From Windows 8's System screen, you can view or change the computer name and workgroup name

Filling the gap

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As you can imagine, a number of third-party solutions havernsprung up to fill the gap. For example, there are software products, such as USB Redirector, andrnhardware products like thernNetwork-attached USB hubs. However, when it comes to using Windows 8’s ClientrnHyper-V and a Windows XP virtual machine, you don’t have to resort to suchrnelaborate or expensive methods of making USB devices accessible to a virtualrnmachine.

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Instead, you can employ a little trick that uses the RemoternDesktop Connection tool to connect to a networked virtual machine running inrnClient Hyper-V. You can then use the features on the Local Resources tab of arnRemote Desktop Connection to redirect USB devices connected to the host machine,rnsuch as USB drives and USB printers, to the virtual machine. While on thernsurface this may sound like a quirky workaround, in actuality it brings with itrnhost of benefits besides the access to USB. For example, you get a full screenrndisplay, slightly better performance, and you can use the clipboard to copy andrnpaste data between the host and virtual machines.

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In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps you need tornperform in order to make your Windows XP virtual machine accessible throughrnRemote Desktop Connection. I’ll then show you how to configure and access USBrndevices connected to the Windows 8 host machine from within your Windows XPrnvirtual machine.

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Network configuration

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The first thing that you need to do in order to be able tornuse Remote Desktop Connection to access a virtual machine, is make sure thatrnboth the host machine and the virtual machine are configured to use the exactrnsame workgroup. Let’s take a closer look.

rnrnOn the Windows 8 hostrnmachine, press [Windows]+[Break] to bring up the System window shown in Figure B. If you haven’t specified arnworkgroup name or wish to change your computer name, you can click Changernsettings and use the Change button on the System Properties Computer Name tab.rnKeep in mind that you will be prompted to Restart the system if you change therncomputer name or the workgroup name. As you can see, on my example system, therncomputer name is Jovian-8 and the workgroup is SOLAR SYSTEM.

Launch Hyper-V Manager and access your Windows XP virtual machine

Next,rnlaunch Hyper-V Manager and access your virtual machine. Choose your virtualrnmachine and select Connect from the Action menu. When your Windows XP VirtualrnMachine Connection window appears, click the Green Start button. When you seernthe Windows XP Login screen, select your user name and enter your password, asrnshown in Figure C. Make a mentalrnnote of this user name and password, as you will need them later.

Make sure that your Windows XP virtual machine has a unique computer name

WhenrnWindows XP starts up, press [Windows]+[Break] to bring up the System Propertiesrndialog box and then select the Computer Name tab. Then click the Change buttonrnand make sure that your Windows XP virtual machine has a unique computer namernand is using the same workgroup name as your Windows 8 host machine. As you canrnsee in Figure D, on my example systemrnthe computer name is vm-one-xp and the workgroup is SOLAR SYSTEM. Keep in mindrnthat you will be prompted to Restart the system if you change the computer namernor the workgroup name.

Make sure that you can see both the host machine and the host machine from within each machine's Network list

Oncernyou are done with your network configuration, make sure that from eachrnmachine’s Network list you can see both the host machine and the host machine. Asrnyou can see in Figure E, bothrnJovian-8 and Vm-one-xp are visible from Windows XP’s Network Neighborhood andrnboth are visible from Windows 8’s Network view in File Explorer.

Make sure that the system is ready to accept requests from Remote Desktop Connection

Enabling remote connection

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One more thing that you have to do on your Windows XPrnvirtual machine is enable the remote connection. To do so, pressrn[Windows]+[Break] to bring up the System Properties dialog box and then selectrnthe Remote tab. Then, select the Allow users to connect remotely to thisrncomputer check box in the Remote Desktop panel, as shown in Figure F.

rnrnAt this point, you canrnclick OK and then restart the Windows XP virtual machine. When your Windows XPrnvirtual machine restarts, it will be available on the network, but you won’trnneed to log in again right now. In fact, you can minimize your Windows XPrnVirtual Machine Connection window and close the Hyper-V Manager window. 

You'll want to save you Remote Desktop Connection configuration

Configuring Remote Desktop Connection

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Now that you Windows XP virtual machine’s network and remoternsettings are correctly configured, you’re ready to configure your Windows 8rnRemote Desktop Connection. To do begin, use the [Windows] + Q keystroke to accessrnthe Search Apps page. Then, type Remote in the text box and click the RemoternDesktop Connection icon when it appears in the Results.

rnrnWhen you see the RemoternDesktop Connection window, click the Show Options button at the bottom of thernscreen to reveal the entire window with all the tabs. Then, type the name thatrnyou assigned to your Windows XP system and your Windows XP User name in thernappropriate text boxes. Then, click the Save As button and assign your connectionrna name. This process is illustrated in FigurernG.

Clicking the More button reveals a list of other types of local devices

Normally, I would select the Allow me to save my credentialsrncheck box, to automate the login procedure, but for some reason, I have notrnbeen able to get that feature to work when connecting to a Windows XP virtualrnmachine via Remote Desktop Connection – it just locks up the connectionrnprocedure. So make sure that you leave the check box blank.

