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The following sections will help you diagnose and correct problems you may encounter when using peripherals.

• Keyboard Issues
  • After I release the mouse from the Workstation application, the host computer's keyboard does not function properly.
  • Does Workstation provide international keyboard support on a Linux host?
  • Some keys on Japanese keyboards are not working within my virtual machines.
• Mouse Issues
  • What mouse types does Workstation support?
  • My Intellimouse is not recognized in a Linux guest operating system using XFree86 4.x.
  • My mouse works fine in window mode but jumps around in full screen VGA mode.
  • The mouse is sometimes unusable when I am using parallel ports in a virtual machine.
  • The mouse does not work inside the virtual machine window when an always-on-top window generated by my Windows NT host operating system obscures the virtual machine window.
  • I get a DirectInput error on my Windows host when I try to power on my virtual machine.
• Parallel and Serial Port Issues
  • How does the guest operating system handle serial (COM) and parallel port (LPT) devices?
  • I cannot use my serial port(s) in my Windows .NET Server, Windows XP or Windows 2000 guest operating system. Device Manager shows six COM ports with exclamation points next to them.
  • In my Windows 98 guest operating system, I used Device Manager to remove the serial ports COM5 and COM6. When I restarted the virtual machine, the guest operating system failed with a blue screen.
  • When I try to undock the Windows laptop computer on which I am running Workstation, I get an error message that says a program is still accessing the parallel port.
  • When I start VMware Workstation, I see an error: Unknown serial type tty.
• Modem and Printer Issues
  • Can I access Winmodems and Winprinters from within a virtual machine on a Linux host?
• DVD/CD-ROM Issues
  • I cannot find a driver to use with a DOS virtual machine's DVD/CD-ROM drive.
  • The DOS CD-ROM driver crashes the virtual machine or the DVD/CD-ROM is inaccessible.
  • I have an application installation set that spans multiple CDs. When the installer needs the second CD, the virtual machine does not recognize the new disc. If I view the contents of the CD, it continues to show the folders and files from the first CD.
  • Can I write to CD-R or CD-RW media using a VMware Workstation virtual machine?
  • I cannot watch DVD movies in a virtual machine, but I can use my DVD-ROM drive to read CD-ROM and DVD-ROM discs.
  • I cannot read CD-R, CD-RW, multisession CD or DVD data discs in a virtual machine.
  • I have problems playing audio CDs in a virtual machine.
  • I have autorun enabled on my Windows host and sometimes see undesirable interactions between the host and the virtual machine.
  • I see intermittent hanging in virtual machines running on my Linux host that seems to be related to CD-ROM drives.
  • On my Linux host, the CD-ROM drive drawer closes automatically when I don't expect it to close.
• Issues with Other External Devices
  • I cannot use a specific USB device in my virtual machine. The guest operating system locks up, I see an error message, or there is some other failure when I plug it in. Other USB devices work fine in the virtual machine.
  • Floppy performance in a virtual machine on my Windows host is sometimes slow.
  • What support is provided for PC Card (PCMCIA) devices?
  • My EIDE ATAPI Iomega Zip drive does not work in a virtual machine.
  • My EIDE ATAPI Iomega Zip drive runs in compatibility mode on my dual-boot Windows 95 or Windows 98 computer.
  • My Imation SuperDisk LS120 floppy disk drive does not work in a virtual machine.