USB devices not accessible

[iticams]

Dear Community,

using VMware Workstation 5.0.0 on a Windows XP prof SP3 host I have
problems using USB devices.
I already browsed the VMware knowledge base, but did not find
anything suitable.
The host is a Dell Latitude D820 notebook with an additional
UMTS module installed.
The USB support is enabled in the VM settings.

Starting the VM with a Windows XP SP3 guest system there is
NO USB activity icon in the bottom status line visible.
The icons for network, disk, sound and CD-Rom are
present and working properly.

Connecting an USB device to the host it's recognized by the host
that plays the "USB connected" sound. (Focus within the VM)
The USB device shows up in the VM's "Removeable devices -> USB devices" menu.
Selecting the device, it is disconnected from the host and
then re-connected to the host again, but now the host recognizes
it as "Unknown device" and the automatically starting wizard fails
to install the 'new' device.
Trying to select the device again in the menu fails, because the
device now shows up as some 'unknown device'.

On some places in the internet I read about Sony Ericsson USB drivers that
come with mobile phones and cause the VMware USB to fail.
Well, I did not install any mobile phone software on the host, but
I installed the Sony Ericsson Wireless manager in order to operate the
notebook's UMTS module.
As a solution those sources in the internet advise to remove all USB device
drivers in the windows device manager that are branded "Sony Ericsson" and
replace them with the original Microsoft drivers.
I checked it, but there are no drivers of that kind.
There are some drivers from 'Intel' and I replaced all of them with Microsoft
drivers without any success.
I also do not remember having installed any special USB software.
The only suspicious product is a USB-to-ethernet software for connecting
remote USB devices via network. But this software has to be started manually
and was not started in conjunction with VMware.

Browsing the VMware logfile there is no hint concerning any USB related problems.
The VM recognizes the USB port and logs '...thread 5 "usbEnum" host id 3256 started'
and 'vmx| VMXVmdbLoadUsbDevices: New set of 4 USB devices'.

BTW:
A second Dell Latitude D820 Notebook with just Windows XP SP3 and VMware
on it runs just fine. USB devices are handled properly.
So the problem must be caused by some installed software on the first notebook.
But I have no idea, which software this could be.

Ideas anyone?

Thank you very much!

  Lothar

[continuum]

Hi and welcome
I would update to the latest 5.5.* version - I think it is 5.5.9

If I remember right the 5.* versions had only support for USB 1 ? - that maybe part of the problem.

Please reproduce the problem and then attach the vmware.log

Do you have any USB-lockdown programs installed ?

open a cmd on the host as admin
enter
net start hcmon

what does it answer ?

[iticams]

Continuum,

thank you for your hints!

You'll find the latest logfile attached to this posting.

The 'net start hcmon' command produced the message

' The requested service was already started' (or similar - I've got a german Windows).

Then I updated to VMware 5.5.9, but the USB problem persists.

There is still no USB-icon in the status bar at the bottom of the VMware window.

The inserted USB memory stick shows up in the VM -> removeable devices -> USB

menu, but when selected, it is not recognized by the guest system and after that

the host system also cannot access it any longer and report an 'unknown device'.

Could you please give me an example for 'USB-lockdown programs'?

I'm not sure...

Thank you!

  Lothar

[iticams]

Problem solved.

I usually reinstall Windows once a year and did so last weekend.

Every time when I was to install a driver or software that might affect

VMware USB functionality, I made a backup, installed the driver and

tested VMware. This was very annoying.

The result: Everything is installed now - even the Sony Ericsson wireless

manager and VMware runs just fine. No USB problems anymore.

Another reason to reinstall Windows from time to time. Maybe I should

change the interval to twice a year.

Thank's for your help!

Best regards

  Lothar

[continuum]

you can use Workstation side by side with Sony Ericson software ???

which version of WS is that - not 7.x I think ???

[iticams]

I'm using the latest 5.x version (5.5.9?) of VMware workstation.

See above in this thread.

And yes, I'm using it in conjuction with the Sony Ericsson

wireless manager. The wireless manager is installed on the

WinXP prof. host system.

VMware was first and then I installed the manager and

the drivers for the 5530 UMTS card.

The card is genuie Dell, but the original Dell installer refuses to run

since the card is not available as an option for the D820.

So I ripped the drivers from the package and installed them by hand.

Works pretty good.

Lothar

[continuum]

ok - I know that you use an older version - just hoped for a workaround for Ericson USB-drivers