How to Enable/connect HID (Human Interface Device) Devices in VMware Fusion/Play...

Willson 9:29 am on September 27, 2012 | Answers: 1    
Tags: device (5), hid, human, interface, vmware (13)

• smallwei 9:29 am on September 27, 2012
  

  VMWare blocks HID devices (by design according to their website) however if you need to get around that, like I did to enable a USB Barcode Scanner on my VMWare Fusion virtual machine, here’s what to do. Directions are for VMWare Fusion, however should apply to Workstation, etc. as well.

  1. Make sure Guest VM is powered down, go into settings for Host VM you want to enable and make sure that under USB–>Automatically Connect at Power On is DISABLED.

  2. Browse to the .vmwarevm file of the guest VM , right click and choose Show Package Contents (similar to unzipping archive) and find the .vmx file. * This will just be the .vmx file in your vm’s virtual hard drive directory for Workstation (Windows) version.

  3. Right click the .vmx file and choose Open With –> Notepad. Add the following anywhere in the file

  usb.generic.allowHID = "TRUE"

  4. Save the .vmx file and close it, then connect your HID device (barcode scanner) so that it is recognized in your OS (Windows or OSX), and boot up your Guest VM.

  5. Once the Guest VM is booted and logged in, in the bottom of the vm’s window there should be several USB icons to connect, hover over the one for the barcode scanner, then click Connect Symbol Barcode Scanner (or device name you want). Once connected open Device Manager and you should see the new device as USB Human Interface Device.