USB stopped working after upgrading from 1.4.0 -> 1.5.0

[Dominik Riebeling]

I used VirtualBox 1.4.0 for a while without any real issues on a linux host (Fedora Core 5, using the "all distributions" binary, kernel 2.6.20-1.2319.fc5). I just updated to 1.5.0 (again using the "all distributions" binary) and USB stopped working: when trying to make changes to the USB settings for a machine I get a "failed to access the USB subsystem: Callee RC: 0x80004005" error message.

I also tried running VirtualBox as root to ensure there are no permission issues. It's always reproduceable, even when creating the configuration from scratch.

[Sander van Leeuwen]

You should never run VBox as root. That can cause all sorts of permission problems later on.

USB works again when you downgrade to 1.4.0?

[Dominik Riebeling]

I'm gonna be a bit more detailed: I have a setup of VirualBox that is running fine as user. I can configure USB as expected (and if there are permission problems I get a notice once I plug in the usb device that has an appropriate filter active. This applies to 1.4.0.

Now I've updated to 1.5.0. In the configuration dialog I can't change any settings -- once I click the "usb" setting I get the mentioned error message. The configuration window pops up but it's greyed out. If I leave the window the current machine is displayed as "inaccessible". Restarting VirtualBox makes the entry accessible again. Running the machine also works. This happens regardless if I run VirtualBox as user or as root. I tried running it as root to make sure the issue isn't permission related. (I have a different setup for root).

When downgraded to 1.4.0 VirtualBox works again as expected. I can change usb settings and in case of permission problems I get a note about it. I just up- and re-downgraded once again to ensure the issue is still present and still reproduceable.

[Sander van Leeuwen]

Try again with 1.6.0 and report back if it's still relevant. Thanks.