Macbook Pro running VMware Fusion 2.0 getting "Windows did not detect any networking hardware" in Vista Ultimate 32bit

[eyebytes]

I've searched the Apple site, Microsoft site, and vmware.com all over the place, and haven't found a solution to this problem.

I'm running a brand new (to me) Macbook Pro running the latest version of Leopard and Vmware Fusion 2.0. I installed Vista Ultimate via bootcamp, then installed Fusion. I've updated to the latest version of all software, and installed VMware tools. Every time I boot Vista I get the "Found new hardware" wizard for the Ethernet device, but it can't find the drivers and I don't know what else to do. I've spent at least 3 hours trying to find a solution without bothering anyone else, but I'm at a loss for what drivers to use and where to find them. Please help!

Any ideas?

-Harold

[WoodyZ]

Searching the Forum using "Vista Ethernet" (without the quotes) the top hit stated...

Vista requires you to use the virtual E1000 NIC. Make sure your vmx file has an entry for

ethernet0.virtualDev = "e1000"

So check the Virtual Machine's .vmx configuratuin file and add it if it isn't there as it sometimes is not when first running the Boot Camp partition as a Virtual Machine or upgrading from XP and has been mentioned many times in this Forum.

BTW It took less then 1 minute to find this information so I just don't understand why you spent 3 hours searching and not finding anything in this Forum that could help.

Another thread to look at is:

Also have a look at if you need help locating the .vmx file.

[eyebytes]

Thanks, but I was afraid someone would refer me to that thread... which I've already read a few different times. In 3 hours, believe me, I've found a dozen different solutions, but none of them helped solve my issues.

During the 3 hour quest, I couldn't find a .vmx file or "Virtual Machines" folder anywhere on my system, in Vista or OSX. I used Spotlight to search for "Virtual", .vmx, and a number of other files and folders that were mentioned in a number of solutions without success. Since spotlight couldn't find the files or folders, I assumed they didn't exist (I'm new to the Mac world, thus the reason I'm installing Vmware Fusion so I can still run some Windows apps on my Macbook). One thread said the vmx files were in the Users/documents folder, but when I browsed to that location there were no files or folders related to VMware fusion. I reasoned that since the files and folders didn't exist on my computer, but the virutal machines ran fine... that people were responding with solutions that worked for an older version of Fusion.

I FINALLY found a thread that specifically listed the location as "/Users/yourusername/Library/Application Support/VMware Fusion/Virtual Machines/. So once again, I searched using Spotlight and found nothing. Even though I trusted Spotlight, I browsed to the folder... and voila!, there were the files and folders I needed.

Curiously, spotlight preferences were set to include all file types and folders, so the query should have at least found the folder. Even though I knew the folder existed, Spotlight searches come up empty. Through another extensive search, I found a way to tell spotlight to display system files (which was not available option in the Spotlight preferences panel), and BAM!, there they were. I also found a freeware search program called "EasyFind", and it was able to find the "Virtual Machines" folder on the first try.

Hopefully someone else that stuggles as I did will find this thread and save themselves some time and trouble.

Adding this to the Boot Camp partition VMX file fixed the problem: ethernet0.virtualDev = "e1000"

[RDPetruska]

I FINALLY found a thread that specifically listed the location as "/Users/yourusername/Library/Application Support/VMware Fusion/Virtual Machines/. So once again, I searched using Spotlight and found nothing. Even though I trusted Spotlight, I browsed to the folder... and voila!, there were the files and folders I needed.

That's because your Operating System is trying to be "helpful" and has consolidated all of the virtual machine files into a ".vmwarevm" bundle - treating you like an ignorant Apple user instead of like an intelligent computer user. If you remove the .vmwarevm extension from the name of the bundle, it will appear correctly as a folder, which your search will then be able to find.

-3 points for (anti-)usability, VMware!

[admin]

I'd like to point out the last line in Woody's post, "Also have a look at if you need help locating the .vmx file"; reading it would have saved you time. To quote some selections from the Virtual Machine Files section:

Boot Camp virtual machines are located in "/Users/yourusername/Library/Application Support/VMware Fusion/Virtual Machines/".
VMs are packaged up in bundles a.k.a. packages, which is OS X's way of showing things that really belong together. Other examples of bundles include most applications and installers. Fusion bundles have the extension ".vmwarevm" (OS X may hide this by default). You can examine the contents of a bundle by going to the bundle in the Finder, ctrl-clicking it, and choosing "Show Package Contents"
By default, bundles contain the files that describe a virtual machine. These files include ... A configuration file (*.vmx)

[WoodyZ]

I FINALLY found a thread that specifically listed the location as "/Users/yourusername/Library/Application Support/VMware Fusion/Virtual Machines/. So once again, I searched using Spotlight and found nothing. Even though I trusted Spotlight, I browsed to the folder... and voila!, there were the files and folders I needed.

When in doubt try reading the Documentation!

VMware Fusion (menu bar) > Help > VMware Fusion Help > Navigating VMware Fusion > Using the Virtual Machine Library Window

Determine the location of a virtual machine's files Right-click on the virtual machine in the source list. Choose Show in Finder.

[JNTaylor]

The others may be so arrogant as to 'know it all' but I think this was of great help. Cheers

[umbpvista]

Does anyone know if this solution will work with the new unibody macbook pro? I tried and i still can't detect any wireless networks even though the driver installed. Perhaps the new unibody MBP uses different hardware? I'm not sure... Can someone advise?

*forgot to mention I'm using vista home premium

[WoodyZ]

Does anyone know if this solution will work with the new unibody macbook pro? I tried and i still can't detect any wireless networks even though the driver installed. Perhaps the new unibody MBP uses different hardware? I'm not sure... Can someone advise?

Fusion always presents a wired adapter to the guest regardless of the presents of a WiFi Adapter on the Host.

If you want a WiFi Network Adapter in the Guest then you will have to use a USB WiFi Network Adapter that you provide from a 3rd party like Linksys, Netgear, etc.

[umbpvista]

ohh...i finally understand all this now. I even went into all the fusion documents to get a better grasp of how wireless works. Thanks a lot for your help!

[phl08]

I have used VM Converter to bring over a PC laptop running Vista Enterprise (32 bit) into my MacBook. All has gone smooth except this annoying ethernet adaptor problem that I've come across many times.

The entry:

ethernet0.virtualDev = "e1000"

is in my VMX file.

I've been through the docs listed in this thread and others, but can't seem to find the issue.