USB hard drive is always busy - why?

[Roxxor]

Hello!

When I try to access my USB hard drive from my guest system (Windows 7) it says the device is busy. I have tried everything in the USB settings but the same problem always occurs. I have also tried starting my guest with the hard drive unmounted from my host which is Windows Vista, but nope - it still says the decive is busy.

What am I doing wrong?

[Perryg]

You can either enable the USB in the GUI settings of VBox and leave off the filters (do not define any) then boot into the guest and click on the USB device you want.
Or Use a blank filter (.) and then boot the guest. Unplug the USB device and plug it back in to get focus and it should appear in the guest.

The device must be installed and working in the Windows host, so the first suggestion is preferable to the second for external hard drives. Still it will unmount (turn off) the device and then mount (turn it back on) it to the guest. For external hard drives I much prefer to share the drive in the Host and map it in the guest. Lots safer.

[Roxxor]

You can either enable the USB in the GUI settings of VBox and leave off the filters (do not define any) then boot into the guest and click on the USB device you want.
Or Use a blank filter (.) and then boot the guest. Unplug the USB device and plug it back in to get focus and it should appear in the guest.

Thanks! Removing the filters was the solution.