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Issues with CD-ROM or DVD-ROM Devices and Virtual Machines

This help document describes the following categories of issues:

Support for autorun on the host operating system

VMware GSX Server interacts poorly with host operating systems that have the autorun feature enabled for CD-ROM drives. When the autorun feature is enabled, a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM that is intended to run on a guest operating system within a virtual machine can instead run on the host operating system, or might start simultaneously on the host operating system and in the virtual machine's guest operating system.

When you install VMware GSX Server, you are prompted to allow the disabling of the autorun feature for CD-ROM drives connected to the host machine. VMware GSX Server warns you that autorun is enabled when it powers on, as well.

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Support for DVD

VMware GSX Server virtual machines can use DVD-ROM drives, but only as standard CD-ROM drives. Writing to DVD-ROM drives is not supported from within the virtual machine. However, these drives should remain fully usable by the host operating system.

Note: VMware GSX Server does not support DVD video at this time.

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Support for CD-R

VMware GSX Server virtual machines can use CD-R drives, but only as standard CD-ROM drives. Writing to CD-R drives is not supported from within the virtual machine. These drives should remain fully usable from the host operating system.

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Support for Audio CDs

Although you should be able to play audio CDs within a virtual machine, you might experience some glitches such as a CD that continues playing after the virtual machine has been powered off. Additionally, it has been reported that multisession CD-R drives, or enhanced audio CDs do not function correctly from all sessions, or perform badly if later sessions update earlier ones. If you attempt to access a multisession disc, you may see warnings in the log.

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Issues on DOS

Problems caused by the DOS ATAPI driver

When using CD-ROM drives from a virtual machine with a DOS guest operating system, you may experience anomalies such as an inaccessible CD-ROM drive or crashes in the virtual machine. These issues most likely stem from the DOS ATAPI driver you are using.

If you experience these problems:

  1. Save a log file (and, if generated, a core file) and the CD-ROM driver that failed. Submit a support request (http://www.vmware.com/requestsupport) and include these files so that VMware support can look into the issues.
  2. Try a different DOS ATAPI driver. Here are some suggestions to try:

To use a different DOS ATAPI driver, you need to add the following modification to the config.sys and autoexec.bat files on your boot floppy (along with the mscdex.exe file):

config.sys 

DEVICE=HIMEM.SYS
DOS=HIGH
FILES=30
rem install cd-rom driver
DEVICE=A:\MTMCDAI.SYS /D:VMware

Autoexec.bat 

@ECHO OFF
PROMPT $p$g
A:\MTM\MSCDEX.EXE /D:VMware /M:10

Switching CDs under DOS may not be recognized by the virtual machine
During installation, you are asked to place a different CD in the CD-ROM drive. Upon doing so, the guest operating system in the virtual machine keeps reading the contents of the previous CD from cache, rather than reading the contents of the new CD disk.

As a workaround, replace the first CD-ROM in the drive, then disconnect the CD-ROM drive from the virtual machine (Devices > /dev/cdrom > Disconnect). Reconnect the CD-ROM drive (Devices > /dev/cdrom > Connect) and wait for the virtual machine to read the drive.

Related topics:

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