Shared folders not working (Host OS: Win10 - GuestOS: Win10)

[user081500]

Hello,

I am currently testing VMware Workstation. I have built a VM from my Win10 system and would like to test how everything works running this Win10 as guest VM.
Now I have a big issue: I am trying to share some of my host systems drives for access from the VM. I have followed the instructions. As I understood, a network drive Z: should show up in the VM. Under this drive Z: I should see my shared folders or drives as folders. Unfortunately no drive Z: is showing up in my VM.
I've found some older posts suggesting to need the VMware tools for Shared Flders to work. But I've got another issue. When I open up the VM menu the menu entry "Install VMware tools..." is disabled. Bummer!
Anybody can help?

Best regards

[RDPetruska]

Is the VM running when you attempt to install the tools?  It must be, or the menu will be greyed out...

Also, is the guestOS setting indicating Windows 10?  If not, the wrong Tools installer may be loaded.

[user081500]

No, the VM is down, but the menu entry is greyed out nevertheless.

[RDPetruska]

Right - the VM must be powered on and logged in, in order to install the VMware Tools.

[user081500]

Oh! Okay... I'll try.

[user081500]

Didn't work. See attached screenshot. VM is up and running, I am logged in, but the menu entry is still greyed out. 

[RDPetruska]

So, back to my second question - does the VM believe it is Windows 10?  Edit settings->Options Tab->General... Guest OS.

You can always manually mount the Tools installation ISO file to the guest's CD-ROM drive.

[user081500]

Yes, it says Windows 10 x64.

[RDPetruska]

OK, so manually mount the ISO.  All the menu does is select the appropriate ISO image based on the setting for the guestOS, and mount it to the VM's CD-ROM drive.

With the VM running, right-click the CD-ROM icon in the bottom right status bar, select "Settings".  Then under Connection, select the radio button for "Use ISO image file".  Click the Browse button.  Select "C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Workstation\Windows.iso".  Close the settings.  Right-click the icon again and select "Connect".  Then click inside the VM and run the setup.exe from the optical drive.

[user081500]

The CD/DVD icon was missing, so I added the CD/DVD to my VM settings. I configured the iso image there, too. After that, I realized, tha the state of my VM has been set to suspended. When I now try to get it back running, there's an error message shwowing.  Screenshots are attached. This drives me nuts...

[user081500]

Addendum 1: The last sentence in teh error message says "The system can not find the specified file."

Addendum 2: removing the CD/DVD drive doesn't help. The VM doesn't start anymore...

[user081500]

Addendum 3: my whole system is behaving strangely right now. I think  I'll have to reboot, but I can't at the moment. I have to wait until another task is finished..

[RDPetruska]

Why in the world do you have so many network cards attached to the VM?

How did you create this VM?

[user081500]

Good question! I've created this machine using the VMware Converter. 

[user081500]

OK, now after rebooting my system the VM is up and runnuing, CD/DVD is connected and the menu entry is activated. After clicking "Install VMware Tools..." a message popped up saying, that if I do not see the Tools installing i should run manually D:\setup.exe.

(a) I don't see it installing. Since I never did this before, I am not sure where I am supposed to see it. I suppose it's a regular installation inside the VM's Windows system and there's nothing to see. Although the menu now says "Cancel VMware Tools Installation" which suggests, that it is being installed.

(b) I do not see a drive D:\ and no other drive that could be the connected CD/DVD.

OMG, how I hate being that douchebag asking dumb questions...

[RDPetruska]

Check disk management in the guest - since you just added the CD-ROM drive, it may not have a drive letter associated with it yet.

[user081500]

Good idea! But unfortunately it didn't help...