VMware Workstation: Sharing Files Between Windows 8 VM and Windows 7 Host

File Transfer Between Windows 8 VM and Windows 7 Host in VMware Workstation

When operating a Windows 8 virtual machine within VMware Workstation, the standard shared folders functionality may be unavailable due to the inability to install VMware Tools. This presents a challenge when attempting to move files between the virtual machine and the host Windows 7 system.

However, a workaround exists. A folder can be shared on the Windows 7 host machine and subsequently mapped as a network drive within the Windows 8 virtual environment. This approach mirrors the process detailed in guides on transferring files between a Windows 8 PC and a Windows 7 PC.

Configuring Network Settings in VMware Workstation

Begin by launching your Windows 8 virtual machine inside VMware Workstation. After logging into the Windows 8 environment, navigate to the Settings menu within the VM interface.

Important Note: Accessing menu items outside the virtual machine often requires pressing Ctrl + Alt to release the mouse cursor.

The Virtual Machine Settings dialog will appear. Within this dialog, select the Hardware tab, and then choose Network Adapter. Ensure that the NAT option is selected from the Network connection dropdown. Confirm your changes by clicking OK to close the dialog.

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From the Edit menu, select Virtual Network Editor.

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If prompted by the User Account Control dialog, click Yes to proceed.

Note: The appearance of this dialog is dependent on your current User Account Control settings and may not always be displayed.

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Configuring NAT Settings

Within the Virtual Network Editor dialog, select the NAT network connection from the list at the top. Verify that the Connect a host virtual adapter to this network checkbox is enabled. The name of your host virtual adapter will be displayed below this option.

Also, ensure that the Use local DHCP service to distribute IP address to VMs checkbox is selected.

Note: This adapter name corresponds to the connection shown when using the "ipconfig" command on your Windows 7 host to determine its IP address, as previously outlined in related documentation.

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To establish connectivity between the Windows 8 virtual machine and the Windows 7 host, you must share a folder on the host machine and then map it within the virtual machine. Detailed instructions for this process can be found in our guide on transferring files between a Windows 8 PC and a Windows 7 PC.