Share USB drive folder between guest and host in VMware

Make sure you have Guest Tools installed on the OS that you are running on the VM. After you start the VM in the vmplayer, in the toolbar click on VMware Player, then Shared Folders. In the window that pops up click on either Always enabled or Enabled until next power off or suspend, your call depending on if you need it once or need it all the time. If you have Guest Tools installed you can now drag and drop folders into the list and they will be shared with the VM. It doesn't matter if it's an external USB, or if it's your OS hard drive, whatever folder you drop in there will be shared with the guest OS.