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Asharam
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

VMware Workstation 12 Pro Mouse Forward Back Buttons Don't Work

The forward and back buttons on the mouse don't work with VMware Workstation 12 Pro.  I've installed several guest systems, and the problem is the same with all.

Adding these lines to the VMX file doesn't work and isn't a solution for ALL guests.

usb.generic.allowHID = "TRUE"
mouse.vusb.enable = "TRUE"
mouse.vusb.useBasicMouse = "FALSE"

I'd rather not spend another week and dozens of hours fixing this problem like I did the previous issue with VMware Workstation 12 Pro and mouse problems.

The forward and back buttons worked with VMware Workstation 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, and 6. 

30 Replies
Asharam
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

The forward and back buttons work when connected to the laptop via Remote Desktop.

This indicates a problem with mouse drivers on the laptop.

This is yet another Lenovo / VMware workstation compatibility issue.

The Realtek audio drivers cause the mouse to fail completely.

Something else causes forward and back buttons to fail.

VMware and Lenovo need to get together and fix these issues.

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TracyHuang
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Thank you very much for reporting the compatibility issue. Would you please provide more details so that we can get more information? e.g. the Lenovo model/realtek audio driver; The host/guest OS version; VMware.log.

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Asharam
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Lenovo T450s.

What do you want from the log?  It's over 3,000 lines long.

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Asharam
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

This still doesn't work.  Along with many other things.

Is VMware Workstation 12 Pro a lemon?

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Asharam
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

VMware Workstation Pro 12 IS a LEMON.  I loaded the same virtual machine in the FREE version of VMware Workstation 12 Player, and the forward and back buttons on the mouse work.

What changed on the host?

NOTHING.

VMware Workstation Pro 12 is defective. 

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Asharam
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Is VMware's official response that VMware Workstation Pro 12 is not compatible with some Lenovo laptops with external Logitech mice?

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Asharam
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I had hopes when I installed the latest 12.1.1 update.  But forward and back buttons on an external mouse still do not work.  Here's waiting for the NEXT update.

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Asharam
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

This issue is RESOLVED.

I installed the latest release - 12.1.1 build 3770994.

Verified the line in the VMX file read as follows:

usb.generic.allowHID = "FALSE"

Removed these 2 lines from the VMX file:

mouse.vusb.enable = "TRUE"

mouse.vusb.useBasicMouse = "FALSE"

Then reinstalled the USB controller for the VM guest.

I hope this helps anyone else with this issue.

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Asharam
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Spoke too soon.

It only works when connected to the host via Remote Desktop from another computer.  Since this works and the touchpad works, the problem seems to be with the USB connected mouse.  But this configuration DOES work with VMware Player 12. 

Some help from VMware would be great.

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Asharam
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

When will this problem be fixed?

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Susie201110141
VMware Employee
VMware Employee

Could you try to upgrade to WS 12.5 and check whether this issue is still existing?

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Asharam
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I did that a few days ago.  Same problem.

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Hergiswiler
Contributor
Contributor

Same Problem here, no back/forward button in guest

VMware Workstation Pro 12.5.1 build-4542065

Lenovo T540P Notebook

Logitech Mouse M705

Win 8.1 Host

Ubuntu 16.04 Guest

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Jimbo_80
Contributor
Contributor

Same problem

I have Logitech mouse.

With Workstation 12.5 was working fine

But i've made update to 12.5.2 and it's not working anymore.

So i think it's Workstation Problem not Mouse drivers.

Adding in VMX those three lines didn't help.

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Hergiswiler
Contributor
Contributor

[SOLVED]

Close VMware, add these lines to .vmx and re-start your VMwar

usb.generic.allowHID = "TRUE"
mouse.vusb.enable = "TRUE"
mouse.vusb.useBasicMouse = "FALSE"

Jimbo_80
Contributor
Contributor

No, still don't work.

like i've said i've alredy tried this.

After edditing .vmx - Shows me in Library that .vmx is corrupted. And i can't start VM again.

I've tried this with guest suspendet, and powered Off. also with new start of host.

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Asharam
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I installed the latest update 12.5.2 build-4638234.

This problem is still not solved.

More users are experiencing the same issue.

When will this be fixed?

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Asharam
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Recap:

Forward and back mouse buttons work when connected to the computer via Remote Desktop.

Forward and back mouse buttons work when an external mouse is not connected.  Tried generic mouse, Logitech, and Microsoft.  Same result.  Same problem.

Forward and back mouse buttons work with Vmware Player 12, but the VMX file configuration shows:

usb.present = "FALSE"

And no other USB devices work with Vmware Player 12.  But the forward and back mouse buttons work.

This is a problem with Vmware software and this hardware.  It won't be resolved until Vmware steps up and fixes it.

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ErikDe
Contributor
Contributor

Sorry, this problem cannot be solved adding the three lines that Hergiswiler suggested, I am currently having the same problem on different systems, and I wish VMWare would provide a solution to this. For me, both VMWare workstation and Player 12.5 are affected.

Any additional suggestions how to really fix this?

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