I apologize, and all I asked was to help me get it back up and running (which you did) and I thank you for the quick and simple response.

There was no need to "bang on the bees nest" or go back and forth turning this into a nice long discussion (or justification) on why he feels he was correct. I agree, I do firmly believe that the Windows Update caused the problem. I do agree that Microsoft must have updated something, that did somehow cause a problem with the drivers possibly (the how/what/why I have no clue). I honestly don't have the time to waste hunting and poking, and messing around with it to even find out, or even care. My point is, that I'm just a user who depends on Fusion (former Workstation 6.0/6.5 user) but now that we've moved over to Mac's, I'm depending on Fusion.

So I am very new to this arena, and I thank-you again for the quick and VERY helpful response (it worked, it solved the problem, and it got me back up and running fairly quickly which is all that I was asking for). I honestly don't have the time (or resources) to be spending hours and hours hunting and poking for solutions (or reading Microsoft's vast knowledge base of hundreds and hundreds of thousands of pages related to specific errors), and it would be unlikely that an update that just got pushed out that day would already have a KB article written specifically to fix/address the issue. It would probably be weeks or months before Microsoft actually published a fix (if ever) since it's related only to VMWare Fusion, and Microsoft would have more than likely pointed me directly to VMWare and asked that I talk to them about the problem.

So yes, something Microsoft did (during the update) boinked the VMWare Fusion install. Yes, deleting those two files, and restarting Fusion did cause Fusion to reinstall the drivers (or whatever else it does in the background) and yes... it worked perfectly. Other than having to go back and reinstall VMWare Tools I was up and running in minutes/seconds. (I was incredibly happy to see the Vista login screen again).

So again, thank-you.

If you want to take it out on someone, try me - I am a Fusion developer.

Nah, my intent is not to attack the developers. You guys did a GREAT job designing a GREAT product, and my only other option is Parallels, and to be honest... Parallels is a "sub par" product compared to VMWare Fusion. You guys are doing an INCREDIBLE job, and every feature I have ever wanted (or asked for) is in Workstation 6.5 (and Fusion 2.0). My only last request is Direct X 10 support (that would be great!).

Again, thank-you for the hard work on this, and VMWare has come a very long way. I've been using it all the way back to GSX Server 2? and 3.1? So it's been awhile. I remember in the early days I had lots of gripes with it but the VMWare products have REALLY come a long way. Keep up the good work, keep improving your product (it still has a long way to go, and don't give up). The "Unity" feature is wonderful. You guys really are amazing.

I purchased two copies already, and I would almost purchase another copy or two (just to help fund the continued development of a great product). I do a lot of work for churches and various organizations, and the first thing I recommend is purchasing VMWare.

* If you want to take it out on someone, try me - I am a Fusion developer.*

I apologize, for some reason I thought "Woodyz" was senior to you or something. That's the only reason I was bothered because I saw a gold trophy next to his name, and didn't see one next to your name. (So I thought he was just upset that you had the correct answer). I was also bothered that he said something to the effect that "if you would only do a search, and do your own searching, then you could have solved the problem yourself" (or something to that effect).

Well, I hate to burst his bubble, but I've NEVER posted a post, without searching Google first, and without searching the forums as well. Google seems to be a much better search engine (and does a much better job of indexing key words), and the reason I was descriptive in my posts (listing the operating system, and the particular version of Fusion) is so that this page will probably get indexed by Google hopefully, and I'm hoping that if anyone else is looking for a solution (to an IDENTICAL problem after a Microsoft update gets pushed out) then maybe they will try this solution.

I would have rather had this post stay as short (and clear/concise as humanly possible), but there was no need for an additional response (after the question was already correctly answered and points were already awarded).

Woody is completely
correct about the possible need to have done all the things he
suggested if the simple trick of deleting the Boot Camp metadata didn't
work.

I agree, but just try to keep things simple for us users, and give us the easiest solution possible first. If that doesn't work, then slowly move on to giving us step by step instructions on expanding CAB files, or running/unzipping scripts, or whatever else (but I'm very leery of reading a 3-4 year old post on Windows XP/Fusion 1.1) and running a script designed for an older operating system (and older version of Fusion). I don't want to "compound my problems" by making a situation even worse (and then possibly having to completely rebuild my whole Vista installation).

