VMware Player - Share Partitions Between Host and Guest

[whs]

ByLine

How to Share Partitions Between Host and Guest in VMware Player

Synopsis

This tutorial shows you how to share partitions between a VMware Player host OS and a guest OS.

How to Share Partitions Between Host and Guest in VMware Player​

   Information

The original idea for this tutorial came from Horace (Hopachi). I only made the pictures, added some text and put it all together. Credits should go to Hopachi.

This tutorial shows you how to share partitions between a VMware Player host OS and a guest OS. This may be useful when you want to share e.g. a Data Partition. The methods shown below have been tested with Windows and Linux as guest Operating Systems.

Be aware that a shared partition is unavailable for the host OS when the guest OS is active. But as soon as you shut the guest OS down, the partition reverts to the host OS.

I would not recommend to share a whole disk drive (in #9) - especially not when that drive contains your host OS. When the guest OS is active, your host OS would not function.

I am showing two methods to accomplish the sharing. Just follow the numbers in the pictures after you have started your VMware Player. The last section shows how to unshare a shared partition.

Method 1

















Note: 1. Step 3 is not really required. I added it for clarity. It can be omitted.

2. If you click NO to the UAC prompt, it will not allow us to use the advanced option from step 6


Method 2













Unshare

To revoke the sharing is quite simple. Follow the numbers in the pictures and when you are done with #5, play your virtual machine. The shared partition should no more show up. It should show in the host system.

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Install Windows 8 on VMware Player
• How to Expand a Virtual Hard Disk of a Virtual Machine in VMware Player
• How to Create a Portable OS on an External Drive

 

[Hopachi]

Great work!

Should be easy to follow by anyone.

Thank you very much Wolfgang and Shawn.

 

[bassfisher6522]

Do you have tutorial on how to set up a VM using VMplayer? I've never messed with a VM in my life.

 

[Hopachi]

Hi bassfisher,

The one intended for a Win8 VM Setup should be what you need first:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2899-vmware-player-install-windows-8-a.html?ltr=V

The same steps apply to any other OS as well.
Just select the desired OS type when you create the VM.

Cheers
Hopachi

 

[bassfisher6522]

Hi bassfisher,

The one intended for a Win8 VM Setup should be what you need first:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2899-vmware-player-install-windows-8-a.html?ltr=V

The same steps apply to any other OS as well.
Just select the desired OS type when you create the VM.

Cheers
Hopachi

Thanks Hopachi....that's exactly what I was looking for.....

 

[whs]

Hi bassfisher,

The one intended for a Win8 VM Setup should be what you need first:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2899-vmware-player-install-windows-8-a.html?ltr=V

The same steps apply to any other OS as well.
Just select the desired OS type when you create the VM.

Cheers
Hopachi

Thanks Hopachi....that's exactly what I was looking for.....

It was linked at the end of the tutorial. He who reads shall find, LOL.

 

[Hopachi]

Good notice. Links to related tutorials are found under the text. :thumb:

Thanks Hopachi....that's exactly what I was looking for.....

Anytime.