virtualbox.org

I have created an XP installation, part of the reason for doing so is so I can update my satnav, which is connected via USB, and updated with a windows app. Other USB devices are working ok, but the satnav app is not finding the satnav. Any ideas how I can get this working?

Google with search terms "USB site:forums.virtualbox.org".

I can tell you that I also use an XP VM to update my Tom Tom One SatNav device (via USB) and it works fine. No way I was going to install their bloated resident software just to update my satnav once every few months!

Thanks for your reply mpack

mpack wrote:Google with search terms "USB site:forums.virtualbox...".

I tried that before posting, I couldn't find anything similar. All the problems I found where with USB in general, devices mounting in host but not guest, or devices being greyed out in VB. Thing about my satnav is that it never seems to mount anywhere, the only way you know it is connected is through the app. This is how it has always behaved, and usually works this way (including my previous setup using Parallels). I guess this makes it more difficult to troubleshoot though.

mpack wrote:I can tell you that I also use an XP VM to update my Tom Tom One SatNav device (via USB) and it works fine. No way I was going to install their bloated resident software just to update my satnav once every few months!

Mine is a Snooper Strabo

Any more advice on how I can get this working?

Sorry, but I've already told you all I can. Tomtom One works, so too does Tomtom Live 800 series - and that is the extent of my experience with VirtualBox and satnav devices. Now that you've mentioned what your device is then perhaps others can contribute their experience.

I'm guessing this is not a satnav specific problem.
In case more info would help; I am connecting the satnav, and it shows on its screen that it is connected via USB. In Windows I have the satnavs application running. With any other Windows installation (I have used it on a PC, with Bootcamp, and with Parallels) this would automatically start to update. With Virtualbox, nothing is happening, and the icon at the bottom says "No USB devices attached". I assume this is not the first ever device to go undetected.. any suggestions welcome..

5M177Y wrote:I'm guessing this is not a satnav specific problem.

While it's true that it's unlikely that VirtualBox is picking on satnav devices, I think it's probably relevant that yours isn't acting as a simple mass storage device. My guess is that it probably acts as a USB hub, perhaps with multiple devices seeming to hang off that: without being present to do some debugging there is no way for me to be sure. I would be looking to see, after the main device is connected, if any other mysterious USB devices are present: if so I would add VM filters for those too.

Ultimately there is no guarantee that all USB devices will work in VirtualBox. For example if the device is very fussy about the length of timeouts then it probably will not work in any VM platform.

As you didn't mention it directly: You do have an USB filter defined for the satnav device in the guest settings?
Otherwise Virtualbox will never automatically connect it to the guest.
Did you try to connect it manually when the guest was already active?

The OPs first message says that he has no problem using other USB devices, which I assumed meant that he was familiar with the basic requirements of getting any USB device to work in a VM (e.g. install the extension pack, enable USB in settings, add a filter).

Thanks for the replies.
My post was probably misleading, the other devices that were working were mouse and keyboard, which, for whatever reason, are recognised automatically. I did figure out that the satnav was showing (greyed out) under a strange name, and after a bit of fiddling with the filters I managed to get it to work.

5M177Y wrote:the other devices that were working were mouse and keyboard

Which are not USB devices, as far as the VM is concerned (what the host thinks isn't relevant).