Having issues with using my keyboard on my host after using Virtual Box to create VM’s. Can no longer use keyboard/mouse at all on host.

Troubleshooting Guide: Resolving Keyboard and Mouse Connectivity Issues After VirtualBox VM Management

If you’ve recently been working with VirtualBox to create and manage virtual machines (VMs), you might encounter unexpected hardware issues on your host system, particularly with input devices like keyboards and mice. This comprehensive guide aims to help you diagnose and resolve such problems, especially when your host becomes unresponsive at the login screen.

Understanding the Issue

During VM creation or management within VirtualBox, certain virtual hardware configurations or device management actions can inadvertently affect your host system’s device drivers and connections. In some cases, disabling or modifying USB controllers or hubs in Device Manager can lead to loss of input device functionality.

Common Scenario

• Creating or interacting with VMs causes a virtual keyboard to appear within VirtualBox.
• Subsequently, the physical keyboard and mouse on the host stop responding, despite being visible in device management tools.
• Disabling or modifying USB device entries (such as USB hubs) leads to loss of input device functionality.
• The issue persists even after restarting the system; the user is unable to log in due to input device failures.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Strategies

1. Immediate Action: Prepare for Recovery

• Attempt to reboot in Safe Mode:
  Restart your computer and press F8 (on older systems) or hold Shift while selecting Restart in Windows 10/11 to access recovery options. If possible, choose Advanced Startup Options -> Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> Startup Settings -> Restart, then select Safe Mode.

• Use On-Screen Keyboard:
  Since your physical keyboard isn’t working, try launching the Windows On-Screen Keyboard from the login screen:

• Click the Ease of Access icon on the login screen (bottom-right corner).
• Select On-Screen Keyboard to input your password and log in.

2. Restoring Device Drivers

Once logged in, or if you can access safe mode:

• Open Device Manager:
• Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
• Re-enable Disabled Devices:
• Locate the USB hubs, Root Hubs, or generic USB devices you previously disabled.

• Right-click and select Enable device.

• Check for Driver Conflicts:

• Look for devices marked with a yellow warning icon.
• Update or uninstall problematic drivers:
  • Right-click device -> Update driver.
  • Or