VirtualBox unnecessarily enables USB web camera

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Windows hosts.
Utruk
Posts: 1
Joined: 12. Apr 2011, 08:33
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows 7

VirtualBox unnecessarily enables USB web camera

Post by Utruk »

I have a USB web camera. The web camera is Microsoft LifeCam Studio. It works perfectly on my host system Windows 7 x64. I have the guest system Windows 7 x64 running under VirtualBox 4.0.4. The problem is when I start the virtual machine the blue indicator on the web camera glows as if the web camera is being used by some software. At the same time I can start Skype or LifeCam software and use the camera as usual. When I shut the virtual machine down the indicator turns off. The USB support is disabled for the virtual machine and it does not see any USB devices including this camera.

The question is what is happening and why it is using my camera? The second question is how to prevent this?
ColdCold
Posts: 11
Joined: 18. Jul 2012, 22:30

Re: VirtualBox unnecessarily enables USB web camera

Post by ColdCold »

I'm experiencing the exact same problem - using MS LifeCam camera, both host and guest are running Win7 x64. I cannot seem to find any settings in VirtualBox that disables the camera. even if there is nothing to worry about, it still feels like I am being spied on! anyone have any answers? Oracle engineers? I've seen other people experiencing this problem as far back as Jan 2011. someone please help!
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: VirtualBox unnecessarily enables USB web camera

Post by Perryg »

Is there a filter in the USB section of the guest?
ColdCold
Posts: 11
Joined: 18. Jul 2012, 22:30

Re: VirtualBox unnecessarily enables USB web camera

Post by ColdCold »

I have tried with and without a filter, nothing I do with filters makes a difference.
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: VirtualBox unnecessarily enables USB web camera

Post by Perryg »

Yes but if you have a blank filter it will pickup the camera. By default if no filters are present the guest is not presented any devices.

From the hosts terminal/command window type VBoxManage showvminfo <VM Name> --details and post here. Replace <VM Name> with the actual name of the VM. Use " " if the name has a space in it.

Note if the host is Windows you need to be in the directory that has VBoxManage.exe for the command to work.
ColdCold
Posts: 11
Joined: 18. Jul 2012, 22:30

Re: VirtualBox unnecessarily enables USB web camera

Post by ColdCold »

I tried with and without filters. I currently have no filters. After creating and then removing a filter I was able to uncheck the "Enable USB Controller" box, but it atuomatically re-enabled itself (presumably because it needed USB for keyboard/mouse) and now the option is selected and greyed-out. (See attached .jpg for screen shot.)

Meanwhile, the blue light on my "LifeCam Cinema" webcam is on whenever VirtualBox is running and only turns off when I quit VirtualBox.

Thanks for any further help on this issue.

This is the output of VBoxManager:

Name: Win7 x64
Guest OS: Windows 7 (64 bit)
UUID: b13854f9-a149-47cd-a91b-48795ae936ab
Config file: D:\Users\ColdCold\VirtualBox VMs\Win7 x64\Win7 x64.vbox
Snapshot folder: D:\Users\ColdCold\VirtualBox VMs\Win7 x64\Snapshots
Log folder: D:\Users\ColdCold\VirtualBox VMs\Win7 x64\Logs
Hardware UUID: b13854f9-a149-47cd-a91b-48795ae936ab
Memory size: 1024MB
Page Fusion: off
VRAM size: 55MB
CPU exec cap: 100%
HPET: off
Chipset: piix3
Firmware: BIOS
Number of CPUs: 1
Synthetic Cpu: off
CPUID overrides: None
Boot menu mode: message and menu
Boot Device (1): DVD
Boot Device (2): HardDisk
Boot Device (3): Not Assigned
Boot Device (4): Not Assigned
ACPI: on
IOAPIC: on
PAE: off
Time offset: 0 ms
RTC: local time
Hardw. virt.ext: on
Hardw. virt.ext exclusive: off
Nested Paging: on
Large Pages: on
VT-x VPID: on
State: running (since 2012-07-18T22:30:55.975000000)
Monitor count: 1
3D Acceleration: off
2D Video Acceleration: off
Teleporter Enabled: off
Teleporter Port: 0
Teleporter Address:
Teleporter Password:
Storage Controller Name (0): IDE Controller
Storage Controller Type (0): PIIX4
Storage Controller Instance Number (0): 0
Storage Controller Max Port Count (0): 2
Storage Controller Port Count (0): 2
Storage Controller Bootable (0): on
Storage Controller Name (1): SATA Controller
Storage Controller Type (1): IntelAhci
Storage Controller Instance Number (1): 0
Storage Controller Max Port Count (1): 30
Storage Controller Port Count (1): 1
Storage Controller Bootable (1): on
IDE Controller (1, 0): C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxGuestAdditions.iso (UUID: c895bc92-7e3c-40b7-becf-8dbf24a5fca2)
SATA Controller (0, 0): D:\Users\ColdCold\VirtualBox VMs\Win7 x64\Snapshots/{b36497bc-23d4-410d-9b17-35816c26a12f}.vdi (UUID: b36497bc-23d4-410d-9b17-35816c26a12f)
NIC 1: MAC: 080027641733, Attachment: NAT, Cable connected: on, Trace: off (file: none), Type: 82540EM, Reported speed: 0 Mbps, Boot priority: 0, Promisc Policy: deny
NIC 1 Settings: MTU: 0, Socket (send: 64, receive: 64), TCP Window (send:64, receive: 64)
NIC 2: disabled
NIC 3: disabled
NIC 4: disabled
NIC 5: disabled
NIC 6: disabled
NIC 7: disabled
NIC 8: disabled
Pointing Device: USB Tablet
Keyboard Device: PS/2 Keyboard
UART 1: disabled
UART 2: disabled
Audio: enabled (Driver: DSOUND, Controller: HDA)
Clipboard Mode: Bidirectional
Video mode: 1024x768x24
VRDE: disabled
USB: enabled

