virtualbox.org

For the life of me I can't figure it out... I've been reading the manual, forums, google, etc. I'm sure this is a double post from something else but I just can't find the same situation with the exact same accounts I'm using. (also, my profile shows I'm on Debian VB or whatever but I don't know what I'm really on... whatever the standard is?)

I installed the newest expansion and updated to the newest release of virtualbox but it still won't work... I need to be able to use my printer on my guest account but it's grayed out. How do I get it to work?

Not sure if MAC had groups but Linux uses them and to be able to switch the printer to the guest you must be in the lp group.
But I find it a lot more convenient to simply share the printer and map it to the guest as a shared resource. That way it is available to both host and guest at the same time.
One more thing. you need to release it from the MAC host before you can add it to the guest just in case you want to be able to switch the printer to the guest.

How do you release it from the Mac?

Does anyone know how to release my printer from the mac?

If the printer works on host, then use network sharing functions like cups/samba/ipp. Should exist on MAC. Thats always better than using usb emulation.

Does XP have to be connected to the internet to use the networking option? I've never set up a network before...

No. It just has to be in the same network as the host machine. What network setting are you using for the NIC in the guest machine? Host only will put it in the same network as the host (but will not give the guest Internet access).

I'm absolutely clueless when it comes to networking, but luckily it looks like the update for VB included a hidden switch for USB ports. At first it didn't work, but then when I unplugged it and plugged it back in it did - so I'm all set.

Thanks for the advice!