Enabling keyboard in VM locks Ubuntu host

[mbakerDPS]

All,

I usually enable my USB keyboard in my Win 7 VM, which disables it from my Ubuntu host.

Today, however, I left my computer alone long enough that the Ubuntu host locked up (as it usually does after 15min).

So...with the keyboard locked by the Win 7 VM, I couldn't type in my password to unlock my Ubuntu screen! I was screwed! I had to do a hard reboot...

Any thoughts on this issue?

Thanks!

-m

[Perryg]

Yes. Keyboards are a shared resource and you should never select to transfer the keyboard to the guest.

[mbakerDPS]

I don't know how to get the keyboard functioning correctly in the VM / guest without enabling it...any thoughts?

[Perryg]

Post the guests log file (as an attachment)
See Online Users Manual for the location of the file.

[mpack]

I don't know how to get the keyboard functioning correctly in the VM / guest without enabling it...any thoughts?

If the keyboard is functioning in your host then by definition all host applications can use it, and VirtualBox is nothing special in this regard. OTOH, stealing ownership of the keyboard from the host which was already using it... is not likely to be a good idea if you want to continue using the host (and the VM can't run without the host).

Make sure that non of your VM USB filters can match the host keyboard. It's possible however that you'll have problems if your guest was installed to expect an actual USB keyboard instead of the virtual PS/2 keyboard that VMs normally use. We'll see how adaptable your guest is!

[mbakerDPS]

All,

Here is the most recent log file for my machine.

Some keyboard errors I'm getting in the VM:

- keyboard entry doesn't happen until I hit escape twice, then the keyboard is recognized and I can start typing (actually this is a problem in an Ubuntu VM as well...)
- the Window button (between CTRL and ALT) doesn't work, so opening a new windows explorer window is a pain (which I usually accomplish using Window+E)

Let me know if this helps!

Thank you all!

-m

[mpack]

I can't tell from that last message whether you've ignored or acted upon the suggestions already given.

If you're not attempting to grab ownership of the host keyboard, and your guest OS is configured to expect a PS/2 keyboard with the correct layout, then it should all work just like it does for the rest of us.

Incidentally, where did this Win7 guest come from? Did you install it from a setup DVD yourself?

[mbakerDPS]

I think you're referring to:

Make sure that non of your VM USB filters can match the host keyboard. It's possible however that you'll have problems if your guest was installed to expect an actual USB keyboard instead of the virtual PS/2 keyboard that VMs normally use. We'll see how adaptable your guest is!

I'm not really sure what to do there, to be honest.

The WIn 7 install came from a DVD our IT department uses for installs, and yes, I installed it myself...

Thank you!