[HOWTO] Windows host and USB device VBox 2.2.0
Posted: 21. Apr 2009, 16:20
Windows host and guests USB device
(.) Blank filter = works but you need to unplug and re-plug the USB device to have it recognized in Windows each time you boot.
(+) specific filter = auto mount at next boot.
The first time you try to use a USB in a "new" guest or one that has never had a USB device installed in it you must use the blank
filter. This allows the proper USB drivers to be installed without causing a conflict between VBox and Windows.
Once you boot your host you need to unplug and re-plug the USB device to capture focus. This will install the drivers in your
guest that you need to run the device.
At this point you can power down the guest and then edit the USB settings to "ADD" a new filter that is specific to your device.
This will cause it to auto-mount at your next boot. If you do not do this step you will always need to start the device by
unplugging it and re-plug to make it active.
Also I have found that removing the blank filter caused erratic failure and conflicts between the VBox and Windows drivers. I
suggest that you leave the blank filter and just add what you need below it.
Note: Since an active storage device can only be used on one system at one time you can not have multiple systems running and mounting it at the same time. If you need to have it active on more than one machine at the same time you will need to share it and access it via share.
Setup for test:
VBox 2.2.0 and 2.2.0 guest additions installed in all tests
Tested Windows environment using Vista host with XPpro.
Tested Linux environment using Vista host and Ubuntu 9.10 desktop
Tested USB device = Kingston Data Traveler
Disclaimer:
This is by no means a guarantee that it will work for you but I have had 100% success with this and hope that it will work for you.
Also I do not suggest that you use this with an external hard drive because I have not tested it and the action of disconnecting and reconnecting a running hard drive (hot swap) might cause problems. Proceed at your own risk.
(.) Blank filter = works but you need to unplug and re-plug the USB device to have it recognized in Windows each time you boot.
(+) specific filter = auto mount at next boot.
The first time you try to use a USB in a "new" guest or one that has never had a USB device installed in it you must use the blank
filter. This allows the proper USB drivers to be installed without causing a conflict between VBox and Windows.
Once you boot your host you need to unplug and re-plug the USB device to capture focus. This will install the drivers in your
guest that you need to run the device.
At this point you can power down the guest and then edit the USB settings to "ADD" a new filter that is specific to your device.
This will cause it to auto-mount at your next boot. If you do not do this step you will always need to start the device by
unplugging it and re-plug to make it active.
Also I have found that removing the blank filter caused erratic failure and conflicts between the VBox and Windows drivers. I
suggest that you leave the blank filter and just add what you need below it.
Note: Since an active storage device can only be used on one system at one time you can not have multiple systems running and mounting it at the same time. If you need to have it active on more than one machine at the same time you will need to share it and access it via share.
Setup for test:
VBox 2.2.0 and 2.2.0 guest additions installed in all tests
Tested Windows environment using Vista host with XPpro.
Tested Linux environment using Vista host and Ubuntu 9.10 desktop
Tested USB device = Kingston Data Traveler
Disclaimer:
This is by no means a guarantee that it will work for you but I have had 100% success with this and hope that it will work for you.
Also I do not suggest that you use this with an external hard drive because I have not tested it and the action of disconnecting and reconnecting a running hard drive (hot swap) might cause problems. Proceed at your own risk.