Can't take control of USB drive on VMware

Question

I’m running VMWare Workstation on Windows 7 x86-64, and a Mac OS X 10.8 install inside the VM. Whenever I try to connect my USB drive to the Mac OS X 10.8 guest, it just doesn't gets recognized. The USB drive works on the host, but not on guest. I’ve already tried restarting, changing ports and all but nothing works. Can I get help, please?

Solution

Hope this solves your problem

in the execute prompt type:

diskmgmt.msc

then, select the usb drive and change its letter to one not in use in the system. close the utility, and check if the drive now displays correctly. if not, unplug and re-plug it in.

NOTE: this answer is obsolete since new data reached me through the question owner. will update this answer when (if or not) the problem is solved.

Comments

[shea]

What is the USB formatted as?

[Délisson Junio]

@bungeshea NTFS. It won't even show up in the "Removable Devices" list.

[Délisson Junio]

@Znau the fact is, it won't even connect to the guest, so it isn't appearing even on disk utility. it's not showing up in the list of devices i can connect.

[Lorenzo Von Matterhorn]

@wingleader part 2 of my comment: are you sure you have ntfs support?

[Délisson Junio]

@Znau where, in OSX? Yep, i do, and even though, the device won't reach osx at all, because vmware won't connect it.

[Lorenzo Von Matterhorn]

have you tried to connect the same drive to another computer? does it work?

[Délisson Junio]

Yes. It works on the host too.

[Lorenzo Von Matterhorn]

@wingleader i'll add a possible answer below

[Délisson Junio]

Uh, am i supposed to do that on the host? Why? There's no letter conflict happening here ._.

[Lorenzo Von Matterhorn]

100% your problem matches drive letter issue symptoms. give it a try, no harm comes out of it.

[Délisson Junio]

Okay, i'l try it and report back in a few hours( or days >_< )

[Lorenzo Von Matterhorn]

if you dont want to be helped, dont post a question. your host is probably having drive letter assignment problems, caused to an already in use drive letter being attempted to be assigned to a new drive(your usb drive). if the drive isnt detected by the OS hosting the VM, the VM itself wont detect it.

[Lorenzo Von Matterhorn]

@wingleader "Dude" then please make it clear the USB IS recognized by the host system. i was totally confused by that fact, then assumed it wasn't recognized at all. please try this guide: ericwijaya.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/…

[Délisson Junio]

Sorry, i though i made it clear a lot of times, but now that i'm reading again, that's not really true T_T. I have an Intel USB 3.0 driver so i'l check it out. Really thanks.