Incorrect version of driver "vmx86.sys"

[Alex802]

Hi everybody,

I am new here so please have patience with me

I have VMware Workstation 6.5.1 build 126130 installed on a Vista Ultimate 64bit SP1 updated to day. I had Workstation working fine with all my virtual machines but now I got into this problem I do not know how to fix (tried clean reinstall VMware Workstation software package a couple times but it didn't fix it, one time had my firewall/anitvirus package Comodo disabled - still not working).

Practically evey time I try to start any virtual machine that works on another system (so it's not the VM's problem) I get this message:

Could not get vmx86 driver version: The handle is invalid. You have an incorrect version of driver "vmx86.sys". Try reinstalling VMware Workstation. Failed to initialize monitor device.

Followed by a message box saying:

Cannot find a valid peer process to connect to.

Any advice you could give me? Could not find anybody having this issue on Internet.

Thanks!

[Scissor]

Usually that message means you have an old version of vmx86.sys installed. Do you also have the standalone version of VMWare Player or VMware Server installed? Multiple VMware products should not be installed on the same computer (with the exception that when you install VMware Workstation, the correct version of VMware Player is also installed as part of the package).

If that is the case, uninstall all VMware virtualization products, reboot, and then reinstall VMware Workstation.

[Alex802]

Thanks Scissor for your answer!

Thing is WMware Workstation is the only software package I have installed from VMware on that system. It used to work fine and at some point in time started giving me that error. I was guessing it might be related to the protection Comodo might have in place or just Windows caching ald versions of system dlls, because I might have upgraded the package from previous to the latest build.

Since that time I did completely unistall the Workstation (not keeping any preference/licenses), rebooted system, installed again and rebooted again. Still have the same error.

[Scissor]

Perhaps the previous uninstall didn't completely remove everything? The following KB article shows how to manually uninstall everything:

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1308/

[jojre · Accepted solution]

Just in case if you did not fix it yet. Just run VMworkstation "as administrator"

Regards.

[Alex802]

Thank you jojre :smileyblush: Running the application with Admin rights fixes the problem. Althought I can't understand why I don't need to do that on my other Vista system...

Regards!

[Jocelyn_Simard]

I just ran into the same problem today.

Using Vista 64 bit with Comodo.

I just did an update of Comodo, so I'm pretty sure that has something to do with the problem.

Hopefully, running with admin rights solves the problem.

But.... that still annoy me!

[Arbra]

I too had this exact same problem occur today. Uninstalled and reinstalled without success. I'm running Vista 64 with Comodo Pro that did an update since last successfully using VMPlayer. Running as Administrator solves the problem!

Thank God for these forums!

Arbra

[WayneSheffield]

I also am having this problem. Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit) w/ SP1 and all windows updates, Comodo Firewall 3.8.65941.477, Eset NOD32 AntiVirus 3.0.684.0, WMWare WS 6.5.1 build 126130. All except VMWare WS updated during the last couple of days, now VMs giving this message, unless WS ran as administrator. I think it's more likely to be an update with Vista causing the problem to appear. But I do agree... thank God for this forum to find the workaround.

Now if we can just get a resolution to this.

[Scissor]

Is your "VMware Authorization Service" service started? (By default, it's startup type is set to Automatic)

[WayneSheffield]

Yes.

I can run the VMs as Administrator. If I shut down VMWare WS, then start it normally (not as administrator), I get this error... every time now.

[Ugla]

I've also run into the same problem. I'm running Vista 64bit with Comodo Firewall (and Defense+) and avast antivirus.

But I've encountered the same problem with VMware Player.

I've previously been using the same combination without problem. Then I had to reinstall Vista (hard disk failure), an when installing VMware Player this problem occurred. Then I tried installing VMware Workstation, but the problem is still there.

Is there a workaround for VMware Player as well?

Or do I have to uninstall Comodo to make this work?

[nevets777]

Wow - I have the same exact setup - Vista 64 bit Ultimate with Avast and Comodo. Workstation ran fine before I installed both. When I did a virus scan using Avast, it had some kind of sharing problem with some of the VMWare files - I forget which. I think I had workstation running, so I didn't think anything of it. I have to run as administrator now.

[Ugla]

How do I run WS as administrator?

And: Do I have the same option with VMware Player?

[jokke]

Right-click the exe and choose to run as administrator.

[Ugla]

Thanx! It worked. Also for VMware Player.

And, if anybody finds out a way to fix this without running as

administrator, please let me know - I'm a bit worried about running

programs with administrator privileges when they really should work fine

without it.

[Pascal6662]

Just ran into this myself. Like everyone else I'm running Vista 64bit SP1 with Comodo and "run as administrator" works fine. I sure hope someone is looking into this problem.

[Arbra]

Today I posted a bug report in Comodo's CIS Firewall Forum under the heading; "[Firewall Bug on Vista 64 - VMPlayer now MUST run as Administrator|https://forums.comodo.com/firewall_bugs/firewall_bug_on_vista_64_vmplayer_now_must_run_as_administrator-t37280.0.html;msg265028#msg265028]" - https://forums.comodo.com/firewall_bugs-b151.0. Hopefully someone at Comodo will take a look. Since I'm using the "Free" version, I can't post a bug on their paid support line (http://support.comodo.com), but sometimes Comodo support looks at the forums. If anyone has the paid version, perhaps they can submit a ticket to Comodo support.

[WayneSheffield]

Here's a better link for the Comodo link referenced above:

Everybody having this problem needs to report it so that we can get this issue fixed.

[Jocelyn_Simard]

See this http://communities.vmware.com/message/1158804;jsessionid=47081963F69D533961C6A924A6716CD2.

You probably use Comodo firewall right? You must modify the shortcuts that open VMWare, go to Advanced, select Run As Administrator.

Regards,