VirtualBox Ubuntu Guest OS Keyboard/Mouse Input Not Working During Screen Lock on HPE EliteBook 650

Introduction

In this article, we will discuss how to troubleshoot VirtualBox Ubuntu guest OS keyboard and mouse input not working issue, specifically on an HPE EliteBook 650 with the following setup:

• Host OS: Windows 10 Enterprise
• VirtualBox version: 7.0.14
• Guest OS: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
• 6 CPUs, 24 GB RAM, and 300 GB HDD allocated to the guest OS
• Connected to an HP docking station

Issue: Keyboard and Mouse Input Not Working in Ubuntu Guest OS

If you're experiencing issues with keyboard and mouse input not working in your Ubuntu guest OS, it could be due to several reasons. In this section, we will cover some common causes and solutions.

Solution 1: Enable Mouse Integration

Make sure that the mouse integration feature is enabled in VirtualBox. This feature allows the guest OS to use the host OS's mouse and keyboard input. To enable mouse integration, follow these steps:

1. Start the Ubuntu guest OS in VirtualBox.
2. Click on the "Input" menu in VirtualBox.
3. Select "Mouse Integration" to enable it.

Solution 2: Check for Screen Lock

If the screen on the HPE EliteBook 650 is locked, it may prevent keyboard and mouse input from working in the Ubuntu guest OS. To check for screen lock, follow these steps:

1. Press the "Windows" key on the host OS's keyboard to bring up the Start menu.
2. Type "HP Client Security" and click on the app to open it.
3. Check if the screen is locked. If it is, unlock it using your credentials.

Solution 3: Check for Guest Additions

VirtualBox Guest Additions is a set of drivers and utilities that improves the functionality of the guest OS. If Guest Additions is not installed, it may cause keyboard and mouse input issues. To check for Guest Additions, follow these steps:

1. Start the Ubuntu guest OS in VirtualBox.
2. Click on the "Devices" menu in VirtualBox.
3. Select "Insert Guest Additions CD image" to mount the ISO file.
4. Open the terminal in the guest OS and run the following command:

Solution 4: Check for USB Device Filter

If a USB device filter is configured in VirtualBox, it may prevent keyboard and mouse input from working in the Ubuntu guest OS. To check for USB device filter, follow these steps:

1. Start VirtualBox and select the Ubuntu guest OS.
2. Click on the "Settings" button.
3. Click on the "Ports" section.
4. Check if any USB device filters are configured. If there are, remove them and try again.

In this article, we discussed how to troubleshoot VirtualBox Ubuntu guest OS keyboard and mouse input not working issue on an HPE EliteBook 650. We covered common causes and solutions, including enabling mouse integration, checking for screen lock, checking for Guest Additions, and checking for USB device filter. By following these solutions, you can ensure that keyboard and mouse input work properly in your Ubuntu guest OS.

References

• Mouse Integration
• HP Client Security
• Installing VirtualBox Guest Additions
• About USB Devices