[Solved] USB and Sharing Folders Problem

[skatingsdead]

Hi, I can't seem to get USB devices or shared folders to work in Virtualbox 3.0.2 with Windows 7 as guest. For USB, all but 3 of the devices are greyed out (the only ones available are apple internals - iSight, Host Controller and IR receiver), none of my external devices are selectable. I've had a look for solutions, mainly using filters, but to no effect.

As for the sharing folders problem I've set up a sharing folder, but it isn't visible in the network section of Windows. Network discovery is on and I'm at a loss as to what's causing it not to show up in windows explorer.

Any help would be much appreciated thanks.

[HipHoppity]

Hi Skatingsdead,

Can you tell us a little about your USB devices that you're having difficulty with. Some general things to consider and try with your system:

1. Check to see if your Host (Mac) has control of the device -- this is the most common reason you see the USB device grayed-out on your VBox Guest.

2. When you start your VM are the USB devices attached prior to startup? If so, you might want to try getting your VM Guest up-and-running before attaching the devices (with VBox USB filter in place). Alternatively, you can go through the "cable dance" of unplug/replug your USB devices to get them to attach to your Guest. (Be careful with hard drives and make sure to handle their ejection from the Host properly.) For example, I've got a signature pad that I've got to do this USB cable dance with every time I start my Guest VM to get it to attach properly.

3. If the above is not resolving your problem then you might want to try deleting your current filter and creating a new filter. If you've not tried creating an empty filter under the (.) symbol versus a device specific filter with the (+) symbol then that sometimes can do the trick. Also, remember try unplugging and replugging your USB devices once you've got the VM Guest booted up after making the new filter(s).

For your folder sharing problems -- do you have Guest Additions installed in your Guest VM? Also, in the User Manual check out Section 4.6 on setting up Shared Folders. This will probably get you the rest of the way there.

Best of luck with completing your VBox Guest VM installation.

[rpmurray]

Just to cover the basics. You do have the Guest Additions installed? Right?

[skatingsdead]

Hi, sorry for the delay in a reply. Yes guest additions additions are installed. I have tried performing the 'cable dance' and my external hard drive is now ungreyed and windows says it has installed the necessary drivers and it is ready to use, however it doesn't show up in explorer and I have no way of accessing it. As for the sharing folders I created a 'Windows Shared' read-only folder in my mac user space following the instructions in the user guide. However it then assumes that I can then see my user folder in the network section of explorer and I can't, it simply doesn't show up.

Incidentally I also have no sound. Windows says 'no audio output device is installed' although VirtualBox is supposedly using Core Audio as the Host Driver.

thanks for the assistance!

[gizn]

I had USB working fine with VB but with version 3.x a bunch of problems and with 3.0.2 it has a habit of telling me there are no USB devices. My Nokia SW now can't see the phone and I can't mount memory sticks. Hey ho.

I do have sound thou at this point.

[HipHoppity]

Hi Skatingsdead,

Glad to hear you are getting a little further along with your Windows 7 VM installation and that you have Guest Additions installed. For the shared folder issue I have seen a couple of posts from Perryg that say that in Windows 7 you will need to finish the job from the command line. For example, here is his advice from a thread titled Sharing Folders Usage:

"I will add that to be able to map this in the Windows 7 beta/RC guest you probably will not be able to see the shared folder until you map it from a command window.
CODE: SELECT ALL EXPAND VIEW
net use z: \\vboxsvr\<sharename> -p

Replace the <sharename> with the name you gave the share in the VBox settings."

You might want to give this a try. I hope this works for you -- if so, it will get you one step closer to your goal!

[skatingsdead]

Thanks so much hiphoppity I now have Shared Folders working! Sound is also working (didn't have the proper drivers installed) and I think i've solved the issue of why my hard drive wont show up (it's HFS+ formatted).

Thanks again everyone!