Windows cannot access \\vmware-host\shared folders\desktop

[jhollin]

I seem to have successfully moved the virtual machine to a shared folder and given this folder and all the package contents of my windows 7 virtual machine read and write permissions. Windows 7 will start-up in my other user accounts, however I get the message: Windows cannot access
vmware-host\shared folders\desktop. As it turns out, none of the folders in this folder (
vmware-host)(Z:) are accessible. Any suggestions?

[brucegordon]

Please email me if you found a solution. I'm having the same problem. Thanks.

Bruce

[e-mail]

[jhollin]

I have not. For now, I deleted the virtual machine and reinstalled it and windows in a shared directory. I have yet to try and add another account user and try it again.

[sirhc_mcd]

I had the same problem and just figured out how to fix it.

What caused the problem for me was that I moved a Windows 7 vm that I had initially built using Fusion 3 on a different MacBook - which coincidentally also had a different user account name (but that may not be a factor).

Each time I started the migrated Windows 7 VM or launched the Windows Explorer on the new MacBook, a window was displayed with the error "Windows cannot access
vmware-host\shared folders\desktop".

To fix the issue, while logged into the Windows 7 VM on the new MacBook, I went into the VM properties and removed all the Shared Folders that were set up for it - including the Mirroring settings for Desktop, Documents, Music and Pictures. This cuased my Windows 7 VM to automatically log me out of the session and re-login again. Once I relogged in, the errors were gone - but then of course were were also my mirrored settings.

So, I then had to recreate the mirrored/shared folders by just going back into the VM properties (while still logged into the same new Windows 7 session immediately following the previous removal effort) and selecting "Share Folders on your Mac" and selecting the mirrored folders I wanted again (e.g. Desktop, Documents, etc.). This once again automatically prompted me to log out of the current Windows 7 session in the VM... once I re-logged back in the shared folders and mirroring settings were working again as I wanted - still without the errors.

Hope this helps anyone with the same issue!

Cheers! -chris

[kayakjamie]

The problem can be fixed by creating a symbolic link

sudo ln -s /users/myuser /users/olderuser

The result is:

myhost:Users myuser$ ls -la olduser

lrwxr-xr-x 1 root admin 5 Oct 30 23:16 olduser -> myuser

I discovered the answer by looking at the shared folders under vmware settings. I saw there was a share configured as follows. By setting up the symbolic link, it now points at the correct folder.

Name folder

"olduser On My Mac olduser

[smooney]

This worked, thanks sirhc_mcd!

Sam

[tmacg65]

Hi Chris

I had been serching for a few days, I followed your instructions and have finally loaded Neatbeans 7.2

Cheers

Tanai

[auguste999]

I had the same problem after an upgrade to VMWare 5.  I tried everything in here with no luck.  What did finally work for me was reinstalling the VMWare tools on the windows vm.  A few restarts later and it's working again.

[chcsep]

These instructions more or less worked in VMware 7. The settings are now through the "Virtual Machine" menu, and I needed to add the user file (Macintosh HD > [username]) for the new host computer/user, then I needed to deselect the shared folders, re-log-in, reselect the shared folders, re-log-in. YMMV.

[Rhongomiant]

This solution worked for me with VMware Fusion 7.1.2 (2779224), Mac OS X 10.10.3 with VMs running Windows 8.1 Pro (Build 9600) and Windows 10 Pro (Insider Preview Evaluation Copy Build 1013).

I appreciate you taking the time to post this solution!

[MahaloMarlin]

That worked great, no trouble at all. Thank you!

[VMware Community Member]

Thanks Chris.

This just got me sorted today!

With that error message, there was basically nothing I could ever do. Even just merely editing a document in Microsoft word was impossible

[Cardinale]

I fixed the problem by unchecking each of the four mirrored folders then logging off windows. Logging back in, renable all four mirrored folders and then logg out and back in and all seemed to be right in the world. It might not hurt to add your home directory as a shared folder at the top, but don't think that is required

[chcsep]

This solution works for me with VMware 6 and Win7 (unchecking shared folders, logging off, logging in, rechecking shared folders, logging off, logging on). Thanks Cardinale

[APACC]

This just started for me once I did the new update. Now I can't solve it. I've tried everything in this thread that I am comfortable trying and none of it works. Any suggestions?

[Cardinale]

This problem usually occurs after copying or moving the VM file or changing the path to the VM in any way. All you did was apply the update?

[mbookspan]

Same problem - tried the VM Tools uninstall/reinstall - no go. Did not try the symlink. VM wasn't moved.

M

[APACC]

Same thing. I didn't do one thing other than update VMware when I was prompted that there was an update. That's it. Just the update and now it's all screwed.

[WoodyZ]

APACC wrote:

Same thing. I didn't do one thing other than update VMware when I was prompted that there was an update. That's it. Just the update and now it's all screwed.

Have you tried reverting to the previous version so at least things might again be working properly?

[APACC]

I'm not sure I know how to revert to the old version.

