USB troubles

[Wahaba]

Hi all, and thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

I have a Windows Server 2008 host that can't be used with a Fujitsu ScanSnap 1500 due to a shocking lack of OS support. There is no TWAIN driver, only ScanSnap Manager software. My client wishes to use the scanner with this server.

I've installed Virtualbox and a copy of Vista I had lying around as a guest. Ideally the guest would be Win7 if I could get this working. This is my 1st experience with Virtualbox.

The usb devices (drives and the scanner) I've connected to the host and directed to the guest install, but cannot start (error 10 in Device Manager). I installed the ScanSnap Manager software on the guest by using a shared folder, and have installed the Virtualbox extension pack on the host.

My usb devices, all of which can appear in the host's Device Manager as functioning, refuse to function in my guest's Device Manager, although they appear.

Any and all suggestions are graciously accepted. The Virtualbox version is the most current, as is the extension pack.
Thanks!

[noteirak]

The exact error text would help.
We cannot help you like this as you do not provide enough information.

[Wahaba]

The exact error text would help.
We cannot help you like this as you do not provide enough information.

It's a pretty common error code for devices in Device Manager:

"This device cannot start. (Code 10)

Click 'Check for solutions' to send data about this device to Microsoft and to see if there is a solution available."

This is, again, in the guest OS, Vista, after I direct Virtualbox to direct control of the usb scanner from the host OS, Server 2008, to the guest.

If there is more information I can provide for you, please provide specific directions for retrieving it. All I see is a common Windows device driver error, and I've installed the latest driver on both my host as well as my guest.

[mpack]

Doesn't code 10 simply mean that you didn't install drivers in the guest? A scanner is not a generic mass storage device - it needs drivers for control, these would have come on a CD with the scanner. If you don't have drivers any more, and can't find them online then what you have there is a hi-tech paperweight.

[Wahaba]

Doesn't code 10 simply mean that you didn't install drivers in the guest? A scanner is not a generic mass storage device - it needs drivers for control, these would have come on a CD with the scanner. If you don't have drivers any more, and can't find them online then what you have there is a hi-tech paperweight.

Hi mpack.

I have installed the Fujitsu Scansnap Manager software and drivers on the guest, yet I still get this error. The software runs in the system tray as expected.

I've also run the install product routine multiple times.

As well, standard usb drives do not function on my guest OS, Vista. I suspect if we can get something as basic as a usb drive to function properly, my scanner will as well.

[mpack]

Well, on the subject of getting generic USB mass storage device to work in VirtualBox, see the user manual and also Google "USB site:forums.virtualbox.og". Internal search can't be used as it doesn't index 3 letter words.

[AllenL]

Hi wahaba,

You are not the only one having issues with USB on VirtualBox.

Actually, setting up USB on VirtualBox is quite tricky, require trial and error and no assurance that it would work. What I found out when the VBox guest cant recognize the USB device I just plugged-in is that the host and not the guest, captured the USB device first and therefore the error on the VBox guest (no two PCs can access the USB device at the same time).

You might want to consider removing the scanner driver from the host so it wont recognize it and therefore the guest (with the driver) can capture it instead. Or, if you can determine the USB device code and manually enter it into VBox USB settings (the screen before you start the VBox), this might work. Setting up USB devices on the guest for the 1st time is not plug n play. My experience is that you have to reboot the guest (and sometimes the whole or physical PC) for USB driver to work on the VBox guest.

I have tried installing several USB devices on VBox (ex. printers, thumb drives, security dongles, etc) and there is no one sure way to make it work everytime or work at all! A USB device may work on say, the VBox on PC #1 but the same device wont work on the VBox of PC #2; same OS, just different PCs. This I still cant find out why nor can I determine what PC setup will make a particular USB device work. Its quite choosey

[mpack]

I'm not certain, but if the problem is that the host grabbed the device first then you get a "Device is busy with a previous request" error from VirtualBox. A code 10 error inside the guest indicates, I believe, that it has detected a USB device but there is some problem with the drivers.

[Wahaba]

Hi all,

I am pleased to announce SUCCESS!

The process I followed was as follows, and thanks to all but especially AllenL for the final solution:

1. Boot host Server 2008 and log in.
2. In Device Manager uninstall scanner.
3. Open Virtualbox, and for guest Vista enable USB 2.0 EHCI Controller.
4. Create filter for scanner on guest Vista.
5. Start guest Vista.

Scan!

Really quite pleased it is functioning, and couldn't have done it without you folks.

Best wishes to all.