USB Device Filters:

<none>

Available remote USB devices:

<none>

Currently Attached USB Devices:

<none>

Shared folders:

Name: 'Virtual_Machine_Shared_Folder', Host path: 'D:\Users\ColdCold\VirtualBox VMs\Virtual Machine Shared Folder' (machine mapping), writable

VRDE Connection: not active
Clients so far: 0

Guest:

Configured memory balloon size: 0 MB
OS type: Windows7_64
Additions run level: 1
Additions version: 4.1.18r78361


Guest Facilities:

Facility "VirtualBox Base Driver": active/running (last update: 2012/07/18 22:31:17 UTC)
Facility "Seamless Mode": not active (last update: 2012/07/18 22:31:17 UTC)
Facility "Graphics Mode": not active (last update: 2012/07/18 22:31:17 UTC)

Snapshots:

Name: Snapshot 1 (UUID: 2179cb96-2a8e-47e9-84db-7ef72cb2062a)
Name: Snapshot 2 (UUID: 00385881-5c73-436d-96e4-02fac454dfdf)
Name: Snapshot 3 (UUID: 5305537e-8fd6-4bd4-a2f3-4823335c7fe2)
Name: Snapshot 4 (UUID: 1584b7db-dce8-4dd9-8458-ecb85d82cce1) *
Attachments
VBox USB Settings
VBox USB Settings
VBoxSettings.jpg (48.6 KiB) Viewed 6670 times
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: VirtualBox unnecessarily enables USB web camera

Post by Perryg »

It's probably greyed out because the guest is running. Most settings are locked when the guest is running. So with the USB2 unchecked you still see the camera?

Also is the camera a USB1 device?
ColdCold
Posts: 11
Joined: 18. Jul 2012, 22:30

Re: VirtualBox unnecessarily enables USB web camera

Post by ColdCold »

Yes the VM was running, so I shut it down and unchecked the "Enable USB Controller" checkbox. I received a "Non-optimal settings detected" error and a more detailed message in orange text (please see attached VBoxUSBSettings.jpg). After clicking OK, the USB controller is automatically activated again.

The orange error message refers to an HID device being selected on the Systems page in Settings, however I'm not sure which item it's referring to (please see attached VBoxSystemSettings.jpg).

As you can see, I'm using the PIIX3 chipset and both "Enable IO APIC" and "Enable absolute pointing device" are enabled.

Thanks for your help.
Attachments
VBoxUSBSettings.jpg
VBoxUSBSettings.jpg (52.85 KiB) Viewed 6666 times
VBoxSystemSettings.jpg
VBoxSystemSettings.jpg (64.49 KiB) Viewed 6666 times
ColdCold
Posts: 11
Joined: 18. Jul 2012, 22:30

Re: VirtualBox unnecessarily enables USB web camera

Post by ColdCold »

I just tried unchecking the "Enable absolute pointing device" on the System settings page... that enabled me to disable the USB controller (without it automatically turning itself back on). Upon starting the VM, my keyboard and mouse are still working fine... however, the webcam is STILL turning itself on as the VM comes up. Weird.
ColdCold
Posts: 11
Joined: 18. Jul 2012, 22:30

Re: VirtualBox unnecessarily enables USB web camera

Post by ColdCold »

Oh yes... I forgot to mention, the Microsoft "LifeCam Cinema" camera is USB 2.0.
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: VirtualBox unnecessarily enables USB web camera

Post by Perryg »

This is not supposed to happen (and does not for me). You should create a ticket at bugtracker and explain this to them. Post a link from this thread as well.
ColdCold
Posts: 11
Joined: 18. Jul 2012, 22:30

Re: VirtualBox unnecessarily enables USB web camera

Post by ColdCold »

So yes, USB is disabled (see attached screen shot) and my USB 2.0 webcam *still* turns on when the VM is started and off when the VM is shut down.

I'll post the bug on bugtracker.

