virtualbox.org

Hello, I am using Virtualbox for the purpose of getting my Epson Perfection 3170 scanner to work. My host OS is Ubuntu 8.10 and the Virtual machine is Windows 2000. I am a newbie at Ubuntu and Virtualbox and don't understand command lines although I have changed a few accordingly to several suggestions on the forums.

At this time, I have had no problem in installing Virtualbox or Windows 2000. After a few terminal changes I have Windows detecting my scanner and I have installed the scanner with the Epson disk. After bringing up the Epson scan page and clicking “Scan & Save”...I am told the scanner can not be started.

I have installed the Virtualbox 2.1 edtion, PUEL version, uninstalled it and then downloaded and installed the new 2.12 and I am not sure if the first was actually uninstalled..I used Synaptic and I also don't see any difference with the supposed changes in the 2.12. I have put my name in the users group through the Systems-Administration-Users Group etc. I have used the terminal command of gksudo gedit /etc/fstab and have added the following line to the end of the file:
none /proc/bus/usb usbfs devgid=127,devmode=664 0 0 (after finding my correct # of 127)

There was also a change where I removed several # symbols from some settings. These last two changes helped in getting Windows to detect the scanner. (at least I think it did..I have been at this for many days)

I have also enabled the USB Controller and the USB 2.0 (EHCI) Controller. This brings me to my present state:

On the settings-USB page after right clicking I see my USB mouse listed and also my Backup power unit. (why I don't know) but there is no listing for my USB scanner. (USB Device Filters) I am thinking that I am to enter the name and serial # of the device and perhaps another # (I am unclear on this). My problem is: I can't figure out how to do this.

My questions are: Am I correct in this and how do I enter this info? Will this help in enabling my scanner? Can anyone offer any help in solving this problem for me...please remember that I am a newbie at this and I am also not a spring chicken either. I would sure appreciate any help if it is put as simply as possible.

I went through quite a few pages of the forum without seeing a problem like this one.

I have Scangear software for Canon installed in XP in my virtualbox, and also in a native XP installation.

Booting XP gives me normal service, but opening XP in virtualbox now gives a scanner error (printer works fine..... this is too weird).

I tried everything I know - scanner is fine, usb is fine, it seems to be something to do with VB 2.1

I made a new VDI and reinstalled windows and the Canon software - just the problem with the scanner:

Scangear

An error has occurred turn the device off and then back on. Scanner driver will be closed.

code : 2,250,0

Just to remind fast readers - It works fine in XP outside the Virtualbox!

Ok - update time. November 2009 - can't remember when it was fixed, but using Virtualbox 3.0 now, and scanner and printer work perfectly. Generally I boot XP when I want to scan a book - as it's a full time task (no need to have anything else running whilst doing that...) it's too long and fiddly a task to mess around with the virtualbox. Just tested Virtualbox and it's doing everything well - scan and print, save and read files from USB - release the USB and it's captured by ubuntu, Unmount in Ubuntu and it's picked up in XP. Cool.