Sync Iphone in Windows XP running as Virtualbox guest under Ubuntu 9.10

"Here is how I got it to work:

First, I followed the instructions on this page: help.ubuntu.com/community/VirtualBox/USB

This included adding a line to /etc/fstab and a couple lines to /etc/udev/rules.d/40-basic-permissions.rules . Nothing seemed to change, Itunes was still ignoring my Iphone.

Curious if the device was even being registered by Windows, I went into the Device Manager in XP. There was an unknown USB device with a question mark. I went in to the properties for the unknown USB device, did a reinstall drivers action, allowing Windows to search for drivers online. In about 10 seconds the Iphone was recognized, drivers loaded, and Itunes saw the device.

I was able to sync, even upgrade to the latest firmware. Here's a tip, set a USB device filter in VirtualBox that just limits it to devices with a Manufacturer of ""Apple Inc."" I had an issue with doing a restore because during the restore, the device appears slightly differently to the computer, and if you don't have the proper filters set up, the device will not appear to the guest OS automatically since the host OS sees it as a different device. That's why the best option is just to tell it to send all Apple USB devices through."

"Heres how I do it.

Run itunes under VB and plug your iphone/itouch whatever in. On the linux desktop you'll see an icon for the new device. Select it and unmount it.
Then go to VB and right click the USB icon down the bottom and put a click in the box for your device.
XP under VB will know see the device.

No commands, nothing else to install, no files to edit."