Fusion

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  • 1.  Com Port 3 - macOS host, Windows guest

    Posted Apr 30, 2025 05:46 AM

    My Windows guest is having trouble recognizing the device connected(it's a cutter plotter). On a normal Windows PC, my device is connected using COM port 3. My Mac M2 has Type C ports so I have a multiport adapter to connect the USB. I can see that it successfully connects to the Windows guest, but it only shows as FT232R USB UART instead of COM port 3. Can anyone help me what should I do? Thank you. 



  • 2.  RE: Com Port 3 - macOS host, Windows guest

    Posted May 01, 2025 10:53 PM

    Im assuming that you're running a Windows 11 ARM VM under VMware Fusion. It looks like the device is getting passed by Fusion to your VM, so let's focus on what's going on in the VM. 

    I think for that USB UART device to be seen as a COM (serial) port, you will need a virtual COM port driver from the device ot chipset manufacture.  It does not seem to be available out-of-the-box for Windows 11 ARM (drivers need to be specifically built for Windows ARM - drivers compiled for Intel Windows won't work). Your USB device appears to be based on an FTDI chipset. I would check FTDI's site for a Windows ARM driver  



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    - Paul (technogeezer)
    vExpert 2025
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  • 3.  RE: Com Port 3 - macOS host, Windows guest

    Posted May 01, 2025 10:55 PM
    Edited by Technogeezer May 01, 2025 10:55 PM

    See if https://ftdichip.com/drivers/vcp-drivers/ (on FTDI's driver web site) helps. 



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    - Paul (technogeezer)
    vExpert 2025
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  • 4.  RE: Com Port 3 - macOS host, Windows guest

    Posted May 01, 2025 11:11 PM

    I'm using a TeraGrand USB to Serial adapter with FTDI Chipset on my Windows 11 VM on an Apple M2 Pro Mac using a driver from the ftdichip.com site and it works flawlessly.




  • 5.  RE: Com Port 3 - macOS host, Windows guest

    Posted May 05, 2025 02:50 PM

    I appreciate your reply. I was able to install the drivers from the link/s that you sent. After doing the installation process, it looks like it was successful but I'm not sure what to do next. The device still shows as FT232R USB UART instead of COM port 3. I tried going to Device Manager and try to select the extracted folder from the FTDI link but I encountered the same message, no drivers found. Could you guide me on what to do next after installing the drivers? Thank you!  




  • 6.  RE: Com Port 3 - macOS host, Windows guest

    Posted May 05, 2025 03:21 PM

    I assume that you installed the driver using the information in the FTDI documentation https://ftdichip.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/AN_396_FTDI_Drivers_Installation_Guide_for_Windows_10_11.pdf .

    The installation on Windows ARM doesn't use their installation wizard. It's a manual 2 step operation. See Section 3.3 Manual Installation on page 8 of the linked PDF for more details.  

    If that doesn't work, you might want to browse the Internet or some other forum specific to the FTDI device. This doesn't appear to be related to Fusion, rather it looks to be related to how the FTDI drivers work on Windows 11 ARM vs. Windows x86_64, 



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    - Paul (technogeezer)
    vExpert 2025
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