You Cannot Log On to a Domain or Connect to a Network from a Windows-Based Virtual Machine (824440)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Virtual PC for Mac version 6.1
  • Connectix Virtual PC for Mac version 6.0
  • Connectix Virtual PC for Mac version 5.0

SYMPTOMS

When you start a Microsoft Windows-based virtual machine in Virtual PC, you may not be able to connect to your network.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when the following conditions are true:
  • The virtual machine connects to the network by using Shared Networking.
  • Your user account on the Macintosh computer does not have root user permissions.
Only user accounts that have root user permissions can access the ports that Shared Networking uses in Apple Mac OS X. However, you can connect to your network when you set your virtual machine to use Virtual Switch networking instead of Shared Networking.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, you can either set your virtual machine to use Virtual Switch, or you can have your user account changed to grant you root user permissions.

Use Virtual Switch

To use Virtual Switch with your Windows-based virtual machine, follow these steps:
  1. Start Virtual PC.
  2. On the Virtual PC List, click the virtual machine that you want to configure.
  3. Click Settings.
  4. Click Networking.
  5. Click to select the Enable networking check box.
  6. Click Virtual Switch.
  7. Click OK.
  8. On the Virtual PC menu, click Preferences.
  9. Click Virtual Switch.
  10. Click one of the following options in the Select Ethernet Adapter list:
    • (Default)
    • Built-in Ethernet
    • Ethernet Slot
    • AirPort
  11. Click OK.
Note Windows must be configured to automatically obtain a TCP/IP address from a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, and a DHCP server must be available on the network. Or, Windows must be configured with a static TCP/IP address that is different from the Macintosh computer's TCP/IP address. For additional information about setting your Windows-based guest operating system to use DHCP or Static IP networking, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

314066 How to Enable Internet Connection Sharing on a Home or Small Office Network Connection in Windows XP

237254 How to Enable Internet Connection Sharing on a Network Connection in Windows 2000

230151 How to Configure ICS to Use a Static IP Address

262227 Description of the Home Networking Wizard in Windows

Change User Permissions

To change your user account permissions, follow these steps:
  1. Log on to the Macintosh computer by using an administrator user account.
  2. On the Dock, click System Preferences.
  3. Click Accounts, and then click the user account that you want to modify.
  4. Click Edit User.
  5. Click to select the Allow user to administer this computer check box.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Log off the computer, and then log on to the computer again by using the user account that you just modified.
Note While you are logged in as root, you will have read and write permissions to all areas of the file system. You can create and modify files and documents as a root such that other user accounts do not have access to. Microsoft does not support making changes to Virtual PC files, drive images, and other files made while a user is logged in to an account that has root user permissions. .
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/15/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB824440 kbAudEndUser
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