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MacMiniUser
Contributor
Contributor

Can't delete VMware Shared Folders Link after VMware Fusion trial deinstallation

Hi,

One month ago I tried the Trial of VMware Fusion on my MacMini. After the 30 day period I tried to deinstall the Software through the deinstallation file. And it worked fine! But everytime I restart my Mac the VMware Shared Folders link on my desktop shows up.

Of course I read the article how to disable Shared Folders in Fusion. But theProblem is that I can't do that because of the 30 day period. My virtual machines I deleted manually.

I even tried to install VMware Fusion once more. But my Serial Key has expired. So I do not have access to the options in VMware.

Please help me!

Robert

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7 Replies
WoodyZ
Immortal
Immortal

The VMware Shares Folders feature does not create anything on the Host Desktop so I'm not sure what you're referring to. You can install Fusion without the serial number and access VMware Fusion Preferences from the VMware Fusion > File > Preferences... menu however the VMware Fusion Preferences doesn't offer any VMware Shared Folders settings as that it done from the VMware Fusion > Virtual Machine > Settings... menu for a given Virtual Machine.

Can you be more explicit and specific about your post VMware Fusion uninstall issue?

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MacMiniUser
Contributor
Contributor

Thank you. You're right. Today I was able to resolve the problem.

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HersheyPhoto
Contributor
Contributor

I am having the same problem, except I've never installed any VMware software on my computer and I don't even know what it is. I have purchased a few hard drives this summer and I'm guessing that one of them may have installed something like this of some sort, but I can't figure out where. A search for the name of the file on my desktop, "VMware Shared Folders" does not even show up in a finder search, nor is there any related software.

How can I get rid of this? I've tried Disk Utility erasing free space and secure empty trash. I am thinking about investing in MacKeeper or Shredder software, but I have the feeling the kink is not in the file not completely deleting but that there is a bug on the computer that is causing it to mount on launch.

Any help would be much appreciated!!!!

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WoodyZ
Immortal
Immortal

I am having the same problem, except I've never installed any VMware software on my computer and I don't even know what it is. I have purchased a few hard drives this summer and I'm guessing that one of them may have installed something like this of some sort, but I can't figure out where. A search for the name of the file on my desktop, "VMware Shared Folders" does not even show up in a finder search, nor is there any related software.

Why do you think you're having the same problem if you've never installed any VMware software nor do you even know what it is?  Doesn't it seems a bit absurd to come into a forum of a software that you've never installed nor do you even know what it is and think you have an issue pertinent to the thread you've jumped into especially after not even having the "VMware Shared Folder" link on your Desktop nor the software installed!?

If you having a issue with some hard drives you've purchase then I'd suggest you contact whomever you purchased them from or the manufacture of the hard drives of just wipe the drives clean then repartition and reformat them before using them.  It's not rocket science, just common sense. Smiley Wink

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HersheyPhoto
Contributor
Contributor

I am having the same problem, however. The exact file as mentioned in the initial post keeps reappearing on my desktop. It was not meant to be an absurd post, I have done extensive research on permanently deleting files on a mac and this file seems to keep appearing regardless of what I do. This forum discussion is also the only one I was able to find referring to this specific file/alias...

I called VMware to speak with their tech people and am awaiting a phone call back. None of my hard drives have any affiliation with VMware (Western Digital & Iomega) and I'm confused how it would ever have been introduced to my computer. I posted here in hopes that the people who were able to help with the initial post might have some ideas about how to go about erasing the file on a computer that does not have the original program present.

If you have any assistance in this matter I would greatly appreciate it. If you would like to twist my words and poke fun at a problem I have been trying to troubleshoot.....

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WoodyZ
Immortal
Immortal

If you would like to twist my words and poke fun at a problem I have been trying to troubleshoot.....

Lets get something straight,  I'm not twisting or even trying to twist your words!  You emphatically state "...except I've never installed any VMware software on my computer and I don't even know what it is..."  So if you've not installed or don't know what it is or are not using VMware Fusion (or other VMware product) then you're not running a VMware Virtual Machine and therefore you do not have a shortcut or link to VMware Shared Folder on the Guest OSes Desktop.  I also stated in my original reply to the OP that VMware Fusion does not, by default, create anything on the Host's Desktop to a VMware Shared Folder as this shortcut, when created, is created on the Guest OSes Desktop.

If you purchased some hard drives and they had something on them then you should have wiped them clean and repartitioned/reformatted them before putting them into service and you can still do it now providing you've backed up anything you've placed on them before doing so.

Now if you are using a VMware product and genuinely have a problem with said VMware product then provide adequate information to allow a realistic diagnostic/troubleshooting process to  begin, otherwise I really do not know what help you expect to be given to resolve whatever issue you have, which isn't at all the least bit clear!

If you don't know what information to provide then start by providing some screen shots of what you're looking at and we can go from there.

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hytekrednek
Contributor
Contributor

This worked for me.  Go to finder preferences, advanced settings.  Change the selection to "Empty Trash Securely."  Place the VMware shared folders alias into the trash and delete.  Upon reboot the file no longer appeared on my desktop. Hope it works for you.

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