This has stumped the only IT guy I know.  After spending 2 days on it, he said, "It's not working, and I don't know why."  Then, "Maybe it's supposed to work like that."

I set up a virtual hard disk in Windows 8.1 and virtual computer and all the rest so it's running Windows XP.

Virtual computer will at least now a) boot into Windows and b) allow me to make changes to files on XP.

Unfortunately, it flat-out refuses to see anything barring a newly-created hard disk (which must be mounted and then offlined in Windows 8.1).

I use TrueCrypt to password protect my personal files.  I found it very useful in Windows 7 as XP Mode saw a plugged-in flash drive as a drive, and a mounted TrueCrypt container as a drive.

The virtual computer in Windows 8.1 can't see any flash drives plugged in unless the flash drive has a virtual hard disk, yada yada.  And it hates TrueCrypt.  In fact, I have to use TrueCrypt in traveller mode INSIDE the virtual hard disk to access the files while keeping them password protected.

Don't suggest BitLocker unless you can tell me how to get it to work properly.  BitLocker To Go is set up on the virtual computer and it flat-out refuses to see any BitLocker drives even when the yada yada is done.  Can't see it - can't use it.

Personally, I like TrueCrypt as I can take it in traveller mode on a flash drive, plug it into another computer and run it direct from the flash drive.  BitLocker and virtual hard drives seem like a pain in the backside, but as the virtual computer on 8.1 is making it very difficult to make backups from itself...

Also, the IT guy set up an internal switch on the XP virtual computer, which seems to disable my internet on 8.1 if it's removed.  It does very little as far as I can tell on communicating with 8.1.  I thought I'd be able to transfer files between the XP computer and the TrueCrypt container (mounted as a removable drive) on 8.1.  XP virtual computer is having none of it.

I have no idea how compatible BitLocker is with older versions of Windows or how safe it is to trust my files to something that requires you to jump through hoops to access it.  Also, it doesn't ask for a password when accessing it in the virtual computer.  I want it to ask on every access.

Questions:

1a) Is there any way to get a virtual computer to see a mounted TrueCrypt container as a removable drive?  (Ideal situation.)

1b) Is there any way to get it to see a flash drive when it's plugged into the host computer?

2) Is there any way to make files on the virtual computer accessible to the host computer?  (I downloaded a search program so I don't need to use XP search any more.)  Jumping through hoops is not my thing.

3) Is the whole thing an issue with the way my virtual machine was set up?  If it is, how do I fix it?

(I can, at a pinch, get everything off the virtual machine by jumping through hoops.)

I don't want the XP virtual computer having internet access (security issues) and I actually only use it for 1 program.  Unfortunately, the program was discontinued and is too complicated to decompile (besides being 16-bit, I think), and I haven't managed to find another in the past several years that does the same thing.

I deliberately bought 8.1 Pro for the virtual computer, but it's a lot more difficult to use than the 7 Pro XP Mode.  (Why the heck did they stop that when it WORKED?!)  I'm half considering downgrading back to Windows 7 because at least it WORKS without the aforementioned hoop-jumping.

• Moved by BrianEhMVP 15 hours 58 minutes ago