Possible Duplicate:
Set up USB for Virtualbox
Recently I installed Windows in Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS using Virtualbox.
I want to know how to access external hard disks or USBs in the Virtual Windows 7.
When I plug in external storage device, only Ubuntu is detecting it. But the Virtual Windows 7 is unable to detect it and I can't access it from Windows 7. How can I link the files between Ubuntu and parallel Windows so that files can be shared in each OS at the same time?
I found the solution for this. First you need to install gnome-system-tools. You can do it by typing the command sudo apt-get install gnome-system-tools Once finished, open user and groups from launcher. Click on manage groups --> vboxusers. Add a user and then logout and login. After that boot your guest OS and right click on the USB option as shown in the picture and choose your external storage device there
After choose the correct usb device open virtualbox --> settings--> USB and click on the + sign and you can see your USB device is added there. You should enable the USB2.0(EHCI) controller as well prior to this.
Take note that, you can use the USB only in one OS at one time. Either in your guest or in host. You can do it by uncheck/check the USB device
Issue solved!
If I'm not mistaken the Open Source version of VirtualBox that comes in the Ubuntu repositories does not have USB access enabled. You have to install the version found in VirtualBox's website which does have USB support enabled.
You may need to upgrade to PUEL Version.
Also, though it's not recommended, try running Virtualbox as root to see if the issue is still there. I once have my integrated webcam unrecognized by the guest OS and this solved the problem.
