Unable to delete hgfs.dat in TS Roaming Profile

Issue:

When using Terminal or Citrix Servers in ESX Server as a Virtual Machine you may receive the follow error message when a user with a TS Roaming Profile logs off.

 

Windows cannot copy file C:\Documents and Settings\userid\Application Data\VMware\hgfs.dat to \\servername\sharename\userid\Application Data\VMware\hgfs.dat

 

Windows cannot update your roaming profile. Reason: The process cannot access the file because the file is being used by another process.

 

Cause:

The VMWare Share Folders option was installed as part of VMWare Tools.  VMWare Shared Folders allows files to be shared between the virtual machine and the HOST computer (e.g. ESX Server).  This feature is not support on ESX and GSX servers, but is supported on VMWare Workstation.

 

The VMWare Shared Folders option is installed as part of the “Complete” installation of VMWare Tools, but not as part of the “Typical” installation.

 

Solution:

Method 1

This method will uninstall VMware Share Folders from the system.

1)      On the affected VMs go to add remove programs

2)      Select VMware Tools

3)      Click Change

4)      Change Shared Folders to “this feature will not be available”

5)      Click Next

6)      Click Modify

7)      Click Finish

8)      Click Yes to restart the computer.

 

Method 2

This method disables the VMware Share Folders on the system, it does not uninstall it.

1)      On the affect VMs open Regedit

2)      Browse to the following location

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\NetworkProvider\Order\

3)      Click the ProviderOrder value name

4)      Remove the hgfs value from the list.

5)      Click OK

6)      Restart the computer for the change to take affect.