Is there any way to modify the hardware version of a VM?

[inforhunter]

Is there any way to modify the hardware version of a VM from 7 to 4?

[Lightbulb]

Never tried myself but looks solid

http://www.techhead.co.uk/vmware-esx-how-to-downgrade-a-vms-vm-versionhw-level-from-7-4-0-to-4-3-x

[DPike]

The link above is the only way I am aware of to do this. You cannot downgrade via the vCenter system, in the same way you do the simple upgrade to HW7 from HW4.

Using Converter is also the only way to shrink VMDK disk sizes once you have created the VM.

_________________

Dustin Pike

VMware Certified Professional (VI3 & vSphere)

Virtual Blocks Blog

[inforhunter]

I am sorry that Lightbul's link is a bad link for my location

Does that resource demonstrates converter is the only way to downgrade hwversion?

[geddam · Accepted solution]

I tried below setps that worked for me...

1. Uninstall tools from VM.

2. Unregister the VM from host/vc

3. Edit the VMX file and set the hardware version back to 4. (Remember...Editing VMX file is not a supported option).

4. Register the VM back to host/VC

Again, I would even suggest using converter to downgrade HW version.

Thanks,,

Ramesh. Geddam,

VCP 3&4, MCTS(Hyper-V).

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