Now, when I connect the standard USB flash drive (that worked fine before), it appears to the host OS like it's the license key stick and the same problem occurs (VMware can't connect it to the VM). I used another computer to move the license from the license key stick to a standard USB flash drive, which went fine. A standard USB flash drive connects and disconnects just fine. I get the bubble in the native OS saying that it's safe to remove (just like when I connect a regular USB flash drive to the VM) but the device never appears in the VM and never shows as 'connected'. VMware sees the USB License key in the native OS and tries to connect it to the VM, but it won't go. The Simatic Manager (v5.5, SP1) software installed flawlessly, but I can't seem to get the License transferred. I'm not finished testing it, but we need a good Siemens install more than another good AB install, so I made another copy of the original, clean VM. On one copy of the VM, I have successfully installed RSLogix/RSLinx and have done some preliminary testing getting online through Ethernet/IP and our 1784-U2DHP adapter. I'm using VMware Player v3.1.4 build-385536. I've created a clean VMware VM running a clean XP Pro SP3 install. It has Win XP Pro SP3 (with a bunch of corporate IT junk) as its native OS. Alright, I'm setting up a new laptop for our maintenance guys (Panasonic Toughbook).

Siemens automation license manager