Old programs from Windows 7 and XP not compatable with Windows 10

I found a site yesterday that allowed me to get a Oracle VM of Mac OS X High Sierra going. It's a tad laggy but overall works well.

Look at the Oracle VM VirtualBox Users Guide that comes with the install. It has a section on USB support.

It's pretty straight forward.

Ztruker said:

Look at the Oracle VM VirtualBox Users Guide that comes with the install. It has a section on USB support.

It's pretty straight forward.

Yes thank you for that! I forgot...

Mostly went directly "online" looking for answers...

Like here: virtualbox.org View topic - USB not working

My problem?
Its a laptop. Three open USB's One I wore out trying to save the old Windows 7 x64 full installation on Laptop!
and a failing iPad that had to be plugged in and out over and over again trying to revitalize/bring it back to life according to Mac instructions on phone etc....

So of course I have things daisy chained...can't pull out the blue-toothed trackball..no mouse then! Can't pull out the wired keyboard (as I could not use two blue-toothed items and nobody made today a all in one trackBALL plus keyboard by Bluetooth...--and one flash drive as I don't trust the Windows 10 to live long enough...so always ready with a removable data drive when it crashes so no new data goes with it!

(counting on fingers)
So that is three anyway...no room for the fourth USB device which refuses to work (like others) through the hub I have (an un-powered hub rated good by Amazon, as a powered one did not work at all!) Sigh..time for a new computer..I know I know...

In the guide I found this (poor searcher!)

9.28. Capturing USB Traffic for Selected Devices
You can capture USB traffic for single USB devices or on the root hub level, which captures the traffic of all USB devices attached to the root hub. Oracle VM VirtualBox stores the traffic in a format which is compatible with Wireshark. To capture the traffic of a specific USB device it must be attached to the VM with VBoxManage using the following command:

VBoxManage controlvm "VM name" usbattach "device uuid|address" --capturefile "filename"
In order to enable capturing on the root hub use the following command while the VM is not running:

VBoxManage setextradata "VM name" \
VBoxInternal/Devices/usb-ehci/0/LUN#0/Config/CaptureFilename "filename"
The command above enables capturing on the root hub attached to the EHCI controller. To enable it for the OHCI or XHCI controller replace usb-ehci with usb-ohci or usb-xhci respectively.

1. I have no idea where they want me to use DOS commands? Is it within the Windows 7 VM or the WIndows 10 or somewhere unknown hiding in the Oracle Virtual Box?

2. I don't think traffic capture is what I need.. Its an audio connection so I need MP3 files to upload and download (like for podcasting) live and recorded both ways...and be mostly connected most of the time... not having to figure this command out each time I load or unload the USB device as its used a lot to get the recordings and bring them back to the computer (which I can't make my Windows 10 work to do that!)

sigh...

Maybe I should migrate this to a new topic so you can answer it as a new topic,
Let me know Ztruker which way is better for the reward system here on Windows Ten Forum...I want to do it the correct way!

[Edit]
Of course I knew to go to the user interface (maybe I'll post a screenshot) and select all of my USB devices and move them over to the user interface...but the one I wanted did not appear in the list when plugged in (I just did this example as its works for the others so I show I know what to do...its just not "doing" it for the USB device I want it to do! (I have program loaded in Windows 7 so that part is better than Windows 10 where it refused to load (and when I changed the program so it could load...then it says it can't work in that environment!)....





[End of Edit]

[Edit of Edit!]
I removed all the USB's tried it again to recall what is the problem! Windows 10 does not see the USB as when it went from Windows 7 to 10 it does not see that device anymore as the driver is not made for Windows 10--THUS on Device manager its yellow exclamation point and there is no direct "windows 7 only" USB port on the former Windows 7 computer..that is now running Windows 10 to insert that device!

I think I need an imaginary virtual USB port that runs Windows 7 on it

P.S. (I have others trying to solve same problem for older Bluetooth camera that no longer connects via Bluetooth to that computer anymore! It tries to pair but does not and cannot and company is not making an upgraded device driver for Windows 10 as they stopped selling the devices back in 2012 before Windows 10 was really out there!)
Sigh...I got problems on top of problems!

[End of Edit on top of Edit!}


Thanks again!

Tenacious. (I don't give up that easily!)

If Win 10 can't see the USB device then the Oracle VM can't. Nothing much to do until you get Win 10 to recognize the device.

Sounds to me like the first thing you need to do is replace the camera. If you do that then you probably wouldn't need to connect it to a VM.

