VirtualBox, Extension pack & Guest additions

[#1]

I am currently setting up a new 500gb Hard Drive .

Operating System - Linux Mint 20 MATE

Installed WINE 5.0

Installed VirtualBox 6.1

Now comes the questions.... There is a need for VirtualBox Extension Pack, to be able to use USB slots on the host Laptop. .

Which has to be installed separtately... (no problem) .. just download it from the Oracle site.

BUT..

There is another piece of software Guest Additions.  which is also available.

The problem I have is, knowing whether I need to install BOTH the above, or just one... if just one.. which one...

Oracle VM VirtualBox is composed of:

• Oracle VM VirtualBox Base Package: the executable that you have to install on your host operating system
• Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack: a binary package that extends the functionality of the VirtualBox base package
• Oracle VM VirtualBox Guest Additions: consist of device drivers and system applications that optimize the guest operating system for better performance and usability

In the above, copied from a website... I understand what is said in the third paragraph...but , unfortunately the second paragraph does not give clear information about what it does. 

Can someone please clarify, and advise, which of the two, either, or... I should install

Thanks

[#2]

All of them.

[#3]

@dvorak  OK...Thanks... i`ll give that a go....

[#4]

Hi Shutter
You should install both the extension pack and the guest additions.
A you state the extention pack enables the guest OS access the host OS USB ports.
The guest additions will provide drivers for the guest OS.
For example for Windows XP guest, it provides a display driver which allows higher screen resolutions.
However, I imagine that Windows 10 could detect it is running as a virtualbox guest and sort its own drivers out?
I have not tried Windows 10 in virtualbox as I switched to linux several years ago and I am comfortable with the native linux apps.
Regards
Richard

[#5]

Thanks @RichardB   Actually will be running WIndows 7 Pro 64bit on the VB.. like you I have switched from Windows, to Linux Mint but there is one major program that will not run on WINE... MS Publisher 98, which I have been using since `98 and all my documents/letters etc are unreadable with anything BUT MSPUB98.. so this is an ideal method of being able to continue using it, and access older files, without having to re-boot into windows with all the un-necessary waiting around between boot up and acquisition ! . then of course having to close down and re boot to continue normal life ! ! 

[#6 · Accepted solution]

Hi Shutter
Have you tried the linux Scribus application?
It can open and save MS publisher files.
However, 1the user interface is different and there will be a learning curve.
Regards
Richard

[#7]

@RichardB   No. !   I haven`t ... thanks for the info.. will go and have a look see

[#8]

@RichardB   Super job !... works a treat... will take some getting used to... but I did manage to "edit" one of my .pub files, so that is good to know...

Thanks very much...

[#9]

No problem.

Pleased you gave Scribus a go 🙂