USB to Windows 10 VM does not work

[mikcor]

Hello,
I have created a Window VM (4GB RAM and 40GB hard disk) and installed it with ISO. Everything worked fine, installed the one application I need for my work, everything was great. Now I wanted to import the backup via USB and it does not work. When I insert a USB stick then on devices comes an error message:
“Attaching device (USB-Device) to Windows is failed: Qubes Error - Domain Windows qrexec not connected”.

Okay, now I have moved all devices with the name “USB controller” to “Devices always connected to this ube” in the settings of the VM. That were 3 pieces.
When I have activated this, an error message comes up when I start the VM with: “Got empty response from qubesd. See journalctl in dom0 for details”.

The VM stops with a yellow dot and I can’t start or stop it, nothing works.
Question to the “advanced”, what can I do so that my Windows Qube takes my USB stick and I can work with the data?

Thanks for your help

[apparatus]

You can enable Windows USB integration:

Windows USB integration with R4.1

It is now available to test ability to attach USB devices to Windows. It works without QWT installation via QEMU emulation. To get it works make this steps: update with current-testing repos sudo qubes-dom0-update --enablerepo=qubes-dom0-current-testing install advanced variant linux stubdomain (now available only in current-testing repos): sudo qubes-dom0-update --enablerepo=qubes-dom0-current-testing xen-hvm-stubdom-linux-full update and restart sys-usb with current-testing repos too ena…

You don’t need to update with current-testing, you just need to enable feature for your Windows qube in dom0 terminal:

enable feature to windows qube
qvm-features [windows qube] stubdom-qrexec 1

[mikcor]

Okay, great thanks. Worked wonderfully, I can now use the Windows as I need it, thanks for that.

But I still have a question, it’s about the Windows Tools. I downloaded them from the Dom and started them with the virtual CD, but on the virtual CD there is only a text file with the message Qubes Windows Tools are currently unavaiable due to security concerns.
See https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-secpack/blob/master/QSBs/qsb-091-2023.txt for details

I don’t know why there is no installer on the virtual CD. Do I need the Windows Tools at all? Since my USB works now, printer works I have already tested, would still have to test scanner but if all that works do I still need to install the tools? If so why does it not work?
Thank you.

[apparatus]

@mikcor

I downloaded them from the Dom and started them with the virtual CD, but on the virtual CD there is only a text file with the message Qubes Windows Tools are currently unavaiable due to security concerns.
See qubes-secpack/QSBs/qsb-091-2023.txt at master · QubesOS/qubes-secpack · GitHub for details

You can still install it if you really need it:

Qvm-create-windows-qube Qubes Windows Tools install hangs on the "Completing setup of Qubes Windows Tools" step

If you are willing to accept the risks described in QSB-091, you may still install the previous version 4.1.68-1 of QWT, which is still available from https://yum.qubes-os.org/r4.1/current/dom0/fc32/rpm/qubes-windows-tools-4.1.68-1.noarch.rpm. After downloading the rpm file and installing it in dom0 via sudo dnf install, proceed as described in Installing and Using Qubes Windows Tools in Qubes R4.1.

@mikcor

Do I need the Windows Tools at all?

Only if you need additional Qubes OS integration features in WIndows like clipboard/file sender/receiver between VMs:

Qubes-Community/Contents/blob/master/docs/os/windows/windows-tools41.md

@mikcor

If so why does it not work?

Why you can’t easily install QWT right now? It’s because of security concerns as described in your link to QSB-091 so users are notified of possible issues and don’t blindly install it without being aware of it.

[mikcor]

okay, thank you. Since I don’t need these options, I’ll leave my Windows VM as it is.
I would like to thank you for your quick help, this gives me the opportunity to learn how to use Qubes even as a beginner and foreign speaker. Thank you