[SOLVED]USB support in virtualbox guest OS

Question

I have a Windows 7 64 bit guest in virtualbox
[inxs ~ ]$ paclocs virtualbox
local/virtualbox 4.0.8-4
Powerful x86 virtualization for enterprise as well as home use
local/virtualbox-ext-oracle 4.0.8-1
Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack
[inxs ~ ]$
I also have the latest guest additions installed. I have been trying to get access to my iPod, so I can transfer some songs without having to boot into my Windows (the dual boot one). gtkpod does not recognize my iPod for some reason - but that's for another thread.
In any case, I found that not only the iPod, but I cannot access any usb flash drives either. I tried the filters, but that didn't work. So here's what I have tried so far :
I tried this post  and this thread : https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=50239 but neither option work for me.
This thread on virtualbox forums is the same problem I have but alas they don't have any solution.
And finally this doesnt help either
They are all basically minor variations of the same solution.
Here are my details:
[inxs ~ ]$ cat /proc/bus/usb/devices
T: Bus=01 Lev=01 Prnt=01 Port=03 Cnt=01 Dev#= 3 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
D: Ver= 2.00 Cls=00(>ifc ) Sub=00 Prot=00 MxPS=64 #Cfgs= 1
P: Vendor=1005 ProdID=b113 Rev= 1.00
S: Manufacturer=
S: Product=USB FLASH DRIVE
S: SerialNumber=19570E14032E
C:* #Ifs= 1 Cfg#= 1 Atr=80 MxPwr=200mA
I:* If#= 0 Alt= 0 #EPs= 3 Cls=08(stor.) Sub=06 Prot=50 Driver=usbfs
E: Ad=81(I) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E: Ad=02(O) Atr=02(Bulk) MxPS= 512 Ivl=0ms
E: Ad=83(I) Atr=03(Int.) MxPS= 64 Ivl=1ms
[inxs ~ ]$ ls -l /proc/bus/usb/001/003
-rw-rw-r-- 1 root vboxusers 57 Jun 21 19:55 /proc/bus/usb/001/003
[inxs ~ ]$ groups
lp wheel video audio optical storage power users vboxusers
[inxs ~ ]$
So as you can see the usb drive is on bus 01, device 03, and ls of that device shows that it belongs to vboxusers group and my user belongs to that group
[inxs ~ ]$ grep vboxusers /etc/group
vboxusers:x:108:inxs
[inxs ~ ]$
So the devgid is 108, but none of the lines suggested in the linked threads in fstab work for me
I do not have a group called usb, but I have one called usbmux -- Is that the devgid that I have to use?My user does not belong to that group.
[inxs ~ ]$ grep usb /etc/group
usbmux:x:140:
[inxs ~ ]$

Answer 1

ewaller wrote:You said USB drives.  Have you tried any other classes of USB devices?
I am not sure what exactly you mean by classes, but I tried 2 different usb keys, an iPod and a portable usb HDD and a Logitech webcam
ewaller wrote:Do the devices show up in the VB USB device menu ?
Are they enabled or grayed?
Yes they do show up in the VB USB device menu and they are all enabled. When I select them to allow the guest to access them, Windows 7 tried to install the driver, but then invariably fails no matter how many times I try.
ewaller wrote:Some of the links indicated the devices are allocated to VM, but show up as unknown devices -- Is that what you are seeing?
Nope. See above.
ewaller wrote:What are the vendor / product codes of your USB Controller(s)
[inxs ~ ]$ lspci | grep USB
00:1a.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1a.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5 (rev 02)
00:1a.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
[inxs ~ ]$
[inxs ~ ]$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 007 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 1058:0900 Western Digital Technologies, Inc. MyBook Essential External HDD
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 1005:b113 Apacer Technology, Inc. Handy Steno 2.0/HT203
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 041e:4055 Creative Technology, Ltd Live! Cam Video IM Pro
Bus 002 Device 005: ID 0424:2514 Standard Microsystems Corp. USB 2.0 Hub
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 413c:1004 Dell Computer Corp.
Bus 007 Device 002: ID 413c:3016 Dell Computer Corp. Optical 5-Button Wheel Mouse
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 413c:2006 Dell Computer Corp.
Thanks Eric.