Windows cannot access \\vmware-host\shared folders\desktop

[jhollin]

I seem to have successfully moved the virtual machine to a shared folder and given this folder and all the package contents of my windows 7 virtual machine read and write permissions. Windows 7 will start-up in my other user accounts, however I get the message: Windows cannot access
vmware-host\shared folders\desktop. As it turns out, none of the folders in this folder (
vmware-host)(Z:) are accessible. Any suggestions?

[Rehan1801]

To fix the issue please follow the steps

• Open the Registry Editor:
  • Windows XP: Go to Start > Run, type regedit, and click OK.
  • Windows Vista/7: Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Run, type regedit, and click OK.
  • Window 8: Keep the Windows Key pressed on the keyboard and then press R key to open Run prompt. Type regedit, and click OK
    
    
• Note: This procedure modifies the Windows registry. Before making any registry modifications, ensure that you have a current and valid backup of the registry and the virtual machine.
• Navigate to these two locations:
  
  
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders


• Make sure that you see these values (among others). Update these entries, if they have a different data value:
  
  Windows XP / Server 2003
  

  Name	Data value
  Desktop	%USERPROFILE%\Desktop
  My Music	%USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Music
  My Pictures	%USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Pictures
  Personal	%USERPROFILE%\My Documents

  
  
  Windows Vista / 7 / Server 2008 / 8
  

  Name	Data value
  Desktop	%USERPROFILE%\Desktop
  My Music	%USERPROFILE%\Music
  My Pictures	%USERPROFILE%\Pictures
  Personal	%USERPROFILE%\Documents

Reference  Vmware KB article  -->    http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1017886

[NetoRodrigues]

I got a fix this problem, first you need upgrade your Fusion to version 6 and access your windows 8 with local administrator and install VmWare Tools, after that your windows will be restart two times and your shortcut see again and work without problem.

[ofg007]

Indeed, this fixed this problem. Thanks Nito.

The detailed steps are as follows:

Resolving VMware-Host not found Error - Mac VMWare Fusion 6

Probable Cause: VMware Tools might be out of date.

Step 1: Uninstall the current version of VMware Tools

(http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=101452...)

  Instruction:

• Click Start > Control Panel.
• Click Programs and Features.
• From the list of installed software, select VMware Tools.
• Click Uninstall.
• When prompted, click Yes to restart Windows.

Step 2: Reinstall the newer version of VMWare Tools:

(http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&docTypeID=DT_KB_1_1&e...)

• Start the virtual machine. Wait until the Operating System has loaded, and you're logged in and looking at your desktop.
• From the menu bar, go to Virtual Machine > Install VMware Tools.
• Click Next to progress through the installation.
• Select Complete, unless you need to exclude certain features of Tools, and click Next.
• Click Install.
• When the installation finishes, click Yes to restart your virtual machine.

[chcsep]

These instructions more or less worked in VMware 7. The settings are now through the "Virtual Machine" menu, and I needed to add the user file (Macintosh HD > [username]) for the new host computer/user, then I needed to deselect the shared folders, re-log-in, reselect the shared folders, re-log-in. YMMV.

[Rhongomiant]

This solution worked for me with VMware Fusion 7.1.2 (2779224), Mac OS X 10.10.3 with VMs running Windows 8.1 Pro (Build 9600) and Windows 10 Pro (Insider Preview Evaluation Copy Build 1013).

I appreciate you taking the time to post this solution!

[alexandrive]

I had the following problem:

I installed a fresh version of VM Fusion 7

I installed a fresh Windows Server 2008 VM.

I could not access the shared folders of VM Hose (I shared user folder and documents folder), however, I could access the VM Windows server shared folders from my VM host Network.

Solution: Go to VM Fusion menu, go to Virtual Machine, Go to Install VMWare Tools. It solved the issue for me.

Now I can access the vmhost shared files.

I think you may have similar problem.

Good Luck!

[chcsep]

This solution works for me with VMware 6 and Win7 (unchecking shared folders, logging off, logging in, rechecking shared folders, logging off, logging on). Thanks Cardinale

[MahaloMarlin]

That worked great, no trouble at all. Thank you!

[admin]

VM Tools uninstall/reinstall to solve this issue.

[cdlanteigne]

Rehan1801,

I made those changes to the registry that you provided, logged out, and it fixed my problem.

But then: VMware popped up with a new message, requiring me to log out so its changes could take effect.

The New Message is: 'VMware Tools has modified settings to enable sharing data with the host. You must log off to apply these settings. Press OK to log off now.  Press Cancel to log off later.'

Having logged back in, I had the same message: 'Re: Windows cannot access \\vmware-host\shared folders\desktop'

HOW DO I MAKE VMware NOT REVERT TO ITS OLD SETTINGS?

[ATT1]

FWIW, I resolved my "cannot access \\vmware-host\shared folders" problem for two Windows 10 VMs running under Fusion 8.5.3. Nothing short of a full uninstall / reinstall of VMware tools did the trick.

1. In the VM's Sharing settings, delete any shared and mirrored folders. Disable shared folders.

2. reboot

3. Start a reinstall of VMware tools, and remove it.

4. reboot

5. Install VMware tools

6. reboot

7. Enable shared folders and choose the folders to share.

8. reboot

9. Verify access to the folders.

[Armigo-vj]

Thanks Chris.

This just got me sorted today!

With that error message, there was basically nothing I could ever do. Even just merely editing a document in Microsoft word was impossible