Can you use USB devices in a VM?
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Can you use USB devices in a VM?Expand / Collapse
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Danno
Posted 3/23/2008 3:08:22 PM




I have read in previous posts that the USB parts are not available in a VM.
I am wanting to run XP in a VM on a Vista computer, but I have a USB
keyboard and mouse. If I understand the previous posts, I will not be able
to access these devices. Is this true? If so, is there a way to work
around this (besides having two KB's and mice)?

What I want to accomplish is to be able to utilize XP and Vista on the same
machine. From what I have read in previous posts, it seems that a VM is a
better solution than a dual boot. I am just looking for a way to run older
apps on my Vista machine (Office Pro XP, Office Pro '97, and some old games
from the as far back as the W98 days [and yes all software is legit]). So
far I have been able to run all the W2K apps that I want, but I am just
starting to move from W2K to Vista (Basic and Home Premium [two different
computers]), and I foresee some problems in my future. BTW, I am able to
run the old W98 apps/games on W2K by using the Compatibility tool.


Thanks in advance,
D K Hacker

Post #31304
Rick Rogers
Posted 3/23/2008 3:08:23 PM




Post in reply to: Danno
Hi,

USB support in Microsoft's Virtual PC applies to direct hardware access by
the VM to control things like scanners, printers, and other peripherals.
That is not supported. Your USB mouse and keyboard will be fine as they will
still be controlled by the host machine, not the VM.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com


Post #31305
mikeyhsd
Posted 3/23/2008 3:08:23 PM




Post in reply to: Danno
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------=_NextPart_000_02CA_01C8610C.50EE1060
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

supposedly the keyboard and mouse are migrated into the VM.
you need to insure you have enabled the Legacy USB support in your bios.

other usb devices are not.
MS is the only one apparently that does not see the need to support usb =
devices in virtual environment.



mikeyhsd@sprintpcs.com



I have read in previous posts that the USB parts are not available in =
a VM.=20
I am wanting to run XP in a VM on a Vista computer, but I have a USB=20
keyboard and mouse. If I understand the previous posts, I will not be =
able=20
to access these devices. Is this true? If so, is there a way to work =

around this (besides having two KB's and mice)?

What I want to accomplish is to be able to utilize XP and Vista on the =
same=20
machine. From what I have read in previous posts, it seems that a VM =
is a=20
better solution than a dual boot. I am just looking for a way to run =
older=20
apps on my Vista machine (Office Pro XP, Office Pro '97, and some old =
games=20
from the as far back as the W98 days [and yes all software is legit]). =
So=20
far I have been able to run all the W2K apps that I want, but I am =
just=20
starting to move from W2K to Vista (Basic and Home Premium [two =
different=20
computers]), and I foresee some problems in my future. BTW, I am able =
to=20
run the old W98 apps/games on W2K by using the Compatibility tool.


Thanks in advance,
D K Hacker=20

------=_NextPart_000_02CA_01C8610C.50EE1060
Content-Type: text/html;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable



charset=3Diso-8859-1">




supposedly the keyboard and mouse are =
migrated into=20
the VM.

you need to insure you have enabled the =
Legacy USB=20
support in your bios.

 

other usb devices are not.

MS is the only one apparently that does =
not see the=20
need to support usb devices in virtual environment.

 


 



width=3D"35%"=20
bgColor=3Dffff00 height=3D22> href=3D"mailto:mikeyhsd@sprintpcs.com">mikeyhsd@sprintpcs.com E>


 


style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: 000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
"Danno" < =
href=3D"mailto:rubyjack@frontiernet.net">rubyjack@frontiernet.net>=
wrote=20
in message =
href=3D"news:F158FA90-5140-489E-99F2-8A4D12778D76@microsoft.com">news:F15=
8FA90-5140-489E-99F2-8A4D12778D76@microsoft.com...
I=20
have read in previous posts that the USB parts are not available in a =
VM.=20

I am wanting to run XP in a VM on a Vista computer, but I have a =
USB=20

keyboard and mouse.  If I understand the previous posts, I =
will not=20
be able
to access these devices.  Is this true?  If so, =
is there=20
a way to work
around this (besides having two KB's and =
mice)?

What=20
I want to accomplish is to be able to utilize XP and Vista on the same =


machine.  From what I have read in previous posts, it seems =
that a VM=20
is a
better solution than a dual boot.  I am just looking for =
a way=20
to run older
apps on my Vista machine (Office Pro XP, Office Pro =
'97, and=20
some old games
from the as far back as the W98 days [and yes all =
software=20
is legit]).  So
far I have been able to run all the W2K apps =
that I=20
want, but I am just
starting to move from W2K to Vista (Basic and =
Home=20
Premium [two different
computers]), and I foresee some problems in =
my=20
future.  BTW, I am able to
run the old W98 apps/games on W2K =
by using=20
the Compatibility tool.


Thanks in advance,
D K Hacker=20



------=_NextPart_000_02CA_01C8610C.50EE1060--

Post #31306
Dave
Posted 3/23/2008 3:08:24 PM




Post in reply to: Danno

I think MS VPC 2007 will pass your keyboard & mouse thru to the VM. It does
mine, but I don't have a USB keyboard. It won't let you use other USB
ports. VMware will let you access USB ports. I've used both, but not very
much, and not in a while.
There's a newsgroup for VPC, and the folks there can help you out more than
I can.
microsoft.public.virtualpc


--
http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview


Post #31311
Danno
Posted 3/23/2008 3:08:26 PM




Post in reply to: Dave
Thanks to Rick, mikey, and you Dave.

This information is VERY helpful. I think that VM is the way to go for me,
to use dual OS's. And why didn't I think to look for a VM newsgroup?


D K Hacker



Post #31320
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