Ubuntu
virtualbox package

Problem printing when using Virtual Box

Asked by ealthuis

Recent upgrades to both Linux kernel and Virtual Box have lost the USB printer connection. I have a Canon Pixma IL4600 USB connected. When I send a print job from Linux 12.04 it prints OK, however when doing that from Virtual Box, the printer is not recognized and thus does not print. The USB icon in VBox shows the printer, but it is grayed out. There does not appear to be a way to make it work.

I have tried on two different 12.04 computers and the results are the same.

I use VBox in order to run specific programs i.e Quicken and their Turbo tax, and I need to print some documents.

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actionparsnip
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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

What OS is the host and what OS is the guest?

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ealthuis (ealthuis) said : 		#2

host is LInux, guest is W XP

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Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

Did you install virtualbox using the virtualbox site, or did you install virtualbox-ose from software centre?

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ealthuis (ealthuis) said : 		#4

 I believe I downloaded fromVirtualbox.org and installed using the Linux installer, sorry I can't think of the correct name. This after I reinstalled Ubuntu 12.04 a week or so ago because I lost my launcher.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#5

Can you give the output of:

lsb_release -a; dpkg -l | grep -i virtualbox

Thanks

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ealthuis (ealthuis) said : 		#6

No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Release: 12.04
Codename: precise
ii virtualbox-4.1 4.1.18-78361~Ubuntu~precise Oracle VM VirtualBox

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#7

Seems you have the non open source one which should have native USB access. Have you triued removing the printer in XP and then rebooting the guest, then readd it?

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#8

If you make a new guest with a Linux guest can the Linux guest see the printer?

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ealthuis (ealthuis) said : 		#9

I can not install the printer in XP as there is no USB

Making a Linux guest is going to tke some time, but I will try

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#10

Just boot puppy, it'll be quick :)

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ealthuis (ealthuis) said : 		#11

OK. Just for info, I have two desktops with Vbox and XP, One does not see the printer, the other does, Iwill get the info about Vbox from those also, be back shortly

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ealthuis (ealthuis) said : 		#12

This is the output of the desk top with both printer and USB stick:No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
Release: 12.04, kernel 3.2.0-29
Codename: precise
ii virtualbox-4.1 4.1.18-78361~Ubuntu~precise Oracle VM VirtualBox

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ealthuis (ealthuis) said : 		#13

I made some comment about this on my other question #204621

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ealthuis (ealthuis) said : 		#14

The problem was solved by removing the non opensource version of VBox and installing the open source version from Synaptic Package Manager. It actually took less that 10 minutes.

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ealthuis (ealthuis) said : 		#15

problem solved

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ealthuis (ealthuis) said : 		#16

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.