visualbox

[Ray Leventhal]

Norman Silverstone wrote:
> I am a new user of VB and I am just feeling my way around. I have loaded
> VB 3.0 PUEL and it is running Windows XP Pro in Ubuntu 9.04. I would
> like to be able to use an external HDD with a USB connection with XP
> but, so far, have failed to do so. Should it be possible for a non
> technical person like me to do this, please? All help greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Norman
>
>
>   
Hi Norman,

In short, absolutely.

Ensure you're running the PUEL version of Virtualbox.  As long as you
are, you're golden with using USB devices.  Here's how its done.

It doesn't matter if VB is running or not when you connect your USB
device, but it must be connected and visible to Ubuntu (HDDs will
generally present an icon on the Ubuntu desktop when recognized and
fully enumerated).

If VB isn't running, launch it.  if it is, get it in the foreground and
start your guest operating system (in your case WinXP).

Once the guest OS is running, look at the outer edge of the VB window at
top left.  One of the pull down menus will be 'USB Devices'...from there
a sub menu will fly out to the right.  Click on the device you want to
be visible to the guest OS. 
Then just watch as Windows does what it usually does when a USB drive is
connected...you should be good to go.

Please do report back your success...and if you're still having trouble,
that too.

HTH,
-Ray