Host OS: WinXP SP3

Guest OS: Ubuntu 9.10

Prior to starting Workstation, an Imation Removable Disk is available (and readable) in WinXP. It appears as drive E: and the contents are readable (a single PDF file). The device is also writeable.

(The following scenario occurs both where automatic connection is selected and unselected ie manual connection)

The USB Device ("Imation Removable Disk") appears in VM->Removable Devices menu list and also in Status Bar. Menu option "Connect (Disconnect from Host)" is displayed in the Imation Removable Disk sub-menu.

When "Connect" menu item is selected in the Workstation menu (using mouse click or keyboard navigation) an information balloon is displayed from the taskbar notification area in WinXP (The Host OS):

"It is safe to remove the USB mass storage device now".

and immediately after that balloon disappears, another information balloon appears in the taskbar notification area in WinXP (the Host OS):

"Found New Hardware. A problem occurred during hardware installation. The device may not work properly."

About 2 minutes later, the following information balloon is displayed from the Status Bar area in the workstation windows displaying Ubuntu 9.10 (the Guest OS):
" The connection for Imation Flash Drive was unsuccessful. The VMWare USB Arbitrator returned error code 4"

However after the attempt to connect (as set out above) the Imation Removable Disk is NOT available either in the Guest OS OR the Host OS:
- in WinXP the device is NOT listed in the "Safely Remove Hardware" dialog box.

- in Ubuntu the device is NOT listed anywhere.

This indicates that the attempt (manual or automatic) to connect the Imation Removable Disk to the Guest OS disconnects the device from the Host OS, but on the Guest OS connection failure, the device is NOT released back to the Host OS (reconnected). However, if the Imation Removable Disk is removed from and re-inserted into the USB socket, the Imation Removable Disk is connected to the Host OS (WinXP) and is again readable. This behaviour is to be expected and is only noted here to confirm device operational status.

i've searched the documentation and entered "usb arbitrator error code 4" into vmware search engine with no hits.

any help available?

many thanx.