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MB1980
Contributor
Contributor

USB Device Causing VM's to Freeze - Cannot Kill vmware-vmx.exe

Hi,

I'm having an intermittent issue when attaching Huawei mifi devices to my Windows 7 VM's
using Vmware Workstation 15.

Most of time it works fine and the mifi device appears and works with the vm, other times the vm
freezes and cannot be shutdown via the vmware workstation menu.

The only way I've been able to free up the vm again is to restart the host, which is a pain to do
several times a day as I have a host of apps and other vm's working fine.

I have several mifi devices and they all seem to work ok most of the time with the vm's, but
they've all caused the crash at some point. I've tried using different USB
Ports on the PC and a TPLINK USB hub - same intermittent issue.

What usually happens is thje mifi initially connects to the host pc, then I manually select the
connect to vm option. The driver starts installing in the vm, then it freezes.

After googling around it seems I just need to kill off the vmware-vmx.exe process. The
issue is I cannot seem to kill it! Nothing happens when using Task Manager -
just remains there. Tried elevated command prompt, trying to kill using PID an
name. Same with elevated powershell. I can end the Workstation tasks, but when
I relaunch the app, the vm is still running in
a frozen state.

So, I'd be really grateful if someone could help me troubleshoot and
resolve both or one of the following:

  1. VM's are sometimes crashing when I attach the Huawei mifi devices
  2. I cannot kill the vmware-vmx.exe without having to restart the host each time it happens

Host PC:

Windows 10 Pro

Asus  ROG STRIX X299

I9-9980XE

64GB Corsair Vengeance
DDR4 3000MHZ

Many thanks!

42 Replies
MB1980
Contributor
Contributor

Can anyone advise please. Is there another way of killing this task off?

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MB1980
Contributor
Contributor

I think I'll buy an incident pack and raise this with VMware support.  Do you think they'll acknowledge and investigate this issue?

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Susie201110141
VMware Employee
VMware Employee

Could you upload your vm-support log if possbile?

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ReddingZH
Contributor
Contributor

I'm experiencing the exact same issue with VMware Workstation Pro 14.1.7 build-12989993. If I connect my android devices via USB to the VM, it will either work or freeze my VM. Restarting VMware Workstation won't solve the frozen state of the VM and killing the process vmware-vmx.exe as administrator is prohibited. A reboot of my host is the only working solution at the moment.

@MB1980 where you able to solve this problem with a support ticket? Would be very interested in the results.

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oruff
Contributor
Contributor

Hello,

I have the same problem here (on Workstation 14.1.7), but it's new: before (like in May 2019) it was working OK.

Since then ... I suspect a couple of WIndows Update broke it.

Just for "fun", I'll give the last version of Worksation a try ...

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skullert
Contributor
Contributor

Hello,

I have the same problem with some USB device, that worked well until May

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ReddingZH
Contributor
Contributor

I'm using Windows 10 Pro Build 1903 in case it has something to do with the feature update.

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UlHenry
Contributor
Contributor

A workaround that worked for me was to select USB 1.1 compatibility. USB 2.0 and 3.0 would cause the issue you described. (Using Windows 10 host and Windows 7 guest on Workstation 14)

fletchmeister
Contributor
Contributor

I wish I would have found this thread before I wiped my laptop at started from scratch. I was convinced that it was something with my computer. Then after reinstalling 1903 with the latest Working Pro 14 I ran into the same issues. Like others here, it worked fine recently (but I cant remember when it worked last), but unlike others Im at a 100% crash rate.

UIHenry is on to something. Im trying to connect a USB network device to my VM and didnt want to limit myself to USB 1.1 speeds so I set it to USB 2.0 and unchecked the "Automatically connect new USB devices" and "Share Bluetooth devices with the virtual machine" and it seems to be working for now.

this does seem like a Windows update is causing the issue as I was use the same version of Workstation when it suddenly stopped working. Also if it matters, Im using a Dell Precision 7510 with Windows 10 v1903 host and the guest is Windows 10 v1809 (both x64). I believe the USB controller is an Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller

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hotvooboy
VMware Employee
VMware Employee

Hello MB1980,

Could you please upgrade to WS 15.1 GA release build 13591040 for a try? then I think your issue could be gone.

Also please let us know whether it works well.

Thanks.

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fletchmeister
Contributor
Contributor

Is there going to be an update/patch for v14?

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hotvooboy
VMware Employee
VMware Employee

No, it doesn't be an update or patch for WS 14.  It has been released in May 2019.

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fletchmeister
Contributor
Contributor

Im not quite sure what you are trying to say. But it seems that VMWare doesnt care about its customers, only the $$$ they have. Seems silly that I would have to pay to upgrade my licenses just to fix a bug in VMWare's software. Guess its time to retire our VMWare licenses and look elsewhere.

