VMWare Shared folders horrendously slow

This has annoyed me for ages and I have finally found the proper cause/solution:

 

This  slow performance, specially the 5-10 seconds delay between clicking on a  folder/file and actually getting it opened, happens because Widnows is  trying to access the share via NetBIOS protocol. Once the NBT attempt  fails windows reverts back to TCP, which then works OK.

 

So the solution is to disable netbios over TCP/IP on all network interfaces inside the Windows client.

 

Hope this helps more people out there.

 

For Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows 2000

1. On the desktop, right-click My Network Places, and then click Properties.
2. Right-click Local Area Connection, and  then click Properties
3. In the Components checked are used by this connection list, double-click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), click Advanced, and then click theWINS tab.
   
   Note In Windows XP and in Windows Server 2003, you must double-click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in the This connection uses the following items list.
4. Click Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP and then click OK three times.

For Windows Vista

1. On the desktop, right-click Network, and then click Properties.
2. Under Tasks, click Manage network connections.
3. Right-click Local Area Connection, and  then click Properties
4. In the This connection uses the following items list, double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), click Advanced, and then click theWINS tab.
5. Click Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP, and then click OK three times.

For Windows 7

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Under Network and Internet, click View network status and tasks.
3. Click Change adapter settings.
4. Right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.
5. In the This connection uses the following items list, double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), click           Advanced, and then click the WINS tab.
6. Click Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP, and then click OK three times.