There's some hardware devices that my mom owns that are only supported with windows drivers. She's happy using Linux, but needs to use her devices. Does Windows in virtual box detect hardware devices that are plugged in USB etc. Does it matter what host is running the VM?

Yes.
First, install VirtualBox and into that install the corresponding "extension pack." Into
VirtualBox install ms-windows. Once you have made your changes to the settings for ms-windows in the VirtualBox Manager, start ms-windows, let it settle down and then install the "guest additions" from the "Devices" pull down menu.
Long story, but to get quality scans with the hardware available, I run winXp-service pack 3, in VirtualBox and have access to all the USB ports, optical drives, etc., etc. etc.
BTW, the documentation for VirtualBox is very good and usually you can find everything you need to know therein.
Cheers!


http://www.virtualbox.org

Edit in: BTW, just what sort of devices? Depending on what they are, it is possible they could run in Linux without ms-windows in VirualBox.

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A very old scanner that can scan slides and printer. I had them working in Ubuntu 12.04 with drivers from a previous Ubuntu release but can't get it working in 16.04 Ubuntu Mate

What brand and model number is the scanner?

It's an all in printer and scanner, Canon MP495

The film and slide converter make and model is, Innovative Technology aka IT. scnd522b1231 upc 893811002444 fccid wfzscnd522a1231 another sticker with a number H11901M024116.
(sorry that's the best I can get over the phone without looking at it)

Looks like the Canon has limited support with Sane,
http://www.sane-project.org/sane-mfgs.html#SCANNERS

I haven't found a listing for Innovative Technology.

Have you have checked with the manufacturer to see if they have Linux drivers?

Regardless, running ms-windows in VirtualBox and the appropriate software therein, should work fine. It will be like you are running ms-windows as an application on your Linux desktop. That is what I do with an HP flatbed scanner. While Sane does support it, the results are poor at best and the resulting files are huge. The Linux, VirtualBox, winXp combination turns out excellent results.

Thanks, I think this is the best solution as well. It's better than to use on of her machines as a dedicated windows OS just to use her peripherals every now and then.

Follow Up Question can you share files between the OS running in virtual box and the host os?

Yes. In the settings you can pick what folders you want to share, that is, can be accessed on the host. It is up to the user as to what they want to make available. As I usually have the "guest" set up as an "internal network" so it isn't exposed to the outside world, i.e., the Internet, I give it it access to my document directory were I save scanned files. If you plan to allow the guest to use the Internet you might want to severely limit a ms-windows (virus prone) guest's access to the host.

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Great thanks. I'll make sure to tell my mom not to let any windows device use her network access point.

Everything works great. We can print and scan from windows with linux as the host. I set up a shared folder in virtualbox, but I'm not sure where to find it on the host file system or in the vm ms windows file system. Where should I look?

In Xp click on, "Start," then "Explore," then "My Network Places," then "VBOXSVR\whatever-is-your-user-name-or-directory-you-picked-on-host on Vbosvr." Click on the small + sign next to the aforementioned folder and it will show you the directory/folder and all sub-directories.
For more detailed information, bring up the "Oracle VM VirtualBox Manager" and click on "Help." From there go to section 4.3, "Shared Folders.

BTW, if you find any of these posts helptful, in this thread, or any other thread you might be reading, please click on the "Yes," to the right of, "Did you find this post helpful?"
Thanks.

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You can also drag'n'drop, if it's enabled.
http://ccm.net/faq/41654-virtualbox-...d-drop-support

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Many thanks for that. I had forgotten all about it.

Oh thanks, I haven't been in these forums for years. What if I found more than one response helpful, I don't want to spam. Everyone has helped me get what I needed done here so I want to click yes on most if not all.

You can also "map" them just like you would map any other network drive from Windows XP and "reconnect at logon" checked, just point the map to the VBOXSRV location on the network - first (as others have mentioned) you have to set up the Shares in the VirtualBox settings. The advantage of mapping is that you don't have to go looking for it every time you launch XP.

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