VMWare Workstation and AMD AHCI/RAID on Windows 7 x64 host

[uniquwy]

Hi all!

While operating in the guest OS, I periodically notice what my storage system (AMD MB-integrated RAID-5) is totally stuck for 1-5 min. In this time guest OS and VMWare GUI are not respond to any action. In addition, every host process stuck immediately after it try to access a storage. HDD LED is turned on until storage "wakes up".

Issue reproduced in the clean Windows 7 x64 without any software except AMD drivers and VMWare Workstation Player/Pro. The simplest way to see issue is start a guest Windows 7 x64 in the VMWare Workstation and open system disk management utility on the host (can be reproduced one time per few hours).

RAID HDDs is ok, no any bad or unstable blocks. Virtual machine folder can be read on the full speed.

Any ideas?

[frodo]

Hi,

To help us to debug the issues, could you pls help to provide following information:

1. Detailed steps about how to reproduce this issue

2. ui log (should be under %TEMP%, you can get detailed log location under "Help > About VMware Workstation ")

3. vm related log file, you can get the vm log file location by choosing the VM within VM library, then check "Help > About VMware Workstation".

  if there is a vm crash, there should be also *.dmp, *.corez file under the same location as vm log file, pls collect them as well

[wila]

Hello,

Welcome at the VMware communities forum.

Are you running AVG, Avast or BitDefender 2017 antivirus at the host OS?

If AVG or Avast then see:

XP VM suddenly slow, Win 7 fine

for a solution on using both antivirus products along with VMware

TL;DR

In Avast Settings, troubleshooting you should uncheck the "Enable hardware-assisted virtualization" feature.

In AVG Settings, troubleshooting, uncheck "Enable hardware-assisted virtualization" feature.

Note that you will have to reboot to apply the change and make it permanent.

If you are running BitDefender 2017 at the host then the only solution that I am aware about is to uninstall and revert to an older version of BitDefender.

--

Wil

[uniquwy]

Hi, sorry for delay.

1. It is simple. Install a clean Win7x64 on the AMD-based host computer with integrated RAID storage configured. Install VMWare Workstation Pro/Player. Open and run Win7x64 guest from the RAID. On the host try to open Disk Management, it will stuck for long time with HDD LED shine. Any touch to RAID storage from the host also will freeze for few minutes.

2. http://home.mikelab.kiev.ua/SHARE/vmware-ui.log.zip

3. http://home.mikelab.kiev.ua/SHARE/vmware.log.zip

[uniquwy]

> Are you running AVG, Avast or BitDefender 2017 antivirus at the host OS?

No, Microsoft Security Essentials only.

> If AVG or Avast then see:

XP VM suddenly slow, Win 7 fine

I notice what only Win7 guests freezes randomly in the work. WinXP and Win10 guests never stuck "from under the hands". But Disk Management utility freezes always after i run VMWare Workstation, even without executing of any WM's. I think VMWare Workstation load some own drivers which conflicted with AMD RAID drivers.