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To continue, click the Local Resources tab. Here is wherernyou can pick and choose what resources connected to the host machine, such as USBrndrives and USB printers, which you want to redirect to the virtual machine.

rnrnIn the Local devices andrnresources section, both the Printers and Clipboard check boxes should alreadyrnbe selected. You can then click the More button. When you do, you’ll see arnwindow that shows a list of other types of local devices that can be redirectedrnto the virtual machine. These steps are illustrated in Figure H.

With Remote Desktop Connection - you automatically get a full screen display

Having the Printers check box selected means that the CanonrniP3500 USB printer connected to my Windows 8 system will now be available tornthe Windows XP virtual machine. (It will need some further configuration asrnI’ll show you in a minute.)

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As you can see, I’ve selected just about every availablerncheck box in the second Local devices and resources window. The only thing Irndidn’t select is the DVD drive because it’s already connected to the virtualrnmachine. However, I selected Local Disk (C:), which means that I will havernaccess to the hard disk on the host machine from within the virtual machine. Irnalso selected IOMAGIC (E:) which is a USB drive connected to the USB port onrnthe host machine. I then selected the Drives that I plug in later check box, sornthat any time I connect a USB flash drive to the host machine, it will bernaccessible in the virtual machine.

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To continue, click OK to close the second Local devices andrnresources window. Then, return to the General tab and click the Save button.rnYou can leave all the other default settings in Remote Desktop Connection asrnthey are.

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Making the first connection

rnrnWith all the necessaryrnsettings in place, you can launch Remote Desktop Connection by clicking thernConnect button. When you do, you’ll see the login screen, shown in Figure I, and will notice anotherrnadvantage of using Remote Desktop Connection – you automatically get a fullrnscreen display of your virtual machine. After you enter your password and clickrnOK, you’ll be connected via Remote Desktop Connection to your Windows XPrnvirtual machine in Hyper-V.

The host machine's hard disk and USB disks are now available in your Windows XP virtual machine

Once your Windows XP virtual machine is up and running, gornahead and open up My Computer. When you do, you’ll find that there arernconnections in the Other section to the hard disk and any other USB disks havernon you Windows 8 host machine, as shown in FigurernJ. Now, you can easily access files and folders on your host machine fromrnwithin your virtual machine.

You can install your printer driver in Windows XP from a CD or a download

Configuring your printer

rnrnWhile the disk drives arernautomatically redirected from your host machine to your virtual machine, yourrnUSB printer will require some additional configuration before it is fullyrnaccessible in your virtual machine. The first thing that you must do is installrnthe driver on your Windows XP virtual machine. You can do so, from the CD thatrncame with your printer or you can download the driver from the Web. In the casernof my Canon iP3500 USB printer, I downloaded the Windows XP driver installationrnpackage from the Canon web site, and then ran it, as shown in Figure K.

Be sure to clear the Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer check box

Withrnthe driver installed, you can now add the printer. Go to the Control Panel andrnlaunch the Add Printer Wizard. On the second screen, select the Local printerrnattached to this computer option, but then clear the Automatically detect andrninstall my Plug and Play printer check box, as shown in Figure L. To continue click Next.

The TS00# ports are those that are redirected from the host machine to the virtual machine

Whenrnyou get to the Select a Printer Port screen, select the Use the following portrnoption and then click the drop down arrow. When you do, you should find a grouprnof Terminal Server ports identified with the codes TS00# {Host machine name} PRN#. These are the ports that arernredirected from the host machine to the virtual machine via Remote DesktoprnConnection. You should select the TS001 port, as shown in Figure M. Then click Next.

The printer driver that you installed should now be in the list of Printers

Yournwill now see the Install Printer Software screen, from the Manufacturer listrnselect your printer brand name. Then in the Printers list, scroll all the wayrnto the bottom and you should find the printer driver that you installed earlier.rnAs you can see in Figure N, I selectedrnCanon and then found the Canon iP3500 printer driver that I downloaded andrninstalled.

Work your way through the rest of the Add Printer Wizard

Asrnyou work your way through the rest of the Add Printer Wizard, as shown in Figure O, be sure that you select thernKeep existing driver option and then print a test page to ensure that yourrnprinter is working correctly.

Make USB devices accessible to a Windows XP virtual machine

Going forward

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Now that you know how to make USB devices accessible to arnWindows XP virtual machine via Remote Desktop Connection, there are a couple ofrnthings that you need to keep in mind. First, you will always have to launchrnyour Windows XP virtual machine from the Hyper-V Manager and the VirtualrnMachine Connection. And you also need to let it run for a few minutes beforernyou attempt to connect to it from Remote Desktop Connection. When you arernfinished using your Windows XP virtual machine for the time being, you willrnhave to Log off from the virtual machine, which will close the Remote DesktoprnConnection. Then you will have to return to the Virtual Machine Connectionrnwindow and then use the Turn off computer on the Windows XP screen

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Second, I’ve found that Terminal Server ports can be a bitrnquirky at times. If you discover that the printer is no longer printing, accessrnthe Printer Properties page, select the Ports tab, and choose a different TS00#rnport.

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What’s your take?

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Were you planning on setting up a Windows XP virtual machinernin Windows 8’s Client Hyper-V? Were you vexed by the lack of native USB supportrnin Hyper-V? Now that you know about the Remote Desktop Connection trick, willrnyou move forward with this solution? As always, if you have comments orrninformation to share about this topic, please take a moment to drop by the TechRepublic CommunityrnForums and let us hear from you.