from within the guest. The workaround is to copy the file first to the guest system, modify and save the file on the guest, delete the old file on the Shared Folder, and then copy back the modified file to the Shared Folder.

I've tested with RHEL4U5 and Fedora 8 guests on both Vista and XP hosts. Both guest OS's are fine. So I've only noticed this problem with Ubuntu 8.04.

[Frank Mehnert]

Is this ticket still relevant?

[Vito Botta]

Are you sharing your Documents / Desktop / Pictures / Music / Videos folders? If yes, read on, otherwise - good luck :D

If yes you won't be able to write to them as with normal shares because of the way Windows handles these folders.

Try with juctions, which are similar to symlinks (more or less).

You can download an utility (​http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896768.aspx) that lets you create junctions of the folders you want to share with Virtualbox in a separate location, and that you will share those juctions instead with Virtualbox rather than the original folders.

This way you should be able to write to those folders normally.

[Frank Mehnert]

No feedback from the original reporter, closing.