So I was very leery of those much older posts and I was just looking for something simple, quick and fast (and that works).

I was just upset that Woodyz seems to forget who his "audience" is. Take a look at the little "black pawn" next to my name. May as well print the words "Newbie" right underneith. Yes, I'm new to Fusion 2.0, and I'm NOT a Fusion 2.0 developer, and I don't design Fusion on a daily basis (nor do I understand or even care to learn all the ins and outs of Fusion).

If something breaks, I just want an answer (and a solution on how to fix it). That's it. Sure, bugs happen. Sometimes Microsoft does something stupid to patch 2 or 3 of their own bugs/security vulnerabilities, etc. Those 2 or 3 patches, can often cause or introduce 8 or 10 more bugs or problems. It happens. Fix one thing, break another.

That's why I HATE installing updates or fixes. If it's working, I prefer to leave it alone (don't fix what isn't broken). I was stupid for installing the Windows Updates. I was working late on a project, and I clicked the button, and POOF... now Fusion stopped working. I was more angry than anything. I've dealt with Microsoft for decades (since 1986?) so I've had my fair share of upsetting moments. I remember one year they went around deactivating volume license keys (apparently a Dell key had been leaked?). Who knows. But it sent about 30 of our workstations into endless reboots. This was around 2002 or 2003. Who knows, a long time ago, but I'll never forget it. Our IT guys were running around in circles and we had days of lost productivity while Microsoft "played dumb" about the problem and denied any wrongdoing. Later we found out that it was Microsoft that INTENTIONALLY did this (to thwart piracy) but apparently they didn't realize that maybe they should have issued Dell a new VLK first (which they did) but Dell never made any effort to recall the thousands and thousands and thousands of computers that were using that Key (that they had manufactured/rolled out). So while Microsoft may have stopped 50 or 100 pirates, they also took down about 20,000 or 30,000 legitimate users.

I know things are done differently over at Dell now, and at Microsoft as well. But you have no idea how angry these people were when they purchased a legitimate product, and got screwed like that. I swore on my life that I would never buy another Microsoft product again after that... and here we are with Vista. But I can assure you, that our "IT Guys" are working hard to ween ourselves of Microsoft. After something as horrid as that, we have begun looking at other options (Ubuntu, and OS X). So that's why I'm working on a brand new Mac Pro right now, and my Dell 1330 laptop and Dell 1530 laptop are both headed to the trash can as they begin to get us some new MacBook Pro's.

Sure, we'll have to run VMWare Fusion until we can completely ween ourselves of any and all Microsoft software (and products that ONLY run on Windows XP/Vista). As more and more Mac stuff comes out (that runs natively in OS X) our IT guys are working hard to purchase that stuff.

All it takes is one REALLY REALLY bad experience to lose a customer. They would get rid of our exchange server, and everything (if they could) but we're currently dependent upon SharePoint services, and Exchange, so it might be another couple of years before we can dump all that stuff, and maybe Apple will begin developing a much more advanced SnowLeopard OS X server (that will compete head to head with Windows Server 2008) and Exchange Server 2007 with Communicator. Who knows, it could happen. I'd love to see it, just so we can dump Microsoft.

As for right now, we're glad to have VMWare (and Fusion). Fusion 2.0 was "god sent" and our IT guys have been waiting for this new release so they could begin moving more and more of us over to Macs. We got 20 new Macs in the past month, and the IT team is pulling their hair out with migrations. (moving proprietary data/proprietary applications).

* There have been a number of cases in the past where deleting the Boot Camp partition has not worked.*

Trust me, if it wouldn't have worked, I would have been back with a new post... saying "It didn't work... now what?" I just believe in keeping things as simple as possible for the end user (which you did).

I have to say, I really thought it was going to be a long/hard/complex solution, and when you suggested deleting 2 files, and restarting it... that was what I was praying for. Something simple. I kept my fingers crossed, I deleted the two files, and I restarted it, and boy was I dancing around the room when the Vista login page showed up.

Thanks again.

