[m021478]

I have recently started using VMware Fusion 2.0 as my Virtual Machine application of choice, having previously used Parallels Desktop. I wanted to know how I can go about transferring (i.e. copying) my Windows XP Virtual Machine (that I've setup and installed all my apps on) from my MacPro computer to my MacBook computer...so that I don't have to go through the arduous process of reinstalling every single program all over again?

When I was using Parallels Desktop, it was a simple as copying the Virtual Machine between computers, and then changing a couple small configuration options for the VM (such as RAM used, Default CD Drive, etc...) before actually running the VM on the other computer.

It seems that the process isn't quite as simple when I've tried transferring my VMware Fusion VM, as attempting to do so and then making a couple small settings adjustments to the VM, and then launching the VM results in my computer slowing to a crawl, and the VM also gives me a notice that a considerable amount of hardware has changed on my VM's platform and that I will have to re-authenticate the Windows XP OS within three days to be able to continue using it.

Unfortunately I don't even have the ability to do so because it never actually gets to the point where the icons show up on my desktop of the Windows VM and I can actually use it - rather, it remains such on a blank screen showing nothing other than the default windows wallpaper, at which point my computer (the whole computer, not just the VM) slows to a crawl and I have to force shutdown by holding down the power button for a couple seconds??

Anyone have any idea how to properly go about copying my VM between my laptop and desktop machines so that I don't run into these problems? Thanks!

[Art Vandelay]

Copying the VM has worked for me. It's no different than Parallels in that regard.

[Atheist]

Don't have an answer for you unfortunately. I took a VMware VM created in an XP environment and copied to my Leopard environment with Fusion 2.0 with no problems at all. The first time it booted it told me about hardware changes. If I remember correctly I just hit cancel on all the prompts, uninstalled VMware Tools. Reinstalled the tools and everything was fine.

[m021478]

OK, I am not really sure, but I got it working...I just restarted the VM, and it didn't lock up this time. That's good news, but I have run into a bit of a snag that maybe someone might be able to help out with...

Every time I try to click on the 'My Documents' folder which is on the desktop of my VM it gives me the following error message:


I do have the VM Settings configured to "Share Folders On My Mac", and I have all of the "Mirrored Folders" checkboxes checked. I tried repairing the installation of VM Tools, which says that it should fix any erroneous links and whatnot, but I am still unable to resolve this issue?

Any thoughts on how I can go about fixing this problem so that when I open the my documents folder on my desktop it opens up to show me the contents of the "Documents" folder in my Mac's 'Home' folder?

Thanks!

[angelmb]

Originally Posted by m021478 

… I do have the VM Settings configured to "Share Folders On My Mac" …

Are your OS X user's name the same on the Mac Pro and the MacBook?

[m021478]

Are your OS X user's name the same on the Mac Pro and the MacBook?

No...they are not...I realize that the problem wouldn't be happening if they were the same, but when I used parallels I could transfer the VM between the two computer regardless of the fact that the username (i.e. home folder name) was not the same thing...I am convinced that this should and most likely is possible with VMware Fusion 2.0 as well...

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

[Art Vandelay]

You need to reset the shared folder settings.

[m021478]

How exactly do I "reset" these settings...I've tried disabling Shared Folders completely, I've tried disabling just the "Documents" folder share; I've even tried uninstalling and reinstalling VMTools...nothing has worked!!

Please tell me that there is a simple "Reset Shared Folders" button somewhere that will fix all my problem??

[angelmb]

So, what happens if you erase your shared folder from the Shared Folder list (Settings section) to then add the given folder you want to share on your MacBook?, I guess that given user names are not the same, shared folders could be linked wrong… Anyhow, I have done the same thing with a Mac Pro and a MacBook Pro and VMware is unusable. I guess I have to install XP there from scratch… ugh !!

[m021478]

Originally Posted by angelmb 

So, what happens if you erase your shared folder from the Shared Folder list (Settings section) to then add the given folder you want to share on your MacBook?

I am not having a problem with items I've manually entered into the 'add shared folder' field ...My problem is that I've setup VMware to 'Mirror' the Documents, Music, Photos, and Desktop folders between my Mac and my VM, and even though this appears to be working as for at the least the mirrored 'Desktop' folder (because items that do exist on my Mac's desktop do appear on the desktop of the VM), it doesn't appear to be working as far as the Documents Mirrored folder (in which the Documents folder in my Mac's Home Folder should show me the same content as the "My Documents" folder on my VM's desktop...

My problem, as I stated before, is I can't even open the My Documents folder on the VM desktop without getting the error message shown in the screen shot above...

Any thoughts?