Can't access Mac local files all of a sudden

[mvgossman]

I'm running Windows 10 on VMWare Fusion 12.2.3 on a MacBook Pro Moneterey 12.3, and suddenly, without any software upgrades, am unable to access files on the Mac via Windows. Dialog popup says "VMWare Share Folders: The network is not present or not started".

I've researched as much as I can, and some references say VMWare Tools need to be installed, but I didn't do anything to start this, and under "Virtual Machine" menu it says, greyed out, "Cancel VMWare Tools Installation". Other references say VMWare Tools is not required for Fusion 12 at all anyway.

I'm a frequent use of this to run Windows for some applications that stubbornly don't exist for the Mac, and haven't encountered this problems, solution sought!

[wila]

Hi,

For a VM to work... VMware Tools is not required.

For you to be able to use specific features such as:

- 3D graphics acceleration
- shared folders
- copy & paste integration
- unity
- easy navigation in/out of the VM using the mouse
- automatic screen resolution switches

you DO need to have VMware Tools installed.

So YES, for shared folders it is required.

If the menu says "Cancel VMware Tools installation" then it is probably stuck in an installation step.
Not sure how-to troubleshoot. I would first try & see if it helps to shut down the VM.

If that doesn't help then I would manually install VMware Tools. That requires you to search for the "windows.iso" file in the VMware Program Files directory then attach that as a cdrom to the VM and run the installer from there.

good luck!
--
Wil