One more thing... thank the VMWare management (and owners/president) for hiring American. We are so tired of dealing with Microsoft Support (in India) and Dell Support (in India or China) that we've had enough.

We'd rather spend twice or three times as much (and buy an Apple made in California by American developers) and be able to pick up the phone, or talk/type to an American worker. So my hat goes off to you guys, and tell your upper management that if VMWare "got stupid" and tried to outsource their development to a foreign country, we would dump them in a heartbeat.

As an American, we are SICK AND TIRED of the shoddy development and SHODDY support that comes out of these third world countries. When I have a problem, I don't want to sit on hold for 3 hours, while some monkey that barely speaks any english is reading something from a screen (and has no clue what it even means). I want to talk to a REAL LIVE DEVELOPER/ENGINEER (that is an AMERICAN) and I'm proud to support (and purchase) a product made here in America, and developed by an American company, here in the United States, and that employs American workers, and American developers.

The day VMWare turns into outsourcing jobs, is the day I dump VMWare. So just pass that message along to your bosses/supervisors/owners. We're done with Microsoft, until they bring all those jobs back to America (and even then, I'm not sure that we would forgive them). We're tired of their shoddy products, and shoddy support. Microsoft products were decent when they were made in America. At least the support was good when it was here in America. Those third world countries could really care less when you call them (it's like we are annoying them or bothering them, because we are having a problem with their BROKEN product). If the product worked, we wouldn't be calling. The Customer service is terrible, and when I have a problem I want to talk to an American. I want someone that can speak my native tongue, and someone that understands how I feel. If my boss is breathing down my neck, I want an American (that understands what that is like) and has a sense of urgency to help me and get me going again.

* it doesn't help your position for your accusation to be about 16 times longer than the thing you're replying to.*

We're just upset over the economy, and the lack of good engineering jobs (and the number of good engineering jobs that have been outsourced overseas) and we're just angered by these companies that lay off American workers (and developers and engineers) just to save themselves a few dollars (because in the long run, it doesn't work out for them). All these companies that have outsourced overseas, are beginning to realize they never realized ANY cost benefit. The damage it has done to their reputation, to their product line, to the quality of their products (and quality of their support), plus the stigma of taking away American jobs and "going foreign" has really destroyed their name.

The only reason I would even think of buying a Honda is if it's made in Ohio by American workers, here in America. So my hat goes off to you gentlemen, thank-you for your hard work, thank-you for a great product, and tell your bosses/upper management do NOT screw this up. You have a good company, a good product, good engineers, good developers (now just don't screw this up or do anything stupid, or attempt to "go foreign" on us). If they do, I will "vote" with my wallet.

As more and more Americans begin to "vote with their wallet" it will affect the profitability (and bottom line) of these companies that attempt to outsource jobs. If American engineers are not working, and not making good money, then these same people are NOT buying cars, NOT buying new shiny cell phones, NOT buying toys, and NOT spending their hard earned money. As more and more Americans are put out of work (and those good jobs go overseas) by GREEDY companies that want to increase their profits, then suddenly you see the shape our country has gotten into. Soon the economy collapses. Outsourcing does NOT work. You can't compete with a third world country (economically) with "FREE TRADE" and think that you will survive. I believe in FAIR TRADE, but NOT free trade.

Tax the living crap out of companies that outsource more than 1% of their labor/workforce (and level the playing field for American workers and American companies). Ok, well go vote tomorrow, and hopefully we'll see what happens during the next 8 years when the next clown becomes president. Hopefully the next person that is in office will care a little bit more about the American people, and the American workers, and the American jobs.

I don't want to hear any silly nonsense about telling people to "go back to school and get trained". Heck, I have people that lost manufacturing jobs, trying to go to school for computers. Heck, there are NO JOBS in computers! There are no jobs period! So training is NOT what we need, JOBS is what we need!

Bring the jobs back to America, pay American workers an honest and decent salary, and you'd be surprised at how quickly this economy turns right back around. When hardworking Americans have jobs, and are making money... they are spending money. The more we make, the more we spend. The more we spend, the more we fuel the economy.

