[Part solved] USB not working, Windows Host and Ubuntu Guest

roadSurfer · Post by **roadSurfer** » 14. Jan 2009, 15:55

I have tried everything I can think of. Filters, no filters, USB 2.0 on and off, different devices (sticks, TV tuners, IR receivers, printers), VB with and without focus, unplugging and plugging back in; I just cannot get the guest to see any USB device.

Has anyone got USB working with a Linux (pref Ubuntu 8.10) guest; if so, how did you do it?

Are there known bugs with 2.1 and USB support that I simply have not found?

Thanks for any help.

Below is a summary from a previous posting:
VB seems to capture the device (I get the Windows alert and need to install the Virtual Box USB device driver) and it shows it as captured, it just can't be used. e.g.:

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UUID:               1c7853d7-0e8d-42ed-8d37-19e27836ab16
VendorId:           0x07ca (07CA)
ProductId:          0xa800 (A800)
Revision:           0.0 (0000)
Manufacturer:       AVerTV
Product:            A800
SerialNumber:       7218269C0543
Current State:      Captured

When I unplug and plug it back in, even with VB having focus, it will not attempt the capture and control reverts back to Windows. I get a new entry (for an identical device) in the USB list and that shows as not captured. If I try to force it, I end up with the error "busy with previous request" message again.

"lsusb" inside Ubuntu only lists the two VB USB hubs (1.1. and 2.0), no devices. I have tried with USB 2.0 support on and off as well.

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Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

I've tried with USB sticks, printers, IR Receivers, TV tuners; always the same.

I checked the log file but nothing seems to show.

One thing I have just spotted is that after a time the state of the USB device seems to change:

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UUID:               1c7853d7-0e8d-42ed-8d37-19e27836ab16
VendorId:           0x07ca (07CA)
ProductId:          0xa800 (A800)
Revision:           0.0 (0000)
Manufacturer:       AVerTV
Product:            A800
SerialNumber:       7218269C0543
Address:            \\?\usb#vid_80ee&pid_cafe#7218269c0543#{00873fdf-cafe-80ee-a
a5e-00c04fb1720b}
Current State:      Held

Although I have no idea what that means.

I just tried to use "VBoxManage" from the command line to attach a USB drive and part of VBox has crashed out.

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Faulting application vboxsvc.exe, version 1.0.0.1, faulting module vboxddu.dll, version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0x00017864.

roadSurfer · Post by **roadSurfer** » 15. Jan 2009, 22:30

This time I used a new Ubuntu 8.10 guest and got the same thing - the pen drive shows as "captured" (yet there is no tick) and the guest is not aware of any device. "lsusb" and "su fdisk -l" both fail to show it.

I guess I have to conclude that VB does not have USB support for a Linux guest on a Windows Host; despite what the manual implies. Shame.

Verb · Post by **Verb** » 18. Jan 2009, 15:59

I had the same problem, which was easily solved with Google. http://www.samlesher.com/ubuntu/virtual ... epid-ibex/

roadSurfer · Post by **roadSurfer** » 19. Jan 2009, 11:48

I am using the closed source version (which is why I can enable USB and set filters etc). USB simply does not work.

Also I think those instructions are for an Ubuntu host, which will not help me I am afraid as I am using a Windows host with an Ubuntu guest.

Apologies if I have misunderstood.

Post by **Sasquatch** » 20. Jan 2009, 22:16

The 'solution' that verb posted is for an Ubuntu HOST, not Guest system. USB in Windows Hosts should work without much issues, though you do need to make sure the device is not in use.

roadSurfer · Post by **roadSurfer** » 20. Jan 2009, 22:34

Cheers Sasquatch - I thought as much.

I wish USB did work from a Windows host to an Ubuntu Guest - but it doesn't seem to. VB will show the device as "captured", but it never appears in the guest.

Post by **Sasquatch** » 20. Jan 2009, 22:51

Are you sure the device isn't there? Did you check with lsusb? I've tested this enough times when I ran Windows, it always worked. The OS should not matter when you mount an USB device from the Host to the Guest. VB only passes it to the Guest OS, as if you plug it in like on bare hardware. Most of the time though

. Some devices just don't work.

Ricky W · Post by **Ricky W** » 21. Jan 2009, 04:46

Hm...

It seems, I'm not the only one who has this kind of problem. I'm also have the same problem with you guys, cannot detect my usb device(usb drive) in the VB host and guest.

But there is something that keep me bothered --btw i'm using my Acer Aspire 4520 notebook-- my Webcam and USB mouse wireless A4-Tech can be detect in VB USB device.

So is it has something to do with the problem that i have ?

For nice response and solution, i shall say thank you.

Best regards,

Ricky W

roadSurfer · Post by **roadSurfer** » 21. Jan 2009, 11:34

Yes, I am 100% sure the device is not there, I have already checked with "lsusb" (see first post). The device is always "captured" but "busy with previous request"; not matter what device I try.

Almost every post on here about USB seems to be about it not working. After checking everything I could think of, I logged bug 3033 stating that USB does not work with 2.1.0.

I may be new to VB, but I am quite experienced with VMWare.

srv1973 · Post by **srv1973** » 21. Jan 2009, 11:49

Ricky W wrote: It seems, I'm not the only one who has this kind of problem. I'm also have the same problem with you guys, cannot detect my usb device(usb drive) in the VB host and guest.

Hi, I didn't post in this thread before, but count this as a "me too". I did mention my USB troubles in a different thread though: http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=12840

Rgds

marmt · Post by **marmt** » 21. Jan 2009, 14:07

finally I found someone with the same problem!

I am using virtualbox with windows XP host and fedora 9 as guest. No way to make the usb key recognised by the virtual machine.

Vboxmanage shows the same "captured" status as detailed in the first post.

lsusb does not list the device

if I use devices > USB devices > [name_device] it reports an error:

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failed to attach the USB device [name_device] to the virtual machine [name_VM]. USB device [name_device] with UUID {uuid} is busy with a previous request. Please try again later.

And this happens with or without filter activated.

thanks for any hints!

roadSurfer · Post by **roadSurfer** » 21. Jan 2009, 14:15

I am afraid I have none. You could, perhaps, attach as much detail as you can to bug 3033, along with your log file.
http://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/3033
(You will need to be logged in)

So nice to know that it is not just me!

marmt · Post by **marmt** » 21. Jan 2009, 15:40

ok I will add to the bug 3033 in order to have more info. In the meantime I found a workaround for usb external drive (keys, hard drive etc). I am using the shared folder and I have access to my data. It is a little bit longer because I have to mount each single folder on the drive, but at least I can work on the data.

roadSurfer · Post by **roadSurfer** » 21. Jan 2009, 16:04

Thanks marmt. I hope it is something I (we?) are doing wrong and easily resolved. I am pretty stunned that USB does not seem to work witha new install of 2.1.0.

I have thought of going back to 2.06, but not sure if the VDIs would be compatible and right now "Shared Folders" works OK for me (although I will want to get the other USB devices working at some point as I test the potential for a full switch-over from Windows).

marmt · Post by **marmt** » 21. Jan 2009, 16:13

I really hope is something stupid, but in this discussion there are at least 3/4 users that have similar problems then ... at least something more on the documentation would be great!

sorry but if you want "simply" to try for a full switch why do not use a live cd? It is normally faster. Furthermore for some distributions (I think also Ubuntu) you can put it on a usb drive and save your changes for drivers or other customisations.

Unfortunately for me is the only way to use a linux system at work (with local network).

[Part solved] USB not working, Windows Host and Ubuntu Guest

[Part solved] USB not working, Windows Host and Ubuntu Guest

Just tried again