USB Problem with Yosemite, VirtualBox

[GybeGuy]

Hello,

USB is not working for some devices using a Windows XP guest in a Mac Yosemite host.

The relevant details:

Host: MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2011)
operating system OS X 10.10.4 (Yosemite)
Processor 1.7 GHz Intel Core i5
Memory 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
Disc 250 GB
Graphics Intel HD Graphics 3000 384 MB

VirtualBox version 4.3.30 r101610
Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-4.3.30-101610.vbox-extpack installed

Windows XP Professional version 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp_sp3_qfe.130704-0421 : Service Pack 3)
memory allcated to windows: 1,048,048 KB
disc size: 30 GB
VirtualBox Guest Additions version 4.3.30

In Settings:
in Ports/USB:
Enable USB Controller ticked
Enable USB 2 (EHCI) Controller ticked
USB Device Filter selected
OmniVision Technologies, Inc. Panther Driver Panther Driver [9605]
Vendor ID 05a9
Product ID 8065
Revision 9605
Manufacturer Omnivision Technologies, Inc. Panther Driver
Product Panther Driver

In Shared Folders Settings:
Shared folders enabled
Other Settings:
Drag and Drop bilateral
Shared Clipboard bilateral

In Devices/USB Devices:
OmniVision Technologies, Inc. Panther Driver Panther Driver [9605] ticked

The user is a member of the vboxusers group

I have attached the VBox.log file.

Please note the following:
1. This USB device was working with the same Windows XP release on the same Mac Air under OS X 10.7.5 (Lion) and an earlier version of VirtualBox
(sadly, I don't remember which one),
2. The device works fine when connected to Windows XP and Windows 7 computers, so it is functional
3. The problem appears with another USB device as well, although at least one USB flash drive seems to work fine.

In summary, it appears that:

1. the Mac is releasing the USB device (the OmniVision Technologies device) and VirtualBox is seeing it (it appears in the USB Devices list)
2. the USB device is working properly (it works with Windows XP and Windows 7 computers)
3. it should be able to work with Windows XP as a guest of Mac OS X (it did before I upgraded my host OS to OS X 10.10.4 (sadly, I had to do this so that
I could run other, unrelated, software)

I am a relative noob and so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time,
Peter

[loukingjr]

I'm not using VB 4.3.30 any more and have moved on to VB 5.0.* but one thing you could try is simplifying the USB filter by erasing everything after the Product ID.

[GybeGuy]

Hello Loukingjr (Lou?)

I tried that but the entry in the filter table was created by VirtualBox from the actual device when VirtualBox enumerated it. When I edited the entry to remove everything after the Product ID, VirtualBox was unable to see the device at all.

I would upgrade to El Capitan but I have some rather expensive photo editing software that requires Yosemite (the reason for upgrading from Lion in the first place...). Do you have any problems with VB 5.0.*?

Regards,

Peter

[loukingjr]

Lou is fine.

I would think you should delete the original USB Filter and create a new one with the fields empty I mentioned.

There are some issues with VB on 10.11, nothing major but I would wait until it is stable and VB supports it.

[loukingjr]

Just to add, I have the latest test build of VB 5.0.* on an OSX 10.10.5 MacBook and I don't have any devices other than USB Flash Drives to test. That being said, They work without any USB filters with the test build. I only have to eject the flash drive from the Finder, select it from the devices menu and it pops right open in my Linux guests. I don't have an XP guest to check.

[GybeGuy]

Hello All,

An update regarding my problem. It appears that no USB devices work. I checked the VB Devices/USB Devices menu and my flash drive shows up. It is ticked. I then went to Control Panel/System/Hardware/Device Manager and saw it listed under Disk Drives. However, when I run Windows Explorer and click on My Computer it dies not appear, and when I click on Start/My Computer it doesn't appear there either. So I was wrong in my initial post; no USB devices work.

Does anyone have any ideas about this?

Best regards,

Peter

[loukingjr]

You might want to try the latest test build of VB 5.0. If it doesn't work out you can always roll back to 4.3.30.
https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Testbuilds

[MacWinMan1]

First of all, my Host Yosemite was not the problem. Let me explain. I tried all kinds of things like flipping versions even back to 4, changing cpu settings, fat32 vs NTFS, plugging in the usb stick at certain times, etc. After seeing USB 2.0 settings on the filter not working nor removing certain field data in the properties either, in 5.0.3 I tried the setting of USB 3.0 and Bada Bing! That sent signals right to my stick and I was able to write to it and create a valid Windows 10 Rescue Disk! Give it a shot and cross your fingers!

[loukingjr]

Well, you do have to set the correct USB setting for the device.

[MacWinMan1]

Well, you do have to set the correct USB setting for the device.

If you read carefully I have a USB 2.0 device!

[loukingjr]

I read that.

Edit: Perhaps a further explanation is in order. All recent Macs have USB 3.0 only ports. OSX is "smart" enough to recognize a USB 2.0 device plugged into a USB 3.0 port and handle it accordingly. Apparently you need to use the USB 3.0 controller for certain USB 2.0 devices that are plugged into a USB 3.0 port in VirtualBox.

[MacWinMan1]

I have a iMac (24-inch Mid 2007) with USB 2.0 only ports. Hope this clarifies the oddity that USB 3.0 was needed. If not...well so be it!

[loukingjr]

Actually that makes no sense. But if it works it works.

[MacWinMan1]

Exactly! That is why it took several hours to troubleshoot/fix.

Oracle, if you are reading this, need to see why USB 3.0 driver file(s) are needed to recognise USB 2.0 device(s).

[loukingjr]

You can create a ticket on Bugtracker. They are more likely to see it there.