Virtualbox not recognizing USB devices
 

Hi,
I'm trying to use Virtualbox, and I want to give the guest OS a USB flash drive. However, when I go to add a USB filter, it says that there aren't any USB devices attached. I can confirm that the host (Arch) sees it, both through gparted and lsusb.

Any ideas on what's going on?

Thanks!

I access usb devices in VirtualBox by booting the guest OS, then click the Devices tab and the drop down menu shows usb devices,
select one. Actually, I just checked the method you are using and my usb shows there also so I don't know what the problem would be.

Have you installed the extension pack?

I had the same problem as you do and after installation of the extension pack my USB devices were recognized.

Only when I saw your post it rung a bell, and I remembered that I installed the extension pack. But shame on me I don't recall exactly what it is or how to install it. Check the VirtualBox web site.

Another issue is that you should be member of the virtualbox group. But changes that you are not are slight. Check anyway.

Restart your host after installing the extension. IIRC the VB kernel module must be reloaded in order for the extension pack takes effect. Add a USB filter to allow USB devices to pass thru. Click Devices on the menu bar of your VM to connect the USB.

jlinkels

I checked, and I have the extension installed. Even after a reboot, it still won't allow me to add any USB devices.

When I tried to add myself to the virtualbox group (using gpasswd), it told me that the group didn't exist.

If we can't fix it, that's fine, I accomplished what I was planning to do by another way. I wanted to install Tails to the USB, but dd'ing the ISO wouldn't work, and according to the website the only way to install to USB is from the live system. I just burned the DVD and borrowed my sister's laptop, since it's the only BIOS-based computer with a CD drive... and that just got really off-topic...

Thanks!

The group is vboxusers, not virtualbox.

I stand corrected

jlinkels

That was the problem!

For anyone else who has this problem, I run
as root.

Thanks!