Unable to mount client CD/DVD drive to VM via VMware Remote Console

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Mounting client CD/DVD device to VM using VMRC (VMware Remote Console) fails with following error.

Failed to connect remote device:
Could not open the client device "<Your Device>". Check that the device exists and that it is not being used by another program.

%TEMP%\vmware-<username>\vmware-vmrc-##.log shows following error.

<timestamp> In(05) vmrc SGWIN:  Could not get device number for 'D:': Failed to open file using authd (c).
<timestamp> In(05) vmrc CDROM:  Failed to process 'D:' : Failed to open file using authd (c)
<timestamp> Wa(03) vmrc REM-CD:  failed to open 'D:' : 0
<timestamp> Wa(03) vmrc Unable to open remoteDevice
<timestamp> In(05) vmrc DlgUI: Failed to connect remote device:
<timestamp> In(05)+ vmrc Could not open the client device "D:". Check that the device exists and that it is not being used by another program.

Client machine is connected via RDP.

 

Resolution

There are two options for a workaround.

Option 1:

Run VMRC with administrator privilege.
e.g.) Write click vmrc.exe > properties > Compatibility > Check 'Run this program as an administrator'

Option 2:

Operate the client machine directly (not via remote desktop).