Debian Lenny guest VM crashs when copying large files from a USB disk

[enry]

I use a Windows Vista 32bit host and a VM guest (Lenny 5.0 Debian stable).

If I access a 8Gb USB pen drive (fat32) or USB big disk (ext3 formatted) (previous registered in the Virtualbox GUI) containing large files (between 2.5 and 7 Mbytes) traying for example to do a copy to my disk (cp -v /media/usbdisk/myfile $HOME) the virtual machine crashs immediately (I can move the mouse but no more action is allowed).

I have this problem with:

debian lenny guest (virtualbox 3.1.6) Always crash

debian lenny guest (virtualbox 3.1.8) Always crash

Ubuntu 10.04 guest (virtualbox 3.1.6) Problems only if stressing the system with multiple copies (cp -v /media/usbdisk/myfile.* $HOME)

Ubuntu 10.04 guest (virtualbox 3.1.8 No problem. No crash. Copy is fast and reliable.

How to reproduce the problem: Insert for example a kingston 8Gb pendrive with some directories containing large files (for example big .jpg photos > 3 Mbytes and debian VM crashs just when the disk is mounted automatically or at the first access.

Attached VBox.log

[enry]

log file

[enry]

I have perhaps found the origin of the problem. If I choose to use two CPUS (IO/APIC is mandatory enabled) the USB functionalities in debian lenny guest become unstable and the virtual machine hangs.

If I use 1 cpu (no IO/APIC) all runs fine.

I have not the same problem with a Ubuntu 10.04 guest. Also with 2 CPUS and IO/APIC enabled usb access from the guest is normal and reliable.

I hope these information are useful for you. I consider my problem resolved but I can not use more than 1 CPU in my virtual machine with a debian guest.

[Frank Mehnert]

Please reopen if still relevant with VBox 4.0.4.