USB Ports in VirtualBox for Mint 9

[mrbillb]

I am using VirtualBox with Mint 9, but I cannot access the USB ports. I'm not sure I have the GroupAdditions installed correctly.

[I_can_see_the_light]

You probably need to download VBox from here in order to get USB support. The version in Software Manager is the Open Source version.

[Brian49]

http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 0b2b2d3008

[m4daredsun]

This is what I did to have it working.

1) Install VirtualBox 3.1.6 from repository (not OSE version)

2) added your user to the group 'vboxusers' (Users and groups -> Manage Groups -> vboxusers -> Properties -> select your user)

3) reboot

4) open a terminal and type

Code: Select all

sudo hald --daemon=no

*** Leave it running - do not close the shell ***

5) open your virtualbox and check if you can use your USB devices (you should!!!)

6) if everything works, switch off your vbox, With your text editor, add the following line to your file /etc/rc.local (before the line 'exit 0')

Code: Select all

hald --daemon=yes

7) reboot and enjoy!!!

By doing this, I have also been able to install my Lexmark printer in an XP guest and now I can print!!!!

[Clyde]

I've done this same routine before and it's not working for me.
Just tried it again ... can configure usb manually thru vb but is asking for vendor name, ID, port, serial number ??? - xp loads up beautifully, but has no door to the outside world - would be great to get usb and printer connected.

[richyrich]

How to find the Guest Additions iso download :
http://blogs.sun.com/joshis/entry/virtu ... o_download
Install tutorial :
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/virt ... ddons.html

[Clyde]

OK, Installed the guest additions iso - which removed the virtualbox sun version and replaced it with 'ose' version ... went into xp and under devices and installed 'guest addtions' and re-booted. Now I don't see the usb listed as with the sun version (which usb wasn't working anyway) - but now I don't see a way to add anything. In XP it shows a 'floppy' (which i don't have one) and no other entry but the 'guest additions' which leads me to another re-install of 'guest additions' ??
In vb preferences usb option is not there and in XP Devices is showing options to install network adapters, hard disks, floppies, CD/DVD ...all kinds of connections except usb - usb is all i really need- how to add usb ?

[richyrich]

You must have used the ose version of Guest Additions . . . ose does NOT have support for usb, . . you need the Sun version of Virtualbox, and the Sun version of the Guest iso. (with matching version numbers)

[Clyde]

The 'Guest additions' for virtual box in synaptic automatically removes the sun version and installs ose version.

[phil]

Very good info.

[richyrich]

Don't use Synaptic ! That's the WRONG version . . . I gave you the link earlier, just find and download the proper iso file.

http://blogs.sun.com/joshis/entry/virtu ... o_download

[Clyde]

Oh, i see ... will uninstall all then. I will try to see if i can do it without using synaptic (have only used synaptic to install stuff in the past) Thanks ricyrich

[richyrich]

Virtualbox should be a deb file (Mint 9 = Lucid), with an easy, once downloaded - right-click -> install with gdebi . . the guest additions is an iso file, and when you go to install it in the Guest OS, it asks for the location of an already downloaded guest-additions.iso file . .

good luck, richy

[euthypro]

I downloaded, and installed VirtualBox 3.28 AMD64 twice in the last two weeks from the Oracle website. Guest additions does not need to be downloaded separately. It is in the .deb package. All I had to do was to start XP, select "Install Guest Additions" from the drop-down menu under "Devices," and it was done. No need for Synaptic or for separate downloads, or for finding the ISO.

Just to make sure I am not misremembering, (It happens. ) I just checked the files in the .deb package, and yep, Guest Additions is there.

Angel

[Clyde]

OK, all working now - all I will be using it for is an old invoicing program which I really do need. Thanks for all the help guys !!