Copy and Paste (Drag-n-Drop) issue with my Linux-Ubuntu Virtual Machine and my Windows OS.

Following the TechwithNan DevOps tutorial videos, I approached the stage of setting up my Linux Ubuntu VM, as Linux is an integral OS for DevOps. Since I was using a Windows 11 OS, I downloaded VirtualBox Hypervisor followed the basic setup settings. The next step was to download the Ubuntu Desktop software which would run on the virtual box. I downloaded version 22.04.3 (amd64-.iso) file which was 4.69GB from the official Ubuntu website.

Via the start button on the VirtualBox I linked the Ubuntu OS to the virtual machine and followed the installation guide — choosing language, setting up user details (name and password) and other default settings. My Linux-Ubuntu VM was up and running, then it came to setting up the copy and paste feature between host and virtual machine. This feature is important for a learner, as I would in certain instances want to transfer text or another form of data from host OS to guest OS (Linux-Ubuntu VM). To set up this feature the first step was to go to the VirtualBox home page, to settings, then advanced. In the advanced dialog box, change the shared clipboard and Drag “n”Drop option from disabled to bidirectional (or any option of your choice) from the drop-down menu.

Second step was to install the VM VirtualBox Extension Pack from the same page i downloaded the Virtual Box Hypervisor. Basically, this is a small package that provides more functionality to the virtual box. So I downloaded this pack, installed, and agreed to its licensing.

The last step was to open the virtual machine, locate and select the Devices option at the top left of the vm screen, then scroll down the drop-down menu to the “Insert Guest Additions CD image..”, and select it. This option is specifically for enabling the drag and drop functionality. Upon selecting it, it would automatically find the installer, then you select run and authenticate. The terminal would pop up and run the guest addition installer. A disk-like icon on the vm side bar would pop up, opening this folder would display all the runners and installer. You can now unmount the disk, and test the copy and paste feature.

However, despite following all these steps my copy and paste feature did not work. Specifically, upon clicking the “Insert Guest Additions CD image..”, the installer did not pop up for me to click Run and then authenticate with my password, neither did the terminal pop up. But the disk-like icon on the virtual machine’s side bar would pop up, and in this folder would be all the raw files for runners and installer. I combed the internet (Reddit, Stack Overflow) even the VM documentation, all to no avail. Notably, the answers on Stack Overflow were outdated, suggesting that I change the graphics controller setting on the Display — Screen setting on the virtual box, or permitting the shared folder option which was not optimal as it would allow partial or complete access between my host OS and guest OS.

I solved this by installing VirtualBox Guest Additions on my Ubuntu machine using my terminal. This process can be found on Youtube.

I hope you find it helpful.