Usb key not recognized by virtualized Ubuntu

[ordipb]

Hello,

I installed Ubuntu 10.10 under Virtual Box 3.2.10. Ubuntu runs perfectly. I installed also the "guest add-ons", without problem.

But the USB key is not recognized by Ubuntu.

In VirtualBox, when the Ubuntu's virtual machine is started, the USB Key is recognized : Menu Peripherics > USB peripherics : the device Generic Mass Storage Device is marked.
But, in Ubuntu, this device is not saw. I use the tool Mount Manager (in Ubuntu) to see all the devices (mounted and not). The USB key is not among these. I tried also to mount it in Console, with mount : mount /dev/sdb /mnt/usbkey (previously created) and I had the message Unknown peripheric.

What I can do to have the USB key recongnized in virtualized Ubuntu ?

Thank you for your Help.

[Sasquatch]

One would do some more tests with that, like what is the output of 'lsusb' on the Guest? Does it see the device at all? Output of 'dmesg', does it show that it detects the USB device? Isn't it still at Windows busy with something else?

[ordipb]

Thank you, Sasquatch, for your answer.

I don't understand all you wrote (sorry, it's pershaps I am not good enough in English ; I am French). Can you, please, be more explicit.

But, a thing is quite sure : the USB key is connected by Windows at the moment of pluging it and when the virtualized Ubuntu is running. I am sure of this because I use (on Windows) Kaspersky antivirus and, connecting the key while the Ubuntun VM is running, Kaspersky ask to analyze the key. Probably, the problem is there.

But how to cancel this Windows recognition, how to prevent it ?

Have a good night.

[Sasquatch]

Shut down the VM, open it's settings and go to USB. Then add a filter for the device that's plugged in that you want to send to the VM directly. Safely remove the device, start the VM, wait until it's fully loaded and then plug it in. It should now go to the VM directly.

It's a miracle you have no other issues with VB and Kaspersky. They are usually like fire and water, not a good combination.

[ordipb]

Thank you very much, Sasquatch. With your indications, I solved the problem.

For members of the Community, I detail the procedure below.

About Kaspersky with VB, I hope the miracle will continue. Perhaps is it due to the new version of KIS I use : 11.0.1.400 (a,b) which is a fix release (after 11.0.0). But I thank you also for the indication of problem between VB et Kaspersky. If I encounter a problem with virtualized Ubuntu, I will try again after stopping Kaspersky.

My problem of USB Key is well resolved for one key (2 GB). But, with another one (8 GB with 2 partitions), I can't have it recognized, in spite of the same procedure.

I have also a problem about the Share. I'll do another post about it.

Thank you very much again. Kindly.

Procedure to connect a USB key on Ubuntu 10.10 running in a Virtual Box's virtual machine :

1. Add a filter on the USB device of your USB Key.
In Virtual Box (VB), the Ubuntu virtual machine (VM) beeing stopped and the USB Key plugged in, prompt the settings of the VM (Details) and click on USB. At the right, let use the second icon which does "Add a filter from a device". In the small opened window at the right, choose in the list the USB device corresponding to your USB Key (for instance, USB Mass Strorage Device).

2. With the Windows function "Safety remove the device and keep it off", remove the USB key device and after remove physically the USB key.

3. In VB, start the VM and wait it is fully started. For best control of the procedure, but not necessary, you can see that the USB Key is not in the list prompted with the VB menus Devices > USB devices.

4. Plug in the USB Key and go to the VM menus Devices > USB devices. Now your USB key will be in the list ; for instance USBest Technology Mass Storage Device. Click on it to active. The list and the menu desappear. For verification, do again Devices > USB devices, to see the USB Key (as USBest Technology Mass Storage Device, for instance) is well marked.

5. In a few seconds (perhaps before you finish the verification above), the USB key will be recognized : Ubuntun opens his File Explorer window, with, in the left, the name of the USB key and, at the right, his content.

It is possible you have to do the points 2 to 4 various times, with closing VB and perhaps rebooting Windows, to finally obtain the result.

When the result is obtained, for the other uses of VM in VB, you will have to do again the steps 3 and 4.
For these further uses, it's better to plug the USB key only after starting the VM (sometimes, it runs when the key is plugged before starting the VM, but sometimes, VB fails in this case).

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