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skullert
Contributor
Contributor

I'm trying to use another virtualizer. Let's see how it goes....

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nihilinterit
Contributor
Contributor

I had this exact same issue, tried everything, and finally stumbled upon a truly unlikely solution on another forum:

Simply reinstall VMware Workstation, but UNCHECK the Enhanced Keyboard Driver option.

Everything works perfect now, but some serious debugging seems warranted for the enhanced keyboard driver.

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vmgeroplayer
Contributor
Contributor

Having the same issue on Windows 10 Professional 1903 on two different systems (Workstation / Laptop). Everything worked fine before 1903 upgrade so this seems to be a 1903-related issue. All USB 2.0 or 3.0 devices freeze the VM, respectively. Cannot even shutdown the guest, have to kill the entire VMWare Player 14 from task manager.

Tried to install an update but no updates available. This is really annoying!!!

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fletchmeister
Contributor
Contributor

I wouldnt hold your breath waiting for an update for v14. It seems pretty clear to me now that VMware expects you to upgrade to v15 for this to be fixed. I have been testing out VirtualBox again and have to say that it has no problems with 1903 and their corporate licenses are way cheaper per seat. The downside is their minimum order is a bit steep but still not that bad.

vmgeroplayer
Contributor
Contributor

Thanks. That's correct. I also updated to Player 15 and performed an update of the VMWare Linux Guest Tools. Works like a rock now.

My player 14 license has become garbage...

Eric1975
Contributor
Contributor

I also have the same issue on V15.5.1.  When I connect a USB to the VM, it just freezes up and can not close it without killing the task through Task Manager.

I have another Laptop with V15.1 on it and this problem does not exist on that one and it use to work on this computer prior to the update.

Attached is the LOG file that shows (the device in RED is the one I connected):

2020-01-27T16:17:19.230-05:00| vmx| I125: VUsbUpdateVigorFieldsAndAutoconnect: New set of 7 USB devices

2020-01-27T16:17:19.230-05:00| vmx| I125: USB: Found device [name:ASUSTek\ 802.11ac\ NIC vid:0b05 pid:184c path:1/0/0/3 speed:high family:vendor instanceId:USB\\VID_0B05&PID_184C\\123456 serialnum:123456 arbRuntimeKey:1 version:3]

2020-01-27T16:17:19.230-05:00| vmx| I125: USB: Found device [name:Siemens\ SIMATIC\ PC\ Adapter\ USB vid:0908 pid:0004 path:1/0/0/6 speed:full family:vendor virtPath:usb:2 instanceId:USB\\VID_0E0F&PID_0001\\6ES7_972-0CB20-0XA0 serialnum:6ES7_972-0CB20-0XA0 arbRuntimeKey:2 ownerdisplay:Siemens\ Step7\ MicroWin\ -\ Windows\ 10\ Pro\ x64 version:3], connected to usb:1 port 0.

2020-01-27T16:17:19.230-05:00| vmx| I125: USB: Found device [name:Acer\ Integrated\ Camera vid:5986 pid:2113 path:1/0/0/8 speed:high family:video instanceId:USB\\VID_5986&PID_2113\\5&3DED37A&0&8 arbRuntimeKey:3 version:3]

2020-01-27T16:17:19.230-05:00| vmx| I125: USB: Found device [name:Synaptics\ WBDI vid:06cb pid:009a path:1/0/0/9 speed:full family:vendor instanceId:USB\\VID_06CB&PID_009A\\3E60A407C640 serialnum:3E60A407C640 arbRuntimeKey:4 version:3]

2020-01-27T16:17:19.230-05:00| vmx| I125: USB: Found device [name:Acer\ Integrated\ IR\ Camera vid:5986 pid:211a path:1/0/0/12 speed:high family:video instanceId:USB\\VID_5986&PID_211A\\5&3DED37A&0&12 arbRuntimeKey:5 version:3]

2020-01-27T16:17:19.230-05:00| vmx| I125: USB: Found device [name:Intel(R)\ Wireless\ Bluetooth(R) vid:8087 pid:0aaa path:1/0/0/14 speed:full family:hid,wireless,bluetooth instanceId:USB\\VID_8087&PID_0AAA\\5&3DED37A&0&14 arbRuntimeKey:6 version:3]

2020-01-27T16:17:19.230-05:00| vmx| I125: USB: Found device [name:Virtual\ Bluetooth\ Adapter vid:0e0f pid:0008 speed:full family:wireless,bluetooth deviceType:virtual-bluetooth info:0000001 version:3]

2020-01-27T16:17:40.549-05:00| mouse| W115: Poll timeout: Something may be hung... ungrabbing