VirtualBox Windows XP has no local network

I’m trying to set up a Windows XP VirtualBox (with Oracle’s VirtualBox) yet it seems I don’t have drivers. In the guest Windows XP, the network section is empty, typing ipconfig in command prompt does nothing. Apparently my install doesn’t have device manager either, so so much for that. I just want it so that I can connect the other bloody virtual machines to it, yet I haven’t got the slightest clue as to what is going on.

I have it on host-only adapter, but I believe the problem is in the guest OS, as it doesn’t have a local connection section and the networking section is blank.

WhiteMask

Posted 2015-03-23T01:43:51.470

Reputation: 355

1What Windows XP service pack are you on? If you go up to SP3 that should work. – JakeGould – 2015-03-23T01:51:08.457

I had to tick use TLS1 in internet explorer advanced settings. – TryHarder – 2019-03-24T09:38:31.570

Answers

Windows XP doesn't have drivers for the Intel PRO/1000 card. Try selecting the PCNet FAST III network card instead. You can set it in the VM settings.

astruct

Posted 2015-03-23T01:43:51.470

Reputation: 1 624

4@WhiteMask why isn't this marked as correct answer yet? Simple, quick, working, precise. thanks. – zulu34sx – 2016-01-15T02:15:41.063

Probably because it is not an answer that helped solve the problem? – Louis Parkin – 2016-03-08T20:36:07.777

Where are the VM settings for selecting the network card? – Fedor Steeman – 2016-04-01T15:34:27.627

Found it. But I cannot change my Adapter type! It is greyed out! – Fedor Steeman – 2016-04-01T15:38:59.873

2If the adapter type box is greyed out, you need to shut down the VM. It can only be changed while the VM is stopped. – Mira Weller – 2016-06-12T20:30:14.737

2Should be the right answer – Fernando Kosh – 2018-09-12T21:33:52.910

yep! - right answer for Windows XP - could have saved me one hour of guessing... – Mick – 2019-05-11T20:59:17.883

Depending on what you are trying to achieve with your network adapter settings, host-only is not the correct setting for you if you actually want the VM to have a network connection outside of the host you are running it on...

I am running an XP VM with fairly recent version of Oracle VirtualBox, and my network settings are as follows (configured as Adapter 1):

Attached to: Bridged Adapter
Name: (Here you select your host card from the dropdown)

Under Advanced:

Adapter Type: PCnet-FAST III (Am79C973)
Promiscuous Mode: Deny
MAC Address: (Just hit the refresh button to the right)

Tick "Cable Connected", make sure it is checked.

Also remember to install your Guest additions:
https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch04.html

Louis Parkin

Posted 2015-03-23T01:43:51.470

Reputation: 373

I cannot change my Adapter type! It is greyed out! – Fedor Steeman – 2016-04-01T15:38:31.353

1See comment from Max Weller above: If the adapter type box is greyed out, you need to shut down the VM. It can only be changed while the VM is stopped. – Louis Parkin – 2016-11-30T12:39:01.247

Download the right driver from here

Move and install the driver on your windows XP using the shared folder

Power off the machine

Configure the your adapter on NAT network

Next boot you will get the network working

GAD3R

Posted 2015-03-23T01:43:51.470

Reputation: 2 677

-1

I had the same issue and it took me a long time to find the right adapter but you have to shut down the VirtualBox machine by selecting "Power off the machine" - do not select "save the machine state" or "send the shutdown power" - to be able to access the varied list of network adapters in the Oracle VM dashboard settings. IF you don't do this, it will be greyed out and you would not be able to select anything. I had to do this each time to find the right network adapter that would finally populate..... otherwise all I had was a blank dropdown.

April

Posted 2015-03-23T01:43:51.470

Reputation: 1