[Ham-Mac] has anyone tried... Mac/Doze file transfers?

[Jack Brindle]

No. VirtualBox is free for most of us. In fact, I don't readily find  
on the VirtualBox web site who does have to pay to use it.

USB support is definitely in the freely downloadable version. It works  
quite nicely. VirtualBox 3.0 was just released. It is definitely worth  
while to download the file, which includes the manual, and giving it a  
try.

One of the few problems I have found is the use of Keyspan serial  
ports. Keyspan has a utility that runs on the Mac that blocks the use  
of the driver by the VM client. The solution is to use a serial port  
made by someone else. As someone else noted there are USB serial  
adapters that will do the job quite nicely. My favorite are those  
using the FTDI chips - the drivers are the best around. Keyspan serial  
adapters used to be my favorite, but since their purchase by TrippLite  
things seem to have gone down hill. Finding anything about the devices  
on the web site is very difficult. I recently bought an FTDI adapter  
from Mouser for $18 - it works exceptionally well on both the Mac and  
Windows side.

- Jack B, W6FB

On Jul 1, 2009, at 5:08 PM, John Merrill wrote:

> Jack:
>
> Do you have a paid version of Virtual Box?. As I understand it, the  
> free version doesnot support USB. If not, how do you activate the  
> USB ports on a free version?
>
> John N1JM
>
> On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 4:54 PM, Jack Brindle <jackbrindle at earthlink.net 
> > wrote:
> Take a fresh look at running everything on the Mac. My main system  
> is now a Mac mini. For Windows I use VirtualBox with Windows XP Pro.  
> Pretty much everything is supported, including external USB sound  
> and USB serial ports. I can even share the devices between the Mac  
> side and Windows. File transfer between the virtual machine and  
> MacOS X applications is rather easy using a shared folder, although  
> not quite as easy as with VMWare Fusion, which allows files to be  
> dragged to and from the VM. This setup has completely eliminated my  
> need for a second system running Windows.
>
> If you just wish to transfer files between the two systems, turn on  
> file sharing on the Windows laptop, enable sharing of the disk, then  
> connect directly to it over the network from your Mac. This works  
> quite well also, and you don't need to swap hard drives around.
>
> Hope this helps. If you need more info about the USB serial port  
> sharing setup, just ask!
>
> Jack Brindle, W6FB
>
> -----Original Message-----
> >From: chas <chasm at texas.net>
> >Sent: Jul 1, 2009 12:38 AM
> >To: undisclosed-recipients at null, null at null
> >Subject: [Ham-Mac] has anyone tried...   Mac/Doze file transfers?
> >
> >Has anyone tired transferring files from an XP HDD in a MacPro bay to
> >a windows laptop?
> >what software would be needed and would a regular USB cable work?
> >
> >since we are using Intel chips now, this should be possible.
> >
> >I have to have the laptop to run MARS digital software like MixW and
> >Winlink, etc. so, I need to transfer the files back to the MacPro for
> >manipulation.  The need for an external soundcard and TNC preclude my
> >using the Parallels or Fusion software.  What really hurts is the  
> lack
> >of a serial connection on the Mac. also, controlling Comports which I
> >do not even think exist on a Mac but which the Windows software is
> >looking for all of the time.
> >
> >easiest way is to simply use the old null cable trick to move files
> >from the ThinkPad to the Mac and back.  but is there a Mac/Doze
> >software for file transfer?
> >
> >thanks
> >chas, Houston, TX
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >--
> >chasm at texas.net   k5dam  Houston, TX
> >
> >Orwell -- "If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot  
> stamping
> >on a human face - forever."
> >
> >---
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- Jack Brindle, W6FB
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