Can't use the host optical drive on Windows XP VM

[VG]

Hi!

We're using VirtualBox on several iMacs (MAC OS X 10.6.8) with a Windows XP VM (SP3 fully updated). All the guest OSes are configured with a:

• Standard IDE Controller PIIX4 (Prim. Master -> HDD, Sec. Master -> host DVD drive).

Unfortunately we're not able to use the host dvd inside any Windows Guest OS. The drive simply gets stuck while accessing it. After searching a long time on the Internet, I made the following tests on an iMac:

i) Attaching an USB DVD/RW drive and let the guest OS access it via USB worked.

I was able to play a DVD movie quite good.

ii) Attaching the same USB DVD/RW drive and let the guest OS access it via IDE,

having USB disabled, failed :-(

iii) Reinstalling Windows XP with an IDE ICH6 controller or SATA didn't work either.

Really bad performance with SATA (!!!)

iv) Trying to use the host DVD on other Windows Platforms (Windows 7 and Windows 2k8)

failed too. :-(((((

v) Tried using VirtualBox 4.1.4 didn't resolve the problem too ...

After this I decided to post a ticket hoping for some solution from the VirtualBox team...

I'll post the VBOX.log file...

Thanks,

[VG]

VBox.log from a Windows XP VM

[Frank Mehnert]

What happens if you disable passthrough for the drive?

[VG]

Hi Frank,

So for late answering.

Disabling Passthrough didn't work either. In the meanwhile I tried the new VirtualBox Version 4.1.6 but unfortunately the problem was the same: playing DVD's or even accessing data discs (MS Office 2003 for example) caused the drive to get stuck.
I understand that nowadays using a DVD device is probably obsolete, but in our school teachers use them a lot.
I just wonder why there is no problem using an external USB Drive, while the internal on the MAC host (connected through SATA) doesn't work?

Thanks for replying,

[VG]

I just want to correct something: After inserting the Office 2003 CD, the setup took longer to start than normal but it worked. Even copying files from CD to the desktop worked. Playing DVD's causes the drive to stuck. (tested on VirtualBox 4.1.6).

Thanks,

[aeichner]

Please reopen if still relevant with a recent Virtualbox release. There were a lot DVD/passthrough related fixes since.