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First of all, USB will not work in VirtualBox if you are using the Open Source Edition (OSE) of VirtualBox. Get the full closed-source edition of VirtualBox from their website. There are many differences between the open-source edition and the closed-source version and one of them is USB.
I finally got USB working with Windows XP running as a guest inside VirtualBox running on a Ubuntu Hardy host. First find out what the group id of the vboxusers group is:
$ grep vbox /etc/group vboxusers:x:<gid>:david
Then, enable the deprecated /proc/bus/usb
inteface:
$ sudo gedit /etc/init.d/mountkernfs.sh
Add the following line after /proc
is mounted, at the end of the do_start() function.
#for hardy: domount usbfs usbdevfs /proc/bus/usb -onoexec,nosuid,nodev,devgid=<gid>,devmode=664 #for intrepid: domount usbfs "" /proc/bus/usb usbdevfs -onoexec,nosuid,nodev,devgid=<gid>,devmode=664
replacing <gid>
with the <gid>
you found in the first step. Make sure to reboot. This didn't work for me until I rebooted. There you have it. You shouldn't have to edit /etc/init.d/mountdevsubfs.sh
or /etc/fstab
as some other internet sources have suggested.
Comments
Neil Trodden (not verified)
Thu, 2009-06-25 16:38
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Confirmed working on Ubuntu 9.04 64 bit with Windows 7 RC guest
A big thanks for this. I entered it exactly as the Intrepid instructions specified and can confirm it is working fine, so those people using Jaunty should be fine.
Miha (not verified)
Tue, 2009-06-30 03:19
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It worked! I did it as the
It worked! I did it as the first post says. I also changed /etc/init.d/mountdevsubfs.sh before i found this instructions, but that did not help me. Host system is Ubuntu Hardy, guest system is Windows XP. Thanks!
aulia (not verified)
Sun, 2009-07-12 19:54
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worked
finally i got it worked.. thanks
agitdd99 (not verified)
Thu, 2009-07-16 02:23
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thanks a lot, david...it works!
thanks a lot, david...now i can connect my EPSON R230 to XP virtual machine. I really need this to have an easily printer maintanance.
but i think you miss some details :
1. first we have to add our username to vboxusers group. Go to System > Administration > User and Groups. Unlock it, then click "Manage Group". Find the vboxusers, and edit its properties, and add you username to the group.
2. From my workaround, I placed the additional code of [domount usbfs "" /proc/bus/usb usbdevfs -onoexec,nosuid,nodev,devgid=,devmode=664] near the" }" char, as follow
it sure works in my Ubuntu 9.04 32-bit.
Maz (not verified)
Sat, 2011-10-08 17:25
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U ROCK
U ROCK < i copied the whole code n just put it in the mountkernfs.sh and rebooted the OS, went to the system on VBox and then added the usb to the filter,=.
OMG it was crazy
David Savourey (not verified)
Sat, 2009-07-25 10:46
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still not working
I think I have followed well your instructions, but it is still not working. I am on intrepid, with virtualbox 3.0 and xp as guest os. When I plug a usb key under xp, there is a sound meaning something was plugged, but then nothing more happens. I don't know know what to do.
Here are some informations:
the mountkernfs.sh file:
Can you help me?
Thanks,
David
agitdd99 (not verified)
Fri, 2009-08-07 02:13
Permalink
reply to David Savourey
maybe you haven't setting up which USB device you want to connect. Right Click the virtual machine (off condition), then pick "setting". Go to "USB". check all of the options. Then, click "Add filter from device" or (Alt+Ins). Pick the USB device you want to connect. Start the machine.
Haft2doit (not verified)
Thu, 2009-08-20 10:59
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solution for hardy
The only thing that worked for me was this https://help.ubuntu.com/community/VirtualBox#USB after logging out and back in worked great
Anonymous (not verified)
Tue, 2009-08-25 14:07
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Thanks a lot, it worked for
Thanks a lot, it worked for me on Intrepid!!
I had to add myself to the group vboxusers, as I wasn't part of it.
Gustavo
IndyComp0T1 (not verified)
Sat, 2009-09-05 18:33
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VBox 3.0.4 on Jaunty 9.04, WinXP SP3
I am running VirtualBox 3.0.4 on Ubuntu 9.04. My guest O/S is Windows XP SP3. I've tried the suggestions on this page, but to no avail. I've also tried other suggestions, but to no avail. And yes, I did undo all the other crap like the changes to fstab and the like. My problem is that, while my USB device is NOT grayed out on the VBox client (I can in fact select it for mounting on the guest O/S). VBox actually unmounts it from the host O/S, but does not mount it on the guest. Has anyone had this problem? I can't figure it out for the life of me. The funny thing is that it recognizes peripherals like keyboards and mice, and it even recognizes my USB Bluetooth adaper. When it comes to flash drives and external HDDs, however, I've had no luck. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Leonardo Baptista (not verified)
Thu, 2009-10-22 10:27
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Thanks man! It worked on
Thanks man!
It worked on ubuntu 9.04!
