VMware 15.1.0 copy/paste issue.

I am running 15.1.0 on a 1903 host with guest of 1903 too.

This used to work for me in 1809 I am not sure when it stopped but here is a list of things I tried to fix it.

1) repair VMware 15.1, uninstall and do the full install of 15.1
2) make sure the latest VMware tools are installed.
3) in setting Shared folders I enabled that option and pointed to mt C;\ drive download folder (that is where I move from host to guest.
4)run VMware in admin mode in properties (I already have admin rights in the host as I am the only user).

Googling this issue show it has been a widespread problem for yrs, I have tried all "fixes" I could, there was the one I think only works in workstation version, but I have the free player only.


I am hoping maybe someone else had a similar issue and found a fix.
Spent half a day trying many things.

Hi there

@EdKiefer

What Host are you using and what guest is running.

What application are you using on Host and Guest to cut and paste from / to. I'm also using VMWare workstation rel 15.1.

I find things like ksnapshot / kwrite / dolphin (on KDE plasma workspace -- equiv in ubuntu / gnome desktop would be any screen capture / edit program / file browser) and general applications like the GIMP have no problems when being pasted into typical Windows applications -- I'm running CENTOS 7.5 with KDE plasma workspace as a GUI on a spare HP envy laptop as a test server with various Windows VM's and can't say I've ever had problems cutting and pasting with VMWare between Guests and HOST for ages now -- back even further than release 12 !!!.



I don't bother with specific shared / public folders - I share all the Linux HDD's I need to via SAMBA and that works perfectly.

More info on your setup might help though to identify the problem

Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

Hi there

@EdKiefer

What Host are you using and what guest is running.

What application are you using on Host and Guest to cut and paste from / to. I'm also using VMWare workstation rel 15.1.

I find things like ksnapshot / kwrite / dolphin (on KDE plasma workspace -- equiv in ubuntu / gnome desktop would be any screen capture / edit program / file browser) and general applications like the GIMP have no problems when being pasted into typical Windows applications -- I'm running CENTOS 7.5 with KDE plasma workspace as a GUI on a spare HP envy laptop as a test server with various Windows VM's and can't say I've ever had problems cutting and pasting with VMWare between Guests and HOST for ages now -- back even further than release 12 !!!.



I don't bother with specific shared / public folders - I share all the Linux HDD's I need to via SAMBA and that works perfectly.

More info on your setup might help though to identify the problem

Cheers
jimbo

Hi, thanks for the reply, I am using win10 pro-1903 for host and win10 home 1903 for guests. I am not using any programs to copy/paste, just system to system (tried copy/paste from right-click context menu, also tried to drag an drop).
It copy/paste the field is grayed out on the guest VM and drag an drop shows a gray circle with a cross.

Also forgot to mention flash drive doesn't show up in MV guest but honestly I am not 100% this worked before.
I am using the free version of VMware player, latest version 12.1.0.46741.

I am just trying to move files from host to VM guest desktop, well any folder.

PS: I am a windows guy, I don't know Linux or any non windows OS

I do use O$O shutup win10 privacy app but I don't see anything that would hinder, or any windows services. I was working fine back in 1809 so its only last few weeks max. I have used VMware for yrs I think this only happened once and all that was is a reboot fixed it.

EdKiefer said:

Hi, thanks for the reply, I am using win10 pro-1903 for host and win10 home 1903 for guests. I am not using any programs to copy/paste, just system to system (tried copy/paste from right-click context menu, also tried to drag an drop).
It copy/paste the field is grayed out on the guest VM and drag an drop shows a gray circle with a cross.

Also forgot to mention flash drive doesn't show up in MV guest but honestly I am not 100% this worked before.
I am using the free version of VMware player, latest version 12.1.0.46741.

I am just trying to move files from host to VM guest desktop, well any folder.

PS: I am a windows guy, I don't know Linux or any non windows OS

I do use O$O shutup win10 privacy app but I don't see anything that would hinder, or any windows services. I was working fine back in 1809 so its only last few weeks max. I have used VMware for yrs I think this only happened once and all that was is a reboot fixed it.

