Why can't Windows XP in VirtualBox use Windows update?

Question

I've done two Installs of Windows XP in VirtualBox and neither is/was able to use windows update. In fact this time round I'm getting only intermittent internet access at all.

Host OS in Win7 64 bit, guest is WinXP home 32 bit
Host has i5, 2 cores assigned to guest
host has 16GB Ram, 3GB assigned to guest
guest has SP2 and SP3 installed
guest also has IE8 installed via standalone installer

guest network adapter "is attached to NAT" in settings. I'm gonna try bridged I think.


Anyone out there who uses XP in VirtualBox?

Answer 1

bridged or shared should both work.

Answer 2

Windows has a rather limited lifespan and most versions of XP are nearing that limit or have already reached it;

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/lifecycle

Needs to be a genuine install with a licence number to use Windows updates anyway, and you need to be the system administrator to be allowed to download anything.

If you have a genuine installation then you can have a look at the Microsoft automated "Fixit solution centre" to see if they can do a fix for you;

http://support.microsoft.com/fixit/

Regards, Bob.

Answer 3

You need SP1 before you'll get any chance of MS update. You will have trouble getting the SP1 download from MS. I suggest you google it. Someone will have a copy. The main reason for this is that MS is given up Updateing XP....SP1 you need

Good luck