Couple Virtual Machine Questions

The host OS is Windows 7 HOME edition, 64 bit, and I have VMWare Workstation 12 Player installed running Win XP as the virtual machine.

I am not having success getting my network printer to connect to the virtual machine. It is a HP 8600. Printer setup on the XP machine asks for an IP address for the printer but (as far as I can tell) there is none.

I also would like to know if I can get the host OS to detect the contents of the virtual OS, and vice versa. Win 7 HOME apparently does not have network support, I think?

 

What network connection type are you using for the VM? I use bridged, that way the VM gets it's own IP. The printer does have an IP, but sometimes the setup software uses a name instead. So if you download the software in the VM and run it, it will look for the printer... on a bridged network it will find it, NAT/host I am not sure.
In workstation you need to add a shared folder (under options), that is how you can transfer files back and forth. It will show up in network drives.

 

In Win 7 run ipconfig /all. Provided the printer is online it will be listed and its IP address given, though it may change from session to session unless you adopt a fixed addressing scheme (advisable). As for files, you can make selected Win 7 folders available to the VM using the Folder Sharing option in the VM settings.

 

Foogoo/Earthling,

Thanks, but I am no networker so I'll need you to walk me thru what I should do. Here is a screenshot of "ipconfig /all in Win 7:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/speedo1952/Joes%20Photos/Untitled.jpg

 

That will not find your printer. Like I said check these settings:
Once your VM is on the network, the software/drivers from the manufacture should find it and add it, just like it installed on your real PC.
Sharing:

 

Foogoo is right, ipconfig won't show the printer IP address until it is already connected. My bad.

 

OK. The adapter was NOT bridged before, but it is NOW. The printer still doesn't connect, so I uninstalled it. "Printer" still appears in the VM hardware dialog box (the one you show in your last post) even though there are no printers installed. I try to delete it but it says: "This device cannot be removed until the virtual machine is powered off." Strange, but the printer does NOT show in control panel/printers and faxes.

Should I reinstall it using XP drivers or Windows 7 drivers. I have the HP CD, or I can go to the web for the driver and utility program. Is there anything else I have to do?

I had this virtual machine installed a few years ago, but uninstalled it because of slowness issues. Since I installed the 64 bit latest version yesterday, it runs perfectly, and fast. I also installed the VMWare "Tools". I still cannot see the host computer's files, nor can I see the VM files on the host when the VM is running. As I did before, I also did now: I have both "C" drives shared in both XP and Win 7. I also have both "D" drives shared in both. Do I have to do anything else? Do I have to setup a network.........................don't forget, Windows 7 HOME has no home network capability. Do I have to set up a network on the VM?

 

With the VM running click Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings > Options tab > Shared folders and check Always Enabled. Then click Add and you can add the Win 7 folders you want available to XP. Normally these would be user folders rather than system folders, and it's likely it won't even allow system folders. Why would you want them open in XP? Very serious security risk. Anyway, each shared folder will be given a drive letter in XP and you can read and write it. AFAIK there is no comparable facility for Win 7 to directly access XP's folders but with Shared Folders why would you need it?

I can't advise on the wireless network printer setup as I still use a USB printer attached to the Win 7 host. There is no problem using that from XP.

Can't understand why you keep saying Win 7 Home has no home networking capability as it has a complete networking facility, but it isn't relevant here I don't think.

 

Yes you would need the drivers for XP to install the printer in XP.

 

I don't see the shared Win 7 folders in virtual XP. Where should I look for them: "my computer" or "my network places"? They don't seem to be in either .

 

Hi Joe, hopefully this will show how -

 

Thanks foogoo......printer installed perfectly using XP drivers in the virtual machine

Now back to solving the shared folder situation...........

 

When you installed XP in the VM, did you install the VMWare tools? It helps to do that.
https://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/m...nguage=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1018377
Might be why you're having share issues.

 

Earthling.
Thanks.....I didn't have network drives mapped
I see them now in "my computer" as Z drive with a folder for "Windows 7" and "Windows 7 Data"

 

Yes, I did.