how to access external usb 3.0 hdd?

when running windows 10/11 pro 64bit from virtualbox, how do i access my external usb hdd? thanks in advance.

Some information may be helpful. What happens when you plug it in the USB socket. Can you see the drive under disk manager to see if its partitioned?

jestrada47 said:

when running windows 10/11 pro 64bit from virtualbox, how do i access my external usb hdd? thanks in advance.

Click to expand...

I find that the easiest way is to share the USB drive from the Host machine so that the VM can see it on the network. I show how to do that in Step #7 of this tutorial.

Have a look here,

jestrada47 said:

when running windows 10/11 pro 64bit from virtualbox, how do i access my external usb hdd? thanks in advance.

Click to expand...

You have to add it as a "physical device" if you want to add an internal HDD or add USB device if it's an external device.

DO NOT add it as a Virtual hard drive. !!!!!

Again DO NOT ADD as a Virtual Hard drive.

In Windows disk management (from Windows) you should see for example HDD's (internal and externals) as PhysicalDrive0, PhysicalDrive1, etc. (for Internal HDD's).

You must have the Guest additions installed on the VM Guest.

Now in the VM settings (on the host) browse to the USB tab and select the USB device you want to add.

For Internal HDD's select the PhysicalDrive(0) etc. in the VM's config on the HOST.

@Bree

Many times "sharing over a network" is not appropriate -- also depending on whether you can set up bridged networks there's often communication limitations between Guest and HOST if they are on the same physical machine so just connect as a USB and it will work.

Default NAT connections will also present HOST ->GUEST and vice versa communication problems over your LAN even if the GUEST gets access to the wider internet,

Please folks -- forget all these youtube referals -- instructions in SIMPLE ENGLISH work better. Youtube videos are only OK IMHO for showing things like how to open laptop cases etc.

With written instructions you can stop easily make notes go back etc etc. And so many YouTube videos are riddled with totally hideous background "music" (certainly not of London's Royal Opera House or Milan's La Scala standards) plus often dialog is unclear too.


Cheers
jimbo