[SOLVED] Virtualbox error "Failed to access the USB subsystem"

[bcasanov]

Hi,

I have an error in Virtualbox after clicking on the settings button that says "Failed to access the USB subsystem." I searched on Google and on the Ubuntu forums, and with these URLs in particular: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=725900&page=2 and http://www.ubuntu1501.com/2007/12/in...b-support.html

I followed the latter's instructions, which are given here below:

Add USB support to you fstab file In a terminal type: sudo gedit /etc/fstab And paste this line to the end of your fstab none /proc/bus/usb usbfs devgid=1001,devmode=664 0 0 Enable USB In a terminal type: sudo gedit /etc/init.d/mountdevsubfs.sh You need to look for this section: # # Magic to make /proc/bus/usb work # #mkdir -p /dev/bus/usb/.usbfs #domount usbfs "" /dev/bus/usb/.usbfs -obusmode=0700,devmode=0600,listmode=0644 #ln -s .usbfs/devices /dev/bus/usb/devices #mount --rbind /dev/bus/usb /proc/bus/usb And delete all the # shown, it should look exactly like this. #Magic to make /proc/bus/usb work mkdir -p /dev/bus/usb/.usbfs domount usbfs "" /dev/bus/usb/.usbfs -obusmode=0700,devmode=0600,listmode=0644 ln -s .usbfs/devices /dev/bus/usb/devices mount --rbind /dev/bus/usb /proc/bus/usb Find your vboxusers number In a terminal type: sudo gedit /etc/group Look for this, the number following it is your vboxusers number vboxusers:x:NUMBER Next you have to add a line to your /etc/fstab to allow usb mounting In a terminal type: sudo gedit /etc/fstab Add this line: none /proc/bus/usb usbfs devgid= enter vboxusers number HERE,devmode=664 0 0 Allow access to /proc/bus/usb/ in a teminal type: sudo chown -R root:vboxusers /proc/bus/usb Once you Log out or reboot, you can start VirtualBox

Even after following the above instructions, I am still getting the same error. What could be going on?

[uidb4056]

Only the first part regarding fstab is necessary in Intrepid, the rest only is needed in hardy.

In your fstab you need to put:

none /proc/bus/usb usbfs devgid=XXX,devmode=664 0 0

being XXX the group ID of your user when you look under System-Administration-Users&Groups for the group vboxusers.

[bcasanov]

Thank you! Your suggestion worked. I went back and commented the specified lines in mountdevsubfs.sh, only put in the one line you gave me in the fstab file, and then, I restarted, and wuala, I don't have the error anymore! I'll mark this thread as solved.