problem getting vmware to work with bootcamp os x 10.8.3 / 5.03

[pkellner]

I just updated my macbook retina to os x 10.8.3 and vmware 5.03.

All the drivers work booting natively.  Hurrah!

But, when I try to "import" the bootcamp partition so I can run it as a vm I get errors. (see attachments)

Ideas?

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/i7x9xaextbpwnoc/vm1.png

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8nrcslmuj9krzoa/vm2.png

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8nrcslmuj9krzoa/vm2.png

[WoodyZ]

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 .tgz file it created on your Desktop to a reply post.

[pkellner]

attaching diag log as requested

[pkellner]

Something that may be related is that when I followed the normal bootcamp assistant path, it created a FAT partition which was unacceptable to windows 8.  during the install process of windows 8 I dropped the FAT parttion and recreated NTFS.

[WoodyZ]

Peter Kellner wrote: during the install process of windows 8 I dropped the FAT parttion and recreated NTFS.

Just to be clear, did you delete and recreate the partition and then formatted it NTFS or did you just reformat the partition from FAT32 to NTFS?

[pkellner]

I deleted and re-added the partition. I could not find a menu in the windows 8 install that let me simply change the type to NTFS. 

[WoodyZ]

That's the problem...  you are not supposed to delete/recreate the partition.  You have to reformat the existing partition, even if you have to do that ahead of the install by way of booting the install DVD to use the tools available to do so before starting the actual install bootstrap.

The System Profiler report shows it still as "File System: MS-DOS" and it need to be "File System: NTFS" or it will not be processed properly by VMware Fusion.

[pkellner]

two questions.

1)  can the configuration file be fixed to point at the right file with the correct type (NTFS)?  (if this is to advanced for me, can it be done with a vmware support call?  I'd rather do that then spend the rest of my weekend reinstalling software)

2)  If not, I don't follow the workflow you are suggesting for reinstalling correctly.

Here are the steps I could do

remove bootcamp partition

expand os x partition to be full size of hard disk

re-run bootcamp assistent

at that point, the partitions are created.  how can I change partition to NTFS?  If I boot off a windows 8 DVD natively I think I will have same options I had previously which did not allow me to change partition type.

[WoodyZ]

Peter Kellner wrote:

two questions.

1)  can the configuration file be fixed to point at the right file with the correct type (NTFS)?  (if this is to advanced for me, can it be done with a vmware support call?  I'd rather do that then spend the rest of my weekend reinstalling software)

Peter, without getting into all the details, while the necessary information in key files in the Boot Camp Virtual Machine is presently incorrect it is so because of deleting/recreating the Boot Camp partition which is not allow per directions in the Boot Camp Documentation which has nothing to do with VMware per se.   While the issue with the Protected MBR and GPT could be resolved via Terminal and some Unix commands I doubt VMware Support will resolve this issue.  To be perfectly blunt I wouldn't allow them to attempt it anyway although there is one VMware employe in particuar that I would let do it however he's not on the Support Team, he one of the Developers and I have seen him post here in the last year or so.

2)  If not, I don't follow the workflow you are suggesting for reinstalling correctly.

Here are the steps I could do

remove bootcamp partition

expand os x partition to