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EtreLibre
Contributor
Contributor

VMware Workstation 7.1.3 and Windows 7 SP1

Windows 7 SP1 is now out, and I installed it.

But, now, when VMware need to swap a little, I have an error message that tell there is a problem to alocate that memory.

Maybe do you know how fix it ?

Thank you Smiley Wink

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StevensDE
Contributor
Contributor

Same problem here.

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DCjay
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Hello,

I can change how Vm in workstation swap memory.

Goto EDIT>>PREFERENCE>>MEMORY.

You have three options, choose the whast best fits ur VMs.

Regards

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StevensDE
Contributor
Contributor

@DCjay

I have a Workstation with 2x Intel Xeon X5450 and 16 GB Memory.

I set it to: "Fit all virtual machine memory into reversed host memory"

I uninstalled the SP1 now. Now everything runs fine.

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DCjay
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I am glad it worked. Would have love to see it work with SP1 installed.

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StevensDE
Contributor
Contributor

@dcjay

The setting (Fit all virtual machine memory into reversed host memory) was the same with and without SP1.

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DCjay
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

With SP1 installed choose "allow some memory to be swapped". This comes with some degradation on your desktop.

Best Option is to install more RAM and the setting as you have it now.

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EtreLibre
Contributor
Contributor

I know much RAM is better but my laptop can't support more than 4 GB...

Maybe VMware can fix it ?

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EtreLibre
Contributor
Contributor

Another big problem :

Now I have SP1 (and deleted old service pack files), I can't run many VMs at the same time :

In fact, if I use 3D graphics, as Aero, all is very very slow into the 2nd or 3rd VM.

But, if I use only 1 VM, OK.

If I disable 3D graphics, I can run 2 VM without problems, but with 3, the 3rd is very slow and unusable.

Host is Windows 7 x64 SP1

Guests are : Vista x86, Vista x64, 7 x86 and 7x64; and same problem with new VMs.

I have updated Video drivers and I change nothing. Before, without SP1 all was working.

Edit : there are news... :

Now, even if I disable 3D graphics into each VM, I can't run more than 1 VM... If I run 2 or more VMs, everything is unusable and each vmware-vmx.exe use 25% (1 core fully used) : I have a 4 cores processor (Q9550, no overclock).

Please VMware, maybe do you have any solution ?

Thank you Smiley Wink

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StevensDE
Contributor
Contributor

Hi,

Microsoft has apparently made changes to the memory management of Windows 7 SP1.

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EdP2
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I look with awe and admiration at your 'bleeding edge' nerve in being among the first to install SP1. As I intend to be a late adopter, I'm interested in adding whatever crumbs of help I can proffer.

This link:

http://meltingpot24.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/windows-server-2008-r2-and-windows-7-sp1-releases-to-ma...

confirms that Win7 memory management is changed - it appears that Dynamic Memory may offer some help. Is it possible for you to turn it on and see if it does in fact help?

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StevensDE
Contributor
Contributor

@EdP

Thank you.

Dynamic Memory is a kernel feature of Windows 7 SP1 / Server 2008 R2 SP1.

So I guess that you can not switch dynamich memory off.

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EdP2
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

You may want to check this link:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/D/1/5/D15951B6-B33C-4A57-BCFB-76A9A6E54212/Implementing_and_C... pages 10 & 11

It appears that for certain guests, it is possible to play with Dynamic Memory. However, I'm not sure of the implications for XP etc, but it appears you may be able to specify fixed memory amounts.

Hope it helps!

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EtreLibre
Contributor
Contributor

It's usefull only with Hyper-V...

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EdP2
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Unfortunately you are correct - Hyper V only.

The following comments are supplied more in hope than knowledge. The troubleshooting sections suggested the following remedies:

a) Increase the size of your guest's page file as this may help prevent Dynamic Memory biting too early.

b) Dynamic memory 'remembers' the largest previous memory usage of the guest. You can make it take a large number by opening Microsoft Paint and make a new image that has the biggest possible size. I guess you should put a blob on the canvas before closing it (don't need to save apparently).

This is of course all under the assumption that Dynamic Memory is the cause of the issues you have discovered.

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Mr0Al
Contributor
Contributor

I've encountered similar problems to the OP. I regularly run one VM with 512 MB and another with 5120 MB, on a machine with 8 GB of RAM. This all worked perfectly until installing SP1. Then the VM that uses more RAM slowed to a crawl and was virtually unusable.

What seems to have fixed or given a workaround for the issue is to change from the option "Fit all virtual machine memory into reserved host RAM" to "Allow some virtual machine memory to be swapped".

HTH, Alex.

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EtreLibre
Contributor
Contributor

With my desktop PC, I use "Fit all virtual machine memory into reserved host RAM" and there are problems...

With my laptop PC, I use "Allow some virtual machine memory to be swapped" because I have only 4 GB RAM, there are big problems with memory allocating (VMware said that) and VMs crash.

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EdP2
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I decided to try installing SP1. I have 8GB of ram and frequently run two or three guests (one Vista memory hog, one XP and one linux) simultaneously. So far I have had no issues with SP1. However, monitoring my RAM/CPU usage (using a Win7 gadget) shows that I have 'free' memory at all times, and this may be a significant factor in the absence of problems.

It looks to me that the OP was correct in fingering swop file activities as the problem area.

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EtreLibre
Contributor
Contributor

1 computer to try is not representative I think Smiley Wink

I tried with 2 computers : problems with them... since I installed Windows 7 SP1

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EdP2
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

No question that you are correct - one is not a good sample. On the other hand, this seems to be one of those issues that some people have and others do not. Unless you get a reasonable cross-sample from all those who install SP1 it will be hard to pin down the cause.

Message was edited by: EdP For clarity: I never have more than about 5GB assigned to running vmware guests, and there is very little running on the Win7 host. As a result there is always about 1GB of ram headroom. Maybe this is a factor in my lack of issues.

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