Gerard (not verified)
Tue, 2009-11-10 21:04
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USB Wifi for WinXP (guest) in Karmic (host) & VBox 3.0.10
Hi, May you update your very usefull post to Karmic Koala 64b and Virtualbox 3.0.10 ?
For me, when I call my WinXP guest from Karmic, the wifi first disconnect, but I can see the USB wifi device in Virtualbox as active, but WinXP doesn't see any network connection and doesn't allow me to build one.
I had no problems until I passed to Karmic and upgrade to Virtualbox 3.0.10.
Thanks.
Daren Sefcik (not verified)
Tue, 2009-12-01 19:35
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Works on Ubuntu 9.10
Thanks!!! Worked perfect for my Garmin GPS on 9.10!
Henk S (not verified)
Sun, 2009-12-06 03:01
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reinstall usb driver in XP
Hi David. It took some time but I resolved the problem by activating in XP Device Manager Usb Controllers. There was a questionmark because the driver wasn't installed. Reinstallation of the USB controllers did the work.
Henk
Anonymous (not verified)
Mon, 2009-12-21 05:36
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there is no mountkernfs.sh!
there is no mountkernfs.sh in my ENV(9.10 upgrade from 9.04).
How to generate it?
Thanks!
keigh (not verified)
Fri, 2010-01-01 20:45
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Help: XP guest doesn't show USB - on ubuntu 64bit 9.10
I have the same problem - XP guest doesn't show any USB drives. I am running the 64 bit virtualbox 3.1.2 on ubuntu 64 bit 9.10. There is no /etc/init.d/mountdevsubfs.sh file on the ubuntu 64 bit 9.10. Your help is appreciated.
Alan (not verified)
Sat, 2010-01-16 21:14
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Huge Thanks
David,
I only need to run Windows for testing websites against the moribund IE, and perhaps run the occasional app. Your recommendations worked great and I have USB running fine.
Again, thank you much!
Anonymous (not verified)
Tue, 2010-03-09 15:17
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9.10 just simpler?
for posterity, in 9.10(Koala)adding myself to the vboxusers (sudo users-admin) and restarting worked fine.
Nathan (not verified)
Sun, 2011-03-06 19:28
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Thanks!
Thanks for the tip, that worked for me on Ubuntu 10.10 as well.
Bandita (not verified)
Wed, 2010-03-10 07:38
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ubuntu 64 bit 9.10 host and winXP guest with 3.1.4 - run as root
I wasn't able to fix the problem by putting myself in the virtualbox group, but a temporary solution worked: I started the VirtualBox as root.
Definitely a temporary solution, and it shows that I'm still facing some permission issue.
Shane (not verified)
Mon, 2010-03-29 21:08
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Ubuntu Karmic Koala
In Karmic the "/etc/init.d/mountkernfs.sh" didn't exist, I simply pasted the Intrepid code with group ID substitution and now EVERY USB device is shown as "available". Very cool, but a shocking oversight of the installer.
Surender (not verified)
Fri, 2010-06-18 08:53
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Dear David, Thank you very
Dear David,
Thank you very much for the solution. The file '/etc/init.d/mountkernfs.sh' was missing from Host Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx so I just followed Shane's foot steps :)
Regards,
Surender
Nathan (not verified)
Fri, 2010-04-30 22:58
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Thanks for the note on OSE.
Thanks for the note on OSE.
Thank you! (not verified)
Tue, 2010-05-18 10:29
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Thanks
Thanks, David, it worked fine from second time :))) Host Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx
Ron (not verified)
Thu, 2010-08-26 01:19
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Works When I Remove <> in devgid
I followed the instructions to the letter to no avail nothing worked. I paid close attention to the following line
domount usbfs usbdevfs /proc/bus/usb -onoexec,nosuid,nodev,devgid=124,devmode=664
and realized that I have devgid= <124>.
Sean (not verified)
Sun, 2010-09-26 07:22
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fixed
Thanks for the tip. Adding user to the group did the trick.
Dan (not verified)
Fri, 2011-04-08 12:11
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Thanks David...works like a
Thanks David...works like a charm...solved my Wacom issues in a few seconds...yippee. Now, back to work!
Maz (not verified)
Sat, 2011-10-08 17:09
Permalink
Cant ACCESS USB DRIVE ON Virtual Box Running WIN Xp
Hello ,
I am a first time user of Linux n Virtual Box, get along with VMWare Player.
I have Ubuntu 10.04 LTS and installed Virtual Box 4.1.4 i cant access my usb, i have same frustuation, that Virtual Box has XP installed n updated.
I have tried all i could for a first time linux user, i dont have that USB option when starting my Virtual OS (XP) , is there any first steps to start to troubleshoot.
How does VMware Player works?
Thnx
Pavel (not verified)
Wed, 2011-12-21 07:59
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Kubuntu 11.04 virtualbox
Kubuntu 11.04
virtualbox 4.1.2
USB won't work while don't add my user to virtualuser-group and reboot host system.
now all in done. Thanks this blog - third result in google-search by keyword "virtualbox usb on guest windows xp".
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