You could switch to wireless mouse and keyboard freeing up two USB ports.

How about picking up a cheap PC to boot Windows 7? Attach the Sony device to it and you should be good for quite a while. If you don't connect it to the internet then security is not an issue, just use it for this one purpose (though Win 7 is supported till April 2020 I believe).

Alternative is get a new Desktop computer with all good hardware (and more USB ports). Add a USB 2.0 expansion card so you can run older USB devices natively without having to run them via a USB 3.0 port. Then Oracle VB or VMWare should handle the USB devices okay.

Why thank you both jimbo45 and Ztruker!

I have a few quick questions to pass by you as I mull over what you suggested.

I.

jimbo45 said:

Hi there
Try VMWare Player -- it's free and it works just fine -- in the configuration file for the USB devices you can choose from USB1.1-->USB3 via the drop down. For XP try USB2 first and if that works see if USB3 works also -- remember the HOST is virtualising the USB driver so USB3 might work on XP. USB support always seems a zillion times better in VMWare.

1. Question: Does the Windows 10 support having two VM programs in same Windows 10 OS? Of course I should not want to use them at same time...unless exchanging information between them? I'm sure I should use a flash drive for that ...again another USB usage!

2. 2010 Laptop...only has USB 1? or 2? I don't recall how to get that info from device... or if choosing 1.1 through 3 tricks the VM into thinking it has that ability?

3. Yes, older equipment with small "DV" end on the USB cable...so no idea if that cable is even higher than USB 1.1

4. Sounds like something I should give a try too (might have to ask for remote assistance help again for installing Windows 7 on this VM ware...)
[Oh oh Do I have a problem running out of Product Keys for that Windows 7 x32 disk since I used and registered? ---its funny it didn't ask me for my address when I sent it the Product Key...did it pick it up from my old use of that Product Key? A Microsoft security question...who answers those?]

Question: Do you have a clean---non-virus portal or link for downloading that one and of course the thick manual that comes with these VM software?

II.

jimbo45 said:

BTW if you do try VMPLAYER then you will need to install at first boot of the guest OS vmware-tools this is the equivalent of vbox additions in Vbox. This will then sort out video,audio and mouse problems.

1. Well that is something I guess I forgot to do!
I haven't done this in 8 years...and once the Windows 7 was successfully installed in VMBox the helpful remote person signed off their shift so I didn't do anything or tweak anything once it was up and running...

2. Question: Is that Oracle "vbox additions" something I should have done by now?
Maybe that is why USB is not working as I never installed any additions or add ons or tweaked anything..still sloshing through the thick manual with a translation for the computer commands I don't get ...too many windows open at same time trying to decipher some of those suggestions!
That's why I turn to the nice friendly people here who have been there before and know what they are talking about! (writing about)...

3. Question: While I have your attention....so when I install the VMware version...where is this "additions" hiding and how to grab the items like keyboard mouse, and USB functions I need to do?

III.

Ztruker said:

How about picking up a cheap PC to boot Windows 7? Attach the Sony device to it and you should be good for quite a while. If you don't connect it to the internet then security is not an issue, just use it for this one purpose (though Win 7 is supported till April 2020 I believe).

1. While I thought of getting another cheap PC to switch it off to...the complications of getting all the Malwarebytes and AV Norton and etc etc and other programs all installed were expenses and th8ings I did not want to do....

2. So if I leave it off Internet its ok...
But....
As I painfully learned from the existing VM version of Windows 7..... I am way behind in my Upgrades! So connecting to the web for hours and hours (see several articles on Microsoft KB site about how long it takes!) to download and repeatedly install the 115 Important ones I'm behind and 56 Optional ones.... may just tax my ability to do this twice in a row successfully

3. I just explored the web looking for guidance as to which one of many I should install first, second etc.... I may have to restart 115 times!!!!!
..... if I just do each update installation "by date released" and not some more intelligent method that overcomes the duplication of bad patches etc....

4. So I explored the web....for an answer and found a site:

How to fix Windows Update Problems in Windows 7/8/8.1 How-tos



Not a Windows Ten Forum topic unless you have similar answer online (but that answer did not show up as Windows Ten Forum link...so I took this link instead!
[And where I am today is still working through a program that tried to do this all this updating "offline" using a DOS screen!

I wrote to the person who posted it in Microsoft Community or wherever I piked up the program WSUS?