Laying off Americans, and putting them out of work, and then wondering why nobody can afford to buy your products (because everyone is out of work) only compounds the problem. Our company stopped buying Dell (just to let Dell know that we would rather spend 4 or 5 times the amount of money per machine and buy an American product, then support the outsourcing to India and China).

If the government (under the next president) would begin taxing these imports (from China and India) and begin taxing the living crap out of companies that outsource, suddenly it would "level the playing field". American companies could finally compete. If you had the choice of buying a $900 computer from an American company (made in America) or buying a $900 computer made in China (that may only cost $400 to be built in China, but $500 in IMPORT TAXES) then suddenly more and more Americans will buy American.

Thank your owners for their patronage to America. I'd gladly pay twice as much to buy American just to know that a product was PROUDLY BUILT IN AMERICA (by American workers). Thank-you guys.

* Oh dear, where to begin.*

Let's just call it a day. The rant is over. Go vote tomorrow, and as an American begin VOTING with your wallet. Sometimes it's the only way to show companies their support. If Microsoft wants to outsource their Labor pool, and send jobs overseas, then we'll just stop buying Microsoft (plain and simple). That's why we're purchasing so much VMWare (so we can slowly wean ourselves of Microsoft). Someday we'd love to run Ubuntu if we could, but we need developers to begin releasing their software products for OS X or Ubuntu (so we can dump Microsoft). If a company becomes "unamerican" then Americans will begin revolting and tossing the tea in the water (think about the British and Boston Tea Party). Americans are upset, and we just want those jobs brought back to America. We want the engineering, developing, and even the manufacturing to all be done here in America.

Just pay the workers and honest and decent working wage, give them medical and dental, and Americans will gladly support their products (and buy American). I'm pretty happy when I'm given the choice to buy American. I swore I would never buy a Honda, but when I see American workers buiding these cars (in Ohio) and see that 87% of the vehicle is made/manufactured in America, by Americans... I guess that's good enough for me. When I see American engineers working there, and I can shake hands with them, it makes me happy.

The engineers at Ford and GM really need to step it up a notch, and start developing cars that get 80+ miles to a gallon, and run on alternate fuels (such as water). Yes, it wouldn't be hard to develop a car that would run on water. Just take a current hybrid (like the Prius) and put a hydrogen fuel cell in it (so the vehicle can run on electricity for the most part, but use hydrogen when necessary), and then toss a solar panel roof on the vehicle (so that the car is "charging" its batteries during the day while you are at work, and the car is sitting outside in the parking lot soaking up sun). So the car is charged and ready for the commute home. We need better battery systems (Lithium Ion), and with the Hydrogen Fuel cell, we need a much smaller Hydrogen cell, and instead a small "Hydrogren generator" (that splits a 10 gallon tank of water into Hydrogen gas that will get stored in the Hydrogen fuel cell). As the hydrogen generator splits the H2O water molecules (into 2 atoms of hydrogen gas, and 1 atom of Oxygen) the Oxygen is released back into the environment (as clean pure oxygen) and the Hydrogen is stored into the fuel cell (to be burned as a clean fuel) and the byproduct/waste is nothing more than water. So Americans can drive around getting hundreds (or even thousands) of miles to a full tank of water (with a solar panel roof, and advanced lithium ion batteries) and water doesn't cost us anything.

Just get a 55 gallon drum and connect it to your gutter. If you have 3 or 4 downspouts, you can have 3 or 4 of the 55 gallon drums, and that's enough water to power your whole house. Yes, clean and renewable energy is the way to go. Slowly we can rid ourselves of these big greedy oil companies (and the global terrorism that many of these foreign countries fund and support with their oil sales).

All it takes is some good American engineering and a few Americans to put their "thinking caps" on. The Honda FCX is the perfect car to "convert" into a water fueled vehicle. It's about the size of a Honda Accord, and it runs on Hydrogen (it's a Hydrogen Hybrid vehicle) and it's full size vehicle. So all it takes is a couple of engineers to get off their tail, and create an "aftermarket upgrade" (that costs less than $3,000 in parts) that can be installed in the Honda Prius or Honda FCX, and run the vehicle completely on water.

