VMWare: not seeing USB devices

[javajunkie]

Hi,
> On FC6 on a Dell laptop I have VMWare server installed, and it runs a
> Windows XP Home Edition VM.

Same here.

Same problem I thought after reading your post but then read more
carefully...

>  Although USB devices (printers, memory
> sticks) work fine in FC6, the VM cannot see them. When I look in
> Removable Media -> USB in VMWare, there is nothing there. I tried with
> my printer, my memory stick, and my Dell Axim x50v. lsusb does in fact
> show the devices.
> 
> Note that all these devices work fine in VMWare on a neighboring
> Kubuntu desktop, with one caveat: a USB device is seen only after an
> additional USB device is connected, and only the first device shows.
> That means that if I want to use my USB printer, I must turn on the
> printer, then inset my memory stick. Only then does VM see the printer
> (and it still doesn't see the memory stick). So I know that VMWare has
> problems with USB, but at least it works on the kubuntu desktop.
 
Ok my fc6 works similarly.  When I give the vm focus and plug in two usb
devices, one will show after I click a warning box (from fc6 I think)
saying the device is in use and will be disconnected before continuing.

I was able to see an sd card from my camera which is all I tried.

Do you have VM  --> settings -->usb controller -->mount new device when
in focus checked (paraphrased that last part)?

Shawn