[WoodyZ]

I'm not sure I know how to revert to the old version.

Uninstall VMware Tools.

Uninstall the current version of VMware Fusion.

Install the previous version of VMware Fusion.

Hint: VMware Fusion (menu bar) > Help > Search > type uninstall

[mbookspan]

The problem is that 3.1.2 doesn’t support Win7 SP1. So, any other workarounds?

[WoodyZ]

The problem is that 3.1.2 doesn’t support Win7 SP1. So, any other workarounds?

It may not officially support it however I have Windows 7 SP1 x86 and x64 running under VMware Fusion 3.1.2 without any problems.  Of course, YMMV.

[APACC]

Still nothing on this? No resolve?

[Rehan1801]

To fix the issue please follow the steps

• Open the Registry Editor:
  • Windows XP: Go to Start > Run, type regedit, and click OK.
  • Windows Vista/7: Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Run, type regedit, and click OK.
  • Window 8: Keep the Windows Key pressed on the keyboard and then press R key to open Run prompt. Type regedit, and click OK
    
    
• Note: This procedure modifies the Windows registry. Before making any registry modifications, ensure that you have a current and valid backup of the registry and the virtual machine.
• Navigate to these two locations:
  
  
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders


• Make sure that you see these values (among others). Update these entries, if they have a different data value:
  
  Windows XP / Server 2003
  

  Name	Data value
  Desktop	%USERPROFILE%\Desktop
  My Music	%USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Music
  My Pictures	%USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Pictures
  Personal	%USERPROFILE%\My Documents

  
  
  Windows Vista / 7 / Server 2008 / 8
  

  Name	Data value
  Desktop	%USERPROFILE%\Desktop
  My Music	%USERPROFILE%\Music
  My Pictures	%USERPROFILE%\Pictures
  Personal	%USERPROFILE%\Documents

Reference  Vmware KB article  -->    http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1017886

[cdlanteigne]

Rehan1801,

I made those changes to the registry that you provided, logged out, and it fixed my problem.

But then: VMware popped up with a new message, requiring me to log out so its changes could take effect.

The New Message is: 'VMware Tools has modified settings to enable sharing data with the host. You must log off to apply these settings. Press OK to log off now.  Press Cancel to log off later.'

Having logged back in, I had the same message: 'Re: Windows cannot access \\vmware-host\shared folders\desktop'

HOW DO I MAKE VMware NOT REVERT TO ITS OLD SETTINGS?

[ATT1]

FWIW, I resolved my "cannot access \\vmware-host\shared folders" problem for two Windows 10 VMs running under Fusion 8.5.3. Nothing short of a full uninstall / reinstall of VMware tools did the trick.

1. In the VM's Sharing settings, delete any shared and mirrored folders. Disable shared folders.

2. reboot

3. Start a reinstall of VMware tools, and remove it.

4. reboot

5. Install VMware tools

6. reboot

7. Enable shared folders and choose the folders to share.

8. reboot

9. Verify access to the folders.

[MortgageLaw]

I used every idea here and the one from Auguste999 was the trick. Found it here http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&docTypeID=DT_KB_1_1&externalId=1004055

Bottom line, Sharing does not work without vmware tools. You have to install vmware tools from inside of windows. Once I followed the above KB and then re logged into my widows session, everything was restored.

[NetoRodrigues]

I got a fix this problem, first you need upgrade your Fusion to version 6 and access your windows 8 with local administrator and install VmWare Tools, after that your windows will be restart two times and your shortcut see again and work without problem.

[ofg007]

Indeed, this fixed this problem. Thanks Nito.

The detailed steps are as follows:

Resolving VMware-Host not found Error - Mac VMWare Fusion 6

Probable Cause: VMware Tools might be out of date.

Step 1: Uninstall the current version of VMware Tools

(http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1014522)

  Instruction:

• Click Start > Control Panel.
• Click Programs and Features.
• From the list of installed software, select VMware Tools.
• Click Uninstall.
• When prompted, click Yes to restart Windows.

Step 2: Reinstall the newer version of VMWare Tools:

(http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&docTypeID=DT_KB_1_1&externalId=1003417)

• Start the virtual machine. Wait until the Operating System has loaded, and you're logged in and looking at your desktop.
• From the menu bar, go to Virtual Machine > Install VMware Tools.
• Click Next to progress through the installation.
• Select Complete, unless you need to exclude certain features of Tools, and click Next.
• Click Install.
• When the installation finishes, click Yes to restart your virtual machine.

[alexandrive]

I had the following problem:

I installed a fresh version of VM Fusion 7

I installed a fresh Windows Server 2008 VM.

I could not access the shared folders of VM Hose (I shared user folder and documents folder), however, I could access the VM Windows server shared folders from my VM host Network.

Solution: Go to VM Fusion menu, go to Virtual Machine, Go to Install VMWare Tools. It solved the issue for me.

Now I can access the vmhost shared files.

I think you may have similar problem.

Good Luck!

[admin]

VM Tools uninstall/reinstall to solve this issue.