Keyboard stopped working in Windows 7 Host

[Holygamer]

I have Virtualbox Version 5.2.26 r128414 (Qt5.6.2). I was in the middle of typing in my Windows 7 guest when the keyboard stopped working. However it was still working in the host. To get it working on the Guest again, in the Guest VM I went to Devices > USB then I tick the keyboard. However then the keyboard stops working in the host. If I physically disconnect the USB then reconnect it then the keyboard works in the host again but stops working in the guest again!

[socratis]

To get it working on the Guest again, in the Guest VM I went to Devices > USB then I tick the keyboard

No, no, no, no, no! You do *not* mess up with keyboard/mouse in the USB section, you're running the risk of the keyboard/mouse being captured exclusively by the guest, and losing them from the host until the guest is completely shut down. You can play with any USB device *except* two; keyboard/mouse.

If you have any USB filters, delete them! Especially if they're blank ones, which means "grab everything under the sun"...

[Holygamer]

I don't have anything listed under USB Filters. Today I've got the problem again. How do I fix it without restarting the VM?

[scottgus1]

Today I've got the problem again.

I gather that you were:

in the middle of typing in my Windows 7 guest when the keyboard stopped working. However it was still working in the host.

Though you were told by Socratis to not fool around with the keyboard USB settings, it is OK to try that again to fix the problem:

To get it working on the Guest again, in the Guest VM I went to Devices > USB then I tick the keyboard.

Ticking the keyboard will just remove the USB keyboard from the host OS and put it into the VM while the VM is running. This should get you able to save & shut down the VM when you can do so. Unticking the keyboard should put it back in the host. Don't tick the mouse, or the mouse will be stuck in the VM too and you won't be able to untick the ticks until the VM is shut down from within the VM's OS.

[Holygamer]

OK thanks. But how do I prevent this from happening again where my keyboard is working in both the host and guest and then at some point (computer was never shut down) the keyboard stops working in the guest VM?

[scottgus1]

I knew you were going to ask that, but I have no idea why it's happening. You report a very old version of Virtualbox but no report of host OS version.

Start the VM from full power off, not save-state. Run until you see the problem happen, then shut down the VM from within the VM OS if possible. If not possible, close the Virtualbox window for the VM with the Power Off option set.

Please right-click the VM in the main Virtualbox window's VM list, choose Show Log. Save the far left tab's log and the next tab over (the hardening log), zip both files, and post the zip file, using the forum's Upload Attachment tab.

[Holygamer]

Log attached. I have been using the VM for a few days after the problem happened and I still had the problem when I saved the log. Both the host and guest are using Windows 7 64-bit Pro SP1