Method 7: Update Windows by using the WSUS Offline Update tool. (Windows 10, 8.1, 8 or 7)

1. Download the latest version of WSUS Offline Update utility.

2. After the download, extract the "wsusoffline.zip" file.

3. From the "wususoffline" folder, double click at UpdateGenerator.exe application.

4. At Windows tab, select the Windows Edition, that you are using.

5. Press the Start button.


6. Be patient until the WSUS Offline Update utility downloads all the available updates.

7. When the download is completed, open the client folder (wsusoffline\client) and double click at "UpdateInstaller.exe" application.

8. Place a check at "Automatic reboot and recall" checkbox.

9. Finally press the Start button and be patient until the WSUS Offline Update installer, installs the downloaded updates to your system.

I got through most of this with DOS screens too...took a few hours...
But then it complained that the "environment" was not correct for doing this!
Maybe it had something to do with that I'm trying to do elevated DOS command inside the VMBox version of Windows 7?
and...

[Yes I do write long!]

I noticed that in preparing for this my >SCR /SCANNOW DOS command to check for anything wrong with the Windows 7 installation...refused to work! Says its not a proper batch command...but I copied what that site suggested to do:::

Method 5. FIX Corrupted System Files and Services (SFC).

The next method to solve Windows Update problems is to run the System File Checker (SFC) tool in order to fix Windows' corrupted files and services. To do that:

1. Open an elevated command prompt:

Right click at Windows start button image and select Command Prompt (Admin)
2. In the command window, type the following command and press Enter.

SFC /SCANNOW

3. Wait and do not use your computer until SFC tool checks and fixes the corrupted system files or services.
4. When SFC tool finishes, reboot your computer and check for Updates.

5. (not to confuse you! This is my number 5 now--on topic of my obtaining a new small cheap computer for Windows 7 use only)

Finally I'd have to have some protection as some of the programs I use...connect with their "HQ" to confirm I am the owner and allowed to use the program...so

that we are unable to run stand alone devices without permission or current product codes provided by the web...which can also destroy all the work in installing Windows 7 back into a lower cost computer ....
And I'd need to make separate backups so not to bring a "virus" that slipped into a future year's backup (think of Ransomware...how it slipped by initial AV programs!---if I saved it back then I'd have it stuck inside a Backup Drive that could not be connected to a stand alone computer?

Does that make sense?

Air-gapped needs its own air-gapped backups too!

And I'd still have to transfer everything over.... Doable....just time consuming..sigh....

6. [OFFTOPIC] Off topic..but just read about this... considering all the computers I have I might just have to spring (saving the money from buying a separate unit and all the cost in setting it up)
and get a "hardware solution" (I have no idea what they mean) for the virus etc problems with a "professional" firewall....the article (just found it 1 hr ago) says its cost has dropped so whatever that is..its less than $1,000 USD....
Still very steep for me..but I think that may solve a lot of recurrent services I pay for on each of the three computers (the non-apple ones of course) that require AV software for their solutions.... (adding a fourth one...sigh...that is crazy....also trying to continue to use older devices...but again...)
My Off topic Question: Any of you know what this is? Or had any experience with it good or bad? [/OFFTOPIC]

IV.
I agree with you! I do have left over professional items that still use analog...have to spend good hours transferring to digital before the old analog storage just vanishes into dust! So thank you for reminding me that I have much more work to do once I have everything done digitally that I can do faster first!

jimbo45 said:

I still prefer minidisc for recording out in the field as the modern recorders are a nuisance with either too small fiddly cards, not good enough sound quality or not enough recording capability due to having only fixed storage. -- Note consumer grade stuff not professional of course. A mobile phone won't do as in a lot of places I go to these have to be switched off whereas a small mike is easily placed.

V.

jimbo45 said:

Note though if you want the XP machine to be able to access files on a NAS these days you need to change the SAMBA config file on the NAS - I've shown what to do in an earlier post in this thread.

Question: And did you mean inside this? thread? or another thread? I lost something here.....
Did I mention I use NAS? Its for my Apple only---no audio...just video and photos there which takes up huge room (just got end of December.....on sale!....) a 6TB extended storage for that one HGST replacement drive--and did something wrong on it while setting it up for backup use already...so that is another set of questions for the Apple Community website!) which set me back a bit...so not able to buy too much extra stuff like a small cheap computer right now...but that is still a great idea...
I have to work on it...

Maybe the hardware solution for everything is a good professional Firewall (hardware? plus software?)_ that I don't have to worry about maintaining ...too much...or maybe its just stepping up my IT knowledge to do that myself...

sigh....

in conclusion!
Thanks for reading my quick --lengthy--questions!

Tenacious.