I've been using VMware Workstation 7.x to build an ACE package for
distribution to multiple "DTW" laptops so that these laptop systems can
be used for analyzing/scanning documents as they are moved between
different networks. These DTW laptops are not connected to any network
and do not have any network drivers installed. Both the host OS and
guest OS are Windows XP Professional SP3 with no Windows updates applied
(remember - no network!).
I'm having consistent (repeatable) problems with 100% successful
recognition of removable USB mass storage (hereafter: "USB device")
within the guest OS on the DTW systems. After experimenting with
numerous configurations, I’ve discovered the following issues/patterns:
After installing the ACE package on the DTW system, all removable
USB devices are recognized until the system is rebooted.
If “autoplay” is disabled in either the host or guest OS, removable
USB devices are not recognized after rebooting.
If prior to packaging the ACE installation on the DTW, a removable
USB device was attached to the VM when the “reimage” snapshot was made –
whenever the package is played back on the DTW, a warning message is
displayed indicating that the USB device is no longer attached to the
system.
As long as the warning message is displayed, then all
removable USB devices are successfully recognized.
If the warning message is disabled (“Do not show this message
again”), then USB devices are still recognized until the system is
rebooted.
Thereafter, removable USB devices are no longer recognized
unless (at least) one device is attached to the system prior to starting
the VM.
Therefore, one USB device must always be attached to the DTW
in order that it (and other) USB mass storage devices are recognized.
If no removable USB device was attached to the VM when the “reimage”
snapshot was made, then the device may be initially recognized – but
all removable USB devices are not recognized after rebooting.
The "USB Arbitration Service" on the host OS correctly logs each
insertion/removal of a USB mass storage device - it is just that the
device is not recognized (mounted) within the guest OS ...
Thoughts? Solutions? (Thanks!)
This discussion is also cross-posted at: http://communities.vmware.com/message/1573614#1573614