Thanks for your help.
Attachments
VBox_USB_Off.jpg
VBox_USB_Off.jpg (44.72 KiB) Viewed 6664 times
ColdCold
Posts: 11
Joined: 18. Jul 2012, 22:30

Re: VirtualBox unnecessarily enables USB web camera

Post by ColdCold »

Just for the record... this is my most recent output from VBoxManage:


Name: Win7 x64
Guest OS: Windows 7 (64 bit)
UUID: b13854f9-a149-47cd-a91b-48795ae936ab
Config file: D:\Users\ColdCold\VirtualBox VMs\Win7 x64\Win7 x64.vbox
Snapshot folder: D:\Users\ColdCold\VirtualBox VMs\Win7 x64\Snapshots
Log folder: D:\Users\ColdCold\VirtualBox VMs\Win7 x64\Logs
Hardware UUID: b13854f9-a149-47cd-a91b-48795ae936ab
Memory size: 1024MB
Page Fusion: off
VRAM size: 55MB
CPU exec cap: 100%
HPET: off
Chipset: piix3
Firmware: BIOS
Number of CPUs: 1
Synthetic Cpu: off
CPUID overrides: None
Boot menu mode: message and menu
Boot Device (1): DVD
Boot Device (2): HardDisk
Boot Device (3): Not Assigned
Boot Device (4): Not Assigned
ACPI: on
IOAPIC: on
PAE: off
Time offset: 0 ms
RTC: local time
Hardw. virt.ext: on
Hardw. virt.ext exclusive: off
Nested Paging: on
Large Pages: on
VT-x VPID: on
State: powered off (since 2012-07-18T23:44:36.512000000)
Monitor count: 1
3D Acceleration: off
2D Video Acceleration: off
Teleporter Enabled: off
Teleporter Port: 0
Teleporter Address:
Teleporter Password:
Storage Controller Name (0): IDE Controller
Storage Controller Type (0): PIIX4
Storage Controller Instance Number (0): 0
Storage Controller Max Port Count (0): 2
Storage Controller Port Count (0): 2
Storage Controller Bootable (0): on
Storage Controller Name (1): SATA Controller
Storage Controller Type (1): IntelAhci
Storage Controller Instance Number (1): 0
Storage Controller Max Port Count (1): 30
Storage Controller Port Count (1): 1
Storage Controller Bootable (1): on
IDE Controller (1, 0): C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxGuestAdditions.iso (UUID: c895bc92-7e3c-40b7-becf-8dbf24a5fca2)
SATA Controller (0, 0): D:\Users\ColdCold\VirtualBox VMs\Win7 x64\Snapshots/{b36497bc-23d4-410d-9b17-35816c26a12f}.vdi (UUID: b36497bc-23d4-410d-9b17-35816c26a12f)
NIC 1: MAC: 080027641733, Attachment: NAT, Cable connected: on, Trace: off (file: none), Type: 82540EM, Reported speed: 0 Mbps, Boot priority: 0, Promisc Policy: deny
NIC 1 Settings: MTU: 0, Socket (send: 64, receive: 64), TCP Window (send:64, receive: 64)
NIC 2: disabled
NIC 3: disabled
NIC 4: disabled
NIC 5: disabled
NIC 6: disabled
NIC 7: disabled
NIC 8: disabled
Pointing Device: PS/2 Mouse
Keyboard Device: PS/2 Keyboard
UART 1: disabled
UART 2: disabled
Audio: enabled (Driver: DSOUND, Controller: HDA)
Clipboard Mode: Bidirectional
VRDE: disabled
USB: disabled

USB Device Filters:

<none>

Available remote USB devices:

<none>

Currently Attached USB Devices:

<none>

Shared folders:

Name: 'Virtual_Machine_Shared_Folder', Host path: 'D:\Users\ColdCold\VirtualBox VMs\Virtual Machine Shared Folder' (machine mapping), writable

VRDE Connection: not active
Clients so far: 0

Guest:

Configured memory balloon size: 0 MB
OS type: Windows7_64
Additions run level: 0
Additions version: 4.1.18


Guest Facilities:

No active facilities.

Snapshots:

Name: Snapshot 1 (UUID: 2179cb96-2a8e-47e9-84db-7ef72cb2062a)
Name: Snapshot 2 (UUID: 00385881-5c73-436d-96e4-02fac454dfdf)
Name: Snapshot 3 (UUID: 5305537e-8fd6-4bd4-a2f3-4823335c7fe2)
Name: Snapshot 4 (UUID: 1584b7db-dce8-4dd9-8458-ecb85d82cce1) *
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: VirtualBox unnecessarily enables USB web camera

Post by Perryg »

Thanks. Post the ticket number here when you have it submitted so others can see the results or add to it.
ColdCold
Posts: 11
Joined: 18. Jul 2012, 22:30

Re: VirtualBox unnecessarily enables USB web camera

Post by ColdCold »

Here is a link to the bug report:

https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/10769

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