Files in a shared folder are case sensitive, when mounted from XP guest, Linux host -> fixed in 1.4.2

[kenken]

Using a Ubuntu host, WinXP guest, a lot of applications fail to run because they assume that filenames are case insensitive.

To reproduce, install VirtualBox on a Ubuntu host, install WindowsXP in VirtualBox. Then create a folder with the "Shared Folder" system on the host, and mount in the guest:

net use q: \vboxsrv\folder

try: copy q:\file.txt c:\ copy q:\FILE.TXT c:\

[Sander van Leeuwen]

Have you tried this hint: ​http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B929110&x=12&y=10

[kenken]

Well... that does the opposite. It allows creating files names "abc.txt" and "ABC.txt" on the shared folder volume, which is nice, but breaks most windows applications.

The problem is that many windows applications assume that they can use any case for the filenames. So they commonly convert filenames to lower case for comparison, but since the "Shared Folder" does not accept this, many apps won't work when using the feature.

I have tested that the problem persists, even with the proposed registry change.

[Sander van Leeuwen]

I know the problem, it's just that I'm using Windows host here, which obviously doesn't show the issue. :)

I'm currently busy changing the shared folder code to handle this case properly.

[Sander van Leeuwen]

Another report which is most likely related: Im using Ubuntu host, WinXP guest.

For some reason the shared folders mounted with the built in "Shared Folder" system apears different than ordinarily mounted shared.

I can't run .Net apps, from the drive, as they complain it is not in "intranet" zone.

Trying to open a .rar archive on the volume gives the error: "This page has an unspecified potential security flaw. Would you like to continue?"

To reproduce, mount volume as described in manual, then copy a ,Net executeable + .rar file onto the mounted volume. Install .Net and WinRAR as required (both are free/free evaluation). Try to run both the .Net app and open the .rar archive.

[kenken]

Can I find the code for the VBoxSF.sys anywhere, or is it outside the OSE package?

[Sander van Leeuwen]

It's not open-source as there's too much Microsoft DDK code in there and requires linking with static libraries copyrighted MS.

[Ldx]

Same problem here.

Host: Kubuntu Feisty 7.04

Guest: Win2000Pro SP4

VirtualBox: 1.4.0 patched with VBoxSF.sys

Many windows apps just don't work with shared folders files because their case-sensitivity.

Ops, I've just opened a ticket on this issue but (#448), sorry...

Kind regards Aldo

[Sander van Leeuwen]

Just committed to final changes to make it work. As the Windows shared folder driver is not part of OSE, you can't easily try it.

[krishna]

Hi For Virtual box shared folder I have source code in Windows. If i build the code using mount Vboxsf in ubuntu linux i am getting error. Case insensitive filesystem. please help

[Frank Mehnert]

Your problem is completely unrelated to this bug. You simply can't locate the source code of the shared folders to a Windows host and then build it within a Linux guest. Just copy the whole archive into the Linux guest and build it there. Or better, just install the guest additions into Linux.