It's coming, we just need someone to step forward and do it. Hopefully it will be an American company, with American engineers. I'd gladly support ANY American company that started doing this (and started manufacturing these cars that work 100% on water). We've demonstrated that hybrid vehicles do work, and once they are produced on a global scale (mass production) the costs will drop significantly.

If the government would step in, and say that by 2012 all vehicles MUST get 100 miles to a gallon (sure, it may seem unrealistic, but it's not). We can easily hit 80 miles to a gallon right now, and in 3-4 years we should easily be able to squeeze 100 miles to a gallon (and yes, even water) using hybrid battery technology (an electric car, that only uses water/hydrogen as an alternate fuel source if the batteries are running low and need to be recharged).

Then slowly build solar homes (and homes that have lithium ion battery cells, that can be powered/heated in the winter by Hydrogen). Then have a Hydrogen fuel cell that splits rain water, into hydrogen gas, so that homes can be heated with Hydrogen gas in the winter months (free heat), and air conditioned by solar panels (on the roof) during hot summer months. Help eliminate the cost of expensive energy on the American people.

The technology exists, we only need to start using it (and developing/improving it). Begin manufacturing these products here in America, and hire American workers, and the government can give loan subsidies (0% interest loans and tax breaks to people who want to purchase/invest in clean energy). That way Americans can buy a "zero emissions" vehicle (that runs solely on hydrogen/water/electricity) and get a $8,000/yr tax break on their income taxes. It will help offset the costs of the technology. Plus it would be great for the economy (and the environment).

In a few years, maybe the government can back "clean energy" (zero emissions) homes that are 100% solar/hydrogen/water powered. Any excess electricity/energy that is produced could be pumped backwards back into the electric grid (and the homeowner can get a CHECK each month from their electric company, and use that money to help pay their mortgage). That excess energy can be sold (at very cheap rates) to businesses that need lots of power (i.e. manufacturing companies, large businesses, corporate companies, etc.). At least these companies can be purchasing very cheap (and CLEAN energy). Many of these companies could be given "tax breaks" for installing large solar panels on their roofs (to help reduce their dependence on the power grid) and help produce energy during "peak usage" hours. Any additional energy they need could still be purchased from the local power grid (at cheap prices, since the surplus clean energy would drive prices down). Also any energy produced by these large solar panels on weekends (when the company is not working) would be pumped directly back into the power grid (to give the company a "credit" for the energy they produce). Slowly as a country we can eliminate our dependence on foreign oil, and foreign energy, and fossil fuels.

The sun and water can easily give us all the energy we could ever want or need. The ocean is pretty big, and 80% of this planet is nothing but water. It wouldn't be hard to harness that energy, and split that water into Hydrogen and Oxygen. The byproduct (Oxygen) and even after the fuel is "burnt" the end product is just water vapor (which goes up into the sky, and causes clean rain).

So as it rains, we gather up the rain water, and use it to fuel our cars, and heat & power our homes. Hopefully the engineers are reading this, and listening. It's not rocket science my friends. Trust me, if we can put a man on the moon, we can eliminate our dependence on foreign oil, and also stimulate the American economy. If the government steps in, and mandates it... then its' guaranteed income for ALL Americans.

The engineering and manufacturing will create millions of jobs here in America (since every home in America would need to be "upgraded" by a set date, such as January 2015). So manufacturing companies here in America would need to begin producing the panels (and products) in mass production scale.

The layed off trades workers (due to the housing bubble burst) will now be installing solar panels, and rewiring homes (installing a main electrical backfeed that will tie into the main electrical panel in a home, and upconvert the 12 vole solar/battery power back into 110/120VAC current). Then the electric company will have to start replacing the old analog meters (that spin) with newer digital meters (that can read electricity used, as well as electrical current that is "backfed" into the power grid) so homeowners get credit for the surplus energy produced.

It's not hard to do. Quite simple really. The number of jobs that would be created would be in the hundreds of millions (as you look at how many homes in America would need to be upgraded to "energy free" homes).

Ok, way off topic, but go vote tomorrow in your local election, and hopefully someday after the "regime change" our new president will listen, and do what's right, and do what's best for America.