Some USB devices not recognized

rb_stern · Jan 8, 2008

Parallels 3.0.5582 running on OS X 1o.4.11, and Win XP. Macbook Pro.

I have a USB wireless mouse, which it recognizes with no problem when I click in the WinXP window after starting Parallels. But once Parallels is open, other USB devices (e.g. a card reader) plugged into the other USB port on my computer, are not recognized by either Parallels or even the Mac side. So, e.g. once Parallels is open, I can't transfer picture files from my card reader to either a Mac program or a Windows program. I have installed Parallels tools OK.

Any ideas? Thanks,

Stacey M · Jan 10, 2008

Hello,

please open the 'Configuration Editor' of your VM ('Edit' -> 'Virtual Machine'), select the 'USB Controller' and send me a screenshot of this window.
Also please tell me if you used build 5160 before and if you previously had this problem.

Best regards,
Stacey

rb_stern · Jan 10, 2008

Thanks

Thanks - I have sent you a reply from my e-mail account, as I couldn't see any way of enclosing a screen-shot file here.

Richard

Stacey M · Jan 10, 2008

Hello,

to attach something you shoud click 'Go Advanced' under the 'Quick Reply' window. There you will find a 'Manage Attachments'.

Please tell me how did you send a reply from e-mail account.

Best regards,
Stacey

rb_stern · Jan 11, 2008

re: reply

Hi,

I received a copy of your reply to my original message in my normal e-mail (sternrichard@gmail.com) so I used that to reply and attach the screen shot. I'll try again from here - by the way, if you didn't get my original reply, I'm not sure if was using the previous build you mentioned, but the present one is 5582, and yes - I had the problem before. Hopefully I am attaching the screen shot.

Richard

Stacey M · Jan 14, 2008

Hello,

please try to re-install Parallels Tools.

Best regards,
Stacey

rb_stern · Jan 14, 2008

Still not solved

Hi again,

I re-installed Parallels Tools, and it shows up in my Win XP with no apparent problem. But - when I plug an external HD into my USB port, Windows tells me to install the new hardware and there is no HD icon mounted on my Mac desktop. Windows tells me that there is a new device present and goes through the motions of installing it, but it doesn't appear in My Computer afterwards.As soon as I turn off the VM (i.e. quit Parallels) the mounted drive appears on my Mac Desktop - same thing happens with plugging in a card reader etc. However, once the USB device is already mounted on the Mac side and if I then open Parallels again, it stays on the Mac Desktop, but when I click on My Computer on the WinXP side, it doesn't appear.

The problem is not present with my USB wireless mouse - as long as I click within the Parallels screen while it's opening, I can use the mouse in both systems.

Here are screen-shots of the entire desktop with the USB device recognized and without - note the yellow My Book icon at upper right.

Stacey M · Jan 16, 2008

Hello,

please open 'Configuration Editor' of your VM ('Edit' -> 'Virtual machine'), select 'USB Controller' tab and select 'Ask me what to do' there. Then start your VM, plug your device, when you will be asked if your want to use a device, please try to click 'No'. Will it help?

Best regards,
Stacey

rb_stern · Jan 16, 2008

Hi again,

Unfortunately, when I do this, and open the VM, there is no request anywhere that asks me what I want to do, although WinXP does appear to recognise that there is a new device. But when WinXP tries to install the device (in this case a digital camera) it ends up saying that the device is not ready or busy and cannot be installed. The icon on the Mac side still doesn't appear till I switch off the VM.

Richard

Stacey M · Jan 17, 2008

Hello,

just in case please in the Finder, browse to the virtual machine folder (the default path is: Documents-Parallels-Virtual Machine), find and delete the ".sav" and ".mem" files in the virtual machine folder if you have any.
Then please try to connect this device manually:
1. Open 'Configuration Editor' of your VM ('Edit' -> 'Virtual machine'), select 'USB Controller' tab and deselect 'Connect USB device automatically'.
2. Start your VM.
3. Plug in a USB device into your Mac.
4. Click the USB controller icon in the status bar (or choose USB from the Devices menu) to display the list of all USB devices available on your Macintosh computer.
5. Choose the desired USB device in the list and click it to connect. The device will appear on the list with a check mark.
Will it help?

If no, please try to do the following:
1. Start Windows guest OS , go to "Start" -> "Control Panel" -> "System" -> "Device Manager" and uninstall all devices under the "Universal Serial Bus Controllers" (right-click the devices).
2. Shut down your VM.
3. In VM Configuration Editor, delete the USB Controller and start Windows guest OS again.
4. Wait 5-10 minutes until Windows finishes the driver setup.
5. Shut down Windows.
6. Add "USB Controller" back to your VM configuration and start Windows again.

Please note, to disconnect any USB device from the virtual machine and make it available in Mac OS X:
1. Choose USB from the Devices menu.
2. Select the USB device with the mark in the list.
If the device is used by Parallels, you cannot use it in Mac OS.

Best regards,
Stacey