FreeDOS with VirtualBox

[Gunther]

I've installed FreeDOS inside VirtualBox. It works okay. But the exchange of files between Host and Guest is a problem. The solution described here doesn't work, because the driver (PCNTPK) isn't available. Has anyone a better solution?

Gunther

[avcaballero]

I've not checked FreeDos in VirtualBox, but I have installed linux in VirtualBox and usually share a folder between host and guest, maybe this can fit to your needs ;)

[TWell]

Have you installed net too ? Look here

[Gunther]

Hi Alfonso,

I've not checked FreeDos in VirtualBox, but I have installed linux in VirtualBox and usually share a folder between host and guest, maybe this can fit to your needs ;)

that's not an option. The Host can give access rights for the Guest, but the Guest (FreeDOS) can't use it. Why? DOS has no NTFS and USB drivers. There is an USB driver for DOS, but it's Shareware and I'm not sure if it works.

TWell,

Have you installed net too ? Look here

that could be the reason for the missing file. I've probably overlooked that important screen. Thank you.

Gunther

[MichaelW]

Hi Gunther,

There is a free USB driver of sorts for DOS available here:

http://bretjohnson.us/

I and another member on the FreeBASIC forum had good results using it with the FreeBASIC DOS-DPMI version, and IIRC every feature that I tested worked, but note that my test systems were more or less old (~1996 and ~2000). I think at one point the other member used the drivers in a commercial weighing system.

Also, I had forgotten that the package includes USBDRIVE.COM, a "DOS driver for up to 8 SCSI-compatible USB Mass Storage Devices". In my test just now I was able to copy files between my MS-DOS 6.22/HDPMI32 boot diskette and a 512MB USB drive, but the system apparently cannot recognize a 4GB USB drive (or, I'm guessing, any drive >2.1GB)

[Gunther]

Hi Michael,

There is a free USB driver of sorts for DOS available here:

http://bretjohnson.us/

thank you, I'll check it out.

Gunther

[Gunther]

Hi TWell,

I've now installed the necessary net software, can start the DHCP client and the FTP server, but I can't connect to the server from my guest operating system (Windows 7). I've used TotalCommander to establish the FTP connection.

Does anyone know another way to echange data between host and guest. Which application can edit the virtual disk image?

Gunther

[FORTRANS]

Hi,

   If there is a network client installed, you could try and use it.
Try a "NET VIEW" command.  I had an MS-DOS 5.0 machine using
an IBM LAN Manager server for file and print services.  I was using
the IBM client software.  There is (was?) a Microsoft MS-DOS client
available for their LAN servers way back when.  You could download
it from their site.  Microsoft has mucked about with the protocols
some what with each release of Windows, so an older server or
peer system may be easier to see on the network.

Regards,

Steve N.

[Gunther]

Steve,

Hi,

   If there is a network client installed, you could try and use it.
Try a "NET VIEW" command.  I had an MS-DOS 5.0 machine using
an IBM LAN Manager server for file and print services.  I was using
the IBM client software.  There is (was?) a Microsoft MS-DOS client
available for their LAN servers way back when.  You could download
it from their site.  Microsoft has mucked about with the protocols
some what with each release of Windows, so an older server or
peer system may be easier to see on the network.

Regards,

Steve N.

good hint, but here's the problem: After installing FreeDOS inside VirtualBox I've to load the appropriate drivers (config.sys or autoexec.bat). But how to insert the files into the VDI file? The same is true for USB drivers etc.

I've found that WinMount can mount vdi images, but it's not free. I'm searching for a similar tool.

Gunther

[Rockphorr]

Steve,

Hi,

   If there is a network client installed, you could try and use it.
Try a "NET VIEW" command.  I had an MS-DOS 5.0 machine using
an IBM LAN Manager server for file and print services.  I was using
the IBM client software.  There is (was?) a Microsoft MS-DOS client
available for their LAN servers way back when.  You could download
it from their site.  Microsoft has mucked about with the protocols
some what with each release of Windows, so an older server or
peer system may be easier to see on the network.

Regards,

Steve N.

good hint, but here's the problem: After installing FreeDOS inside VirtualBox I've to load the appropriate drivers (config.sys or autoexec.bat). But how to insert the files into the VDI file? The same is true for USB drivers etc.

I've found that WinMount can mount vdi images, but it's not free. I'm searching for a similar tool.

Gunther

Write required files to iso and attach it to virtual drive of cd/dvd

Rockphorr

[sinsi]

WinImage can create virtual floppy discs. Another possible way is to create a new virtual hard drive as a VHD, Windows 7 can mount them (with a bit of hassle), Windows 8 does it natively. Mount it as a second hard drive in VirtualBox.

[Gunther]

So, I've solved the problem. An easy way to exchange files between host and guest (the guest is DOS, of course) is to use the FTP server which comes with FreeDOS. The tricky point is, to set the network adapter to Bridged Adapter. The FTP session can be established with Total Commander (Norton Clone); it works fine and fast.

Gunther

[japheth]

There is a free USB driver of sorts for DOS available here:

http://bretjohnson.us/

Regrettably, Bret Johnson's USB drivers support UHCI only - and AFAICS, VirtualBox's USB emulation is restricted to OHCI ( and EHCI ). 

[Gunther]

Andreas,

Regrettably, Bret Johnson's USB drivers support UHCI only - and AFAICS, VirtualBox's USB emulation is restricted to OHCI ( and EHCI ). 

is there another free alternative? I'm to lazy to write my own driver.

Gunther

[goofprog]

You are working too hard.  Make a extra storage device on your virtual and mount it.