Possibly a clean solution for "USB device in use" problem

[deggungombo]

*blushes*

- On a "just booted" system open a terminal, make it wide enough to read the output
comfortably, and type the command:

kextstat

- You're likely to see about a hundred or so lines and no, you're not supposed to remember all
of them -- just take note of the very last one (especially the number on the left, which is even
easier to remember);

- Run Parallels;

- Start the guest OS;

- Plug in the USB device you can't attach because Parallels says it's in use by OS X;

- After 2-3 seconds, try to select it from the USB devices list on the bottom right of the screen;

- Frown at the error message about trying again in 5-10 seconds (okay, technically
speaking this step is not required );

- Back in the terminal, type the command:

kextstat

This time there should be more lines (4 on my Mac Mini but your mileage may vary). They
*should* be the last in the list and they *should* contain someting like:

com.apple.driver.USBsomethingOrTheOther

at the very end of these new lines;

- Now that we have a list of drivers hogging the USB device, we can unload them
with a series o commands like:

sudo kextunload -b com.apple.driver.USBsomethingOrTheOther

Try to unload them in the same order as they appear in the list or, if this doesn't work,
in last to first order but, by all means, MAKE SURE TO UNLOAD THE RIGHT ONES!
(Sorry for caps but your Mac is likely to crash, freeze or just act weird if you don't pay
attention here. Nothing that a reboot won't fix, but you've been warned).

- Now that the unwanted drivers are (hopefully) out of the way, you can go back to
Parallels and this time you *should* be able to attach the USB device and use it
normally from wtihin the guest OS (Windows or whatever).


At any rate, as this seems to be a fairly widespread problem, I figured it would be very
nice of you to post your success/failure mini-reports here. Something simple like:

It Works: Mac Mini 1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo, 1 GB RAM



Good luck!

K.

It Works: MacBook 2GHz Intel Core Duo, 2 GB RAM (macosx 10.4.9)
(msdos flash disk to mount on winXP)

p.s. i had to find the right sequence to unload drivers (if you don't find the right order the unloading will fail)
for my laptop has been enough to unload (in this order):
1) com.apple.iokit.IOUSBMassStorageClass
2) com.apple.filesystems.msdosfs

for the future i hope to have an user friendly solution

 

[soundzen]

- Run Parallels;
- Start the guest OS;
- Plug in the USB device you can't attach because Parallels says it's in use by OS X;
- After 2-3 seconds, try to select it from the USB devices list on the bottom right of the screen;
- Open the terminal, type the command: kextstat
- This time there should be more lines. They should be the last in the list and they should contain someting like: com.apple.driver.USBsomethingOrTheOther at the very end of these new lines;
- Now that we have a list of drivers hogging the USB device, we can unload them
with a series o commands like: sudo kextunload -b com.apple.driver.USBsomethingOrTheOther
- Now that the unwanted drivers are out of the way, you can go back to
Parallels and this time you should be able to attach the USB device and use it
normally from wtihin the guest OS from the down-right-corner list.

OH MY GOD I FINALY MADE IT... it works my friend!!! youre a genius... i took the time to follow by the book your instructions and finaly when i clicked back on my usb pen the usb icon appeared on the windows toolbar at down-right corner and started to recognise and open the content of the pen! I WANT TO KISS YOU! THANKS A MILLION

 

[soundzen]

Ooppss - i rebooted the macbook and entered parallels VM winXP and tried to plug my usb pen but the warning poped-up again even when my iomega external disc is listed in the usb parallels button at down-right corner. ohhh well! ill do the same steps again each time i swith OS, no worries!



see this image full size to notice the simple 3 steps needed in mac to unlock the usb in parallels... the comands are simple and fast to solve the problem (the word instructions, the terminal entries, the usb list)

 

[Wasgo]

I've been happy with Parallels up until now, but I now need to use my USB key for work. Considering I've spent all this money on the software, I don't want to have to use terminal every time I want to use it. Is there any better way, or am I going to have to start asking for a refund?