virtualbox.org

I use VirtualBox to try out new distros of operating systems.
I like the way it is set up - when I install Ubuntu, from the beginning of the installation I am online and have bluetooth support for my mouse.
This is convenient, but I need to try out something else:

PROBLEM

I want VirtualBox to install just like I were putting the OS onto my hard disk for real

That means that I should not have the bluetooth support for my mouse in VirtualBox until the new OS has loaded it properly. Certainly it means that in my case I will be not be online. (I connect to the Internet via a USB key modem, which needs me to launch a MS Windows program for it to start the connection to the Internet.) I need the VirtualBox OS to recognize that I have this USB key modem during installation. As things are at the moment, VirtualBox installations say I have a wired Internet connection. This is not hat happens in real life.

What should I do?

Thank you for your help!

Operating Systems are indeed installed in a VM just like they are in real physical PCs. The only difference is that they are not real physical PCs: all of the hardware the VM sees is simulated. I point this out because you seem to be listing physical devices installed in your host as if they were relevant to the simulation. The VM will not have a bluetooth interface for example hence cannot use a bluetooth mouse directly.

The only exception is USB. VirtualBox (which extension pack installed) includes a simulated USB 2 controller to which actual USB devices can be connected, provided you set an appopriat device filter. One should however avoid assigning ownership of USB devices to the VM when they are needed by the host! That may apply to your USB modem for example, which in any case may not work well in a VM.