Hi there

@EdKiefer

why not simply use basic Windows file sharing then the VM is simply another machine and you can suse things like file explorer to copy files between the machines -- ensure the Windows VM is "Network visible" -- Bridged Networking" in the VMWare settings rather than NAT and ensure all relevant HDD's / directories are shareable on all the windows systems.

On the VM windows machine though ensure SMB1 is enabled via Windows features --in the Windows control panel -- and it's also better to have SMB1 enabled in the HOST as well (again via control panel -->turn windows features on or off).

After 1809 SMB1 is disabled by default. This often causes problems on home networks.


Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

Hi there

@EdKiefer

why not simply use basic Windows file sharing then the VM is simply another machine and you can suse things like file explorer to copy files between the machines -- ensure the Windows VM is "Network visible" -- Bridged Networking" in the VMWare settings rather than NAT and ensure all relevant HDD's / directories are shareable on all the windows systems.

On the VM windows machine though ensure SMB1 is enabled via Windows features --in the Windows control panel -- and it's also better to have SMB1 enabled in the HOST as well (again via control panel -->turn windows features on or off).

After 1809 SMB1 is disabled by default. This often causes problems on home networks.


Cheers
jimbo

Thank you, all I had to do was change the VM setting from NAT to Bridged Networking and my shared DL folder was available under networking in quick view. I didn't have to mess with SMB1 (I know I have it disabled on host, not sure on VM).
Edit: VM had all SMB1 options enabled, so that's fine with me, all works and this is actually a better way.

I understand that you have the share working, but as for the copy / paste, could you just verify one more setting?

Open settings (in VMware, not Windows) for the Virtual machine in question. Select the Options Tab, then Guest Isolation. Turn on both "Enable drag and drop" as well as "Enable copy and paste".

hsehestedt said:

I understand that you have the share working, but as for the copy / paste, could you just verify one more setting?

Open settings (in VMware, not Windows) for the Virtual machine in question. Select the Options Tab, then Guest Isolation. Turn on both "Enable drag and drop" as well as "Enable copy and paste".

VMware free player version doesn't have that setting or at least I could never find it. I think that is only for the workstation version.

Sorry about that. You are correct - I was looking at Workstation and just assumed that setting would be available in Player as well.

I found another person having the same difficulty and in response someone noted that setting the previously mentioned options in Workstation makes the following entries to the .VMX file for a VM. They suggested trying these settings to see if they affect Player. The person with the issue stated that these settings resolved the issue.

In your case, adding these lines, if not already present, to your VMX file. You want to set them all to "FALSE".

These options disable drag and drop:

isolation.tools.copy.disable = "TRUE"
isolation.tools.dnd.disable = "TRUE"
isolation.tools.paste.disable = "TRUE"

These enable it:

isolation.tools.copy.disable = "FALSE"
isolation.tools.dnd.disable = "FALSE"
isolation.tools.paste.disable = "FALSE"

hsehestedt said:

I found another person having the same difficulty and in response someone noted that setting the previously mentioned options in Workstation makes the following entries to the .VMX file for a VM. They suggested trying these settings to see if they affect Player. The person with the issue stated that these settings resolved the issue.

In your case, adding these lines, if not already present, to your VMX file. You want to set them all to "FALSE".

These options disable drag and drop:

isolation.tools.copy.disable = "TRUE"
isolation.tools.dnd.disable = "TRUE"
isolation.tools.paste.disable = "TRUE"

These enable it:

isolation.tools.copy.disable = "FALSE"
isolation.tools.dnd.disable = "FALSE"
isolation.tools.paste.disable = "FALSE"

Thanks ,This is how those lines look in my file now.

isolation.tools.copy.disable = "FALSE"
isolation.tools.dnd.disable = "FALSE"
isolation.tools.paste.disable = "FALSE"
isolation.tools.hgfs.disable = "FALSE" (had this one already).

Anyway, it didn't help.
thanks anyway.