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fangman
Contributor
Contributor

How do I find my data files after a Win7 crash to be able to use them on a new virtual machine?

My iMac had issues, virtual machine with Fusion was running.  I shut down the iMac.  I could not restart the Win7 on that virtual machine.  I installed an additional virtual machine with Win7.  It is working fine.  BUT, there are data files that I critically need from the other machine.  They are somewhere on my iMac.  How can I locate them and move them to the new machine?

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junian_dani
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Basically, you can add the existing virtual disk (*.vmdk) to a virtual machine as a secondary hard disk and then copy those data files into it.

Please refers to below KB article for the detail procedures.

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2005146

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fangman
Contributor
Contributor

This is looking good until I look for the "HD" that I want.  Not sure what has happened but here are the choices, based on the fact that I have 3 Virtual machines(Xp, Win7, and Win7 2).  Win 7 will not Start.  The new machine is Win7 2.  Choices: Virtual Disk-s001.vmdk, Virtual Disk-s002.vmdk all the way to Virtual Disk-s031.vmdk and then then there is Virtual Disk.vmdk.  It is not clear what belongs to Xp and what belongs to Win7.  I could delete Virtual machine Xp as I never used it.  Thoughts?

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WoodyZ
Immortal
Immortal

To help figure out what is what, the best way to provide comprehensive diagnostic information is to use the "Collect Support Information" command from the VMware Fusion (menu bar) > Help > Collect Support Information and then attach the .zip file (or .tgz file if pre-version 6) it created on your Desktop to a reply post.

Note: Use the "Use advanced editor" link in the upper right corner of the normal reply window to bring up the Advanced Editor where you'll be able to attach files via the Choose File button or Browse button (depending on the Browser) above the Post Message button!

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junian_dani
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

You can verify it from the vm configuration file (*.vmx). Open this file with text editor and see the value of parameter scsiX:Y.fileName or ideX:Y.fileName.

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WoodyZ
Immortal
Immortal

A side from what Junian Dani has said the reason I've requested the support bundle it to see just why the original Windows 7 Virtual Machine has failed and because you did a hard shutdown on the Host while the Virtual Machine was running you may have damaged the virtual hard disk.  If so then adding it to another VM in a damaged state will in all likelihood also fail.  So lets review the technical data on the original VM before attaching its disk to another VM! Smiley Wink

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WoodyZ
Immortal
Immortal

Depending on how the Virtual Machine was damaged you can just look at the Virtual Machine's Settings in the VMware Fusion UI to see the name of the current .vmdk file being used of any given VM! Smiley Wink

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fangman
Contributor
Contributor

The Collecting Support Information just keeps running and will not stop, so I have attached some files, that, in my panic, I have seen somewhere.  I do see some .tgz files on my desktop

Hopefully helpful ones.

No sure how to "Power off" the Xp machine.  Shut Down only suspends the machine.

The Win 7 and Win 7 2 machines both Power off at shut down.

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WoodyZ
Immortal
Immortal

Unfortunately two files from nearly a year ago and one that doesn't reflect the actual current state doesn't do much good.  Instead of using the VMware Fusion UI to collect the support information try the following command line from a Terminal.

/Applications/VMware\ Fusion.app/Contents/Library/VMware\ Fusion\ Problem\ Reporter.tool

Hint:  Copy and paste the above command into a Terminal and press Enter.

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fangman
Contributor
Contributor

When Collecting Support Information, I went to Help > Collecting Support Information.  I was not sure what UI meant.

I am running your suggested command and this is what I have after 5 minutes:

Support program for VMware Fusion - Version 0.04

Running this program requires administrative privileges.

You may be prompted for your password below.

Password:

Support program for VMware Fusion - Version 0.04

Preparing Files: -

I may needed to be more patient??   And I am running The Collect Support Information again

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WoodyZ
Immortal
Immortal

UI is User Interface and typically the short form of GUI (Graphic User Interface) and the Fusion Problem Reporter.tool is what collects the Support Information from the UI and from the CLI (Command Line Interface) or Terminal in this case.  If it is not completing in a timely manner then you might have deeper issues then that of what has to do with VMware Fusion.  You might want to use First Aid in Disk Utility and Verify Disk and then Verify Disk Permissions.

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fangman
Contributor
Contributor

You ALL have been great.  Our son who was a Mac Genius had me on the phone and he worked me through the database publication that was recommended.  I failed one step in the process and was looking at Win 7 2 virtual HD, when I needed to shift to Win 7 HD and ADD that one to Win 7 2.

All of the files that I was looking for appear to be there, and I am grateful for that.

The Collect Support Information was finally completed, and is attached in case the information there could possibly help someone.

Also attached is the Incident Report from the Terminal.

Again, I really, really appreciate everyone's concern and help.

Tom

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