Problem
Shared folders keep a locking handle open to all accessed files until the VM is terminated.
Suggestion
Make shared folders release the handle when the guest OS release the handle.
I request a knowledgable reply, f.e. from http://communities.vmware.com/people/steve%20goddard
Version
VMware Workstation 9.0.1 build-894247
Host: Windows 7
Guest: Windows 8
Reply
> using Windows file sharing instead …
The transfer rate is lower over network than disk and use more CPU (shared folders presumably acess the host OS disk directly rather than through the guest or host OS network interface)