virtualbox.org

Hi, I'm new to this forum although I've been using Virtualbox for years.

I desperately need some help resolving an issue, please. Here is the issue I'm encountering (replicatable 100% of the time on more than 1 PC). I've painstakingly run through many scenarios to determine the minimal path of steps that causes the issue, as follows:

STEPS TO REPLICATE ISSUE:
1) On the Host, launch the VM
2) Insert a mobile-broadband USB device into the PC
3) Although the Host detects the USB device (listed under 'Ports' of Device Manager), Host USB software to utilise the USB device fails to detect it
(as a side note: in the VM, going to Device > USB shows the USB device, but attempting to tick it does nothing)
4) I then close down the VM - it shuts down successfully
5) Once VM shut down, Host's USB-software still doesn't detect the USB device (even if USB software is restarted)
6) I then close down the host... the Windows 'Shutting down' message appears indefinitely until i force a shutdown (ie: hold down power button)

SPECIFICATIONS:
PC: Toshiba Satellite i7, 8GB ram
USB Device: Vodafone mobile broadband stick
Host: Windows 7 Home Premium x64, latest updates
Guest: Windows 7 Home Premium x64, latest updates
Guest stats: 4GB ram allocated, 4 processors allocated
Guest USB: USB controller enabled, USB 2.0 controller enabled
Guest additions: latest VirtualBox extensions (for USB2, etc)
Virtual Box version: 4.1.20 r80170

I have replicated this exact issue on another PC using the same VM. That Host was a core2 DUO, 4GB Ram, Windows 7 X64.

EVIDENCE VIRTUALBOX IS PART OF THE ISSUE:
1) Start Host
2) With VM not launched, plug the mobile-broadband USB device into the PC
3) Host successfully detects USB device
4) Host software successfully detects and utilises the USB device
5) shutting down the Host is successful


ISSUE IS DEPENDANT ON ORDER OF STEPS
The above scenario explains that the issue occurs ONLY when the USB device is plugged in while the VM is running. However, if I start the Host, plug in the USB device (so that the Host successfully detects it) and THEN start the VM, there are no problems - the VM can be closed down successfully and the Host can be closed down successfully.


MY THOUGHTS:
From the above information, all I can deduce is that launching the VM screws up the Hosts management of some USB devices inserted thereafter, which remains that way even after the VM is closed... hence why the Host hangs on shutdown. The wierd thing is, I'm able to plug in other USB devices - such as a USB key - and the Host is able to detect the device, and the VM is able to be given access to the device. This problem that I'm suffering is just with this mobile broadband device. But i can't imagine it's a driver issue as it works flawlessly with the Host, until the VM gets involved.If someone needs me to paste in some logs, please let me know what's needed (but please, only if you really believe it may help you investigate this issue).

So, any ideas, anyone?
(and No, I cannot test a different mobile broadband device)

I am having the exact same problem. It took me a ton of trial and error to figure out that virtualbox was the problem. It's really frustrating as I like to keep a virtualbox VM running all the time. I hope someone can come up with an answer.

To me it sounds like flakey plug and play code in the host device driver for that device. Plenty of other USB devices load and unload perfectly when a VM grabs them - so what else would explain this one device acting strangely?

My situation happens with all USB storage devices.