Share Folders on Unbuntu VBox with Windows

These instructions assure you are using Windows as your host and Ubuntu as the client machine. I am using vbox 4 and Ubuntu 10.04 LTS. I had loads of issues getting this to work with other tutorials and forum posts. I kept getting errors like:

/sbin/mount.vboxsf: mounting failed with the error: Protocol error
/sbin/mount.vboxsf: mounting failed with error: No such device

Here is my method which worked for me and hopefully for you as well.

Stage 1. Install Guest Additions. If you have done this already skip this stage.

1. Start Ubuntu and click devices in the vbox window, the select install Guest Additions
2. This should put a cd icon on the Unbuntu desktop, double clicking should open a folder.
3. Click “Open Autorun Prompt” then wait for it to install.
4. Shut down Ubuntu from within the client.

Stage 2. Add the shared folder

1. Open up VirtualBox control panel.
2. Right hand click on the box you want to share a folder with
3. Go to share folder, add a folder and tick Auto-Mount and Make Permanent
4. Click OK and start your Ubuntu vbox

Stage 3. Give Your User Permission

1. You need to add your user to the vboxsf group.
2. Click system->administration->Users and Groups
3. Click Manage Group -> scroll down, scroll down and click vboxsf. Then click properties.
4. There should be a list of Group Memebers, make sure your user is clicked (by default your user will be called Ubuntu).
5. Close everything and restart from within Ubuntu, not vbox control panel.

Stage 4. Done