virtualbox.org

Ok, I've read the manual, I've read a few forum question and answers where everyone says thanks for fixing my problem, but I haven't fixed it. I'm running VB on Ubuntu 8.10, the latest version 3.0.4. I've read that I need to have the PUEL version to be able to access USB devices from the guest. First question is, how do I know if I have the PUEL version? Next, I've read the manual about must have read write access to the usbfs folder, I've done that and it still tells me the usb devices are unavailable when I go to the guest (which is XP Pro). I've added the guest add ons as well. So I don't know. Someone out there must do.

Have a look at Help/About VirtualBox. If unsure, post the named Version.

Normally the OSE Verson comes without USB Entrys in the Guest Settings Dialogs.

And have a look at the FAQ. On some Distributions there is USBFS needed. Check the tipps from the FAQ speicially for Ubuntu 8.x.

I've done that. I would like someone who has had the same problem to tell me what they did, not "go and read this", or "refer to that".

dpkg -l virtualbox* in terminal should show you a list. If it says OSE in the list then that is what you have installed. If not then you have the PUEL version installed.

FAQ section USB http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic. ... 669#p33944 explains how to get the USB working.

Ok I did that and it looks like I have the PUEL version as there is no mention of OSE. I have already looked at that link, and it didn't help. The USB devices I have connected are shown as greyed out when I go to the devices menu.

Did you create a filter in the guest settings?
The blank one will allow any of the devices to be used in XP but to activate them you need to start the guest and then unplug and plug them back in so the guest gets focus.
You can also define a specific filter and then it should be activated once you start the guest.

Do not define a filter for the keyboard or mouse!

Sorted. I found that I wasn't in the vboxusers group. I added myself and root to that group, logged out and in, and it now works.

That was thanks to this tutorial.

http://www.telephone-numbers-uk.com/dem ... albox.html

Why does the FAQ not help? What have you exact tried with what solution and what error messages or log entries?

"Doesnt work" doesnt help.

nhb wrote:Sorted. I found that I wasn't in the vboxusers group. I added myself and root to that group, logged out and in, and it now works.

That was thanks to this tutorial.

http://www.telephone-numbers-uk.com/dem ... albox.html

The group membership is one of the first requirements in the VirtualBox FAQ, section USB (direct link posted above).