Keyboard Unresponsive in Guest and Host

Discussions about using Windows guests in VirtualBox.
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cdvbx
Posts: 2
Joined: 24. Jan 2011, 23:44
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: XP SP2

Keyboard Unresponsive in Guest and Host

Post by cdvbx »

Hello Everyone, and please excuse me if my terminology is poor. I'm trying to create a XP virtual machine. My host operating system is Windows 7 on a Dell Inspiron 9300. I've installed VBox 4.0.2, and the XP virtual machine has the guest additions installed.

When I click on the VBox icon, the keyboard no longer works in the guest or the host. In regards to the mouse, the only things I can do are close and open an application or shutodwn the Dell. The mouse is wireless.

Previously I was running VBox 4.0, and I uninstalled and reinstalled VBox to see if that would solve the problem. It did not. Then I read about the latest version, so I uninstalled 4.0 and installed 4.0.2. I am still having the same problem.

Any suggestions/advice? Thank you.
Perryg
Site Moderator
Posts: 34369
Joined: 6. Sep 2008, 22:55
Primary OS: Linux other
VBox Version: OSE self-compiled
Guest OSses: *NIX

Re: Keyboard Unresponsive in Guest and Host

Post by Perryg »

Make sure that you have not defined a filter for the keyboard or the mouse in the USE guest settings.
cdvbx
Posts: 2
Joined: 24. Jan 2011, 23:44
Primary OS: MS Windows 7
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: XP SP2

Re: Keyboard Unresponsive in Guest and Host

Post by cdvbx »

Thank you, Perryg, for your response. I wasn't sure how to do that, but the following steps worked. I'm posting this just in case it may help someone in the future (or those new to virtualization such as myself).

After clicking on the VBox icon I went to Settings and then USB. In the USB window both "Enable USB Controller" and "Enable USB 2.0 (EHCI) Controller" were checked. However, nothing was listed in the box for "USB Device Filters". I unchecked the boxes "Enable USB Controller" and "Enable USB 2.0 (EHCI) Controller", but I still wasn't able to use the keyboard for the guest or host machines.

As a test, I unplugged all USB devices from the laptop and rebooted it. This time when I clicked on the VBox icon--using only the laptop's mouse--I was able to use the keyboard in both the guest and host machines.

As an additional test, I rebooted the laptop and plugged in the wireless mouse. After clicking on the VBox icon I was still able to use the keyboard on both the guest and host machines.

Thanks again Perryg for your response. If there is anything else you would like to add please do so. If not, this thread can be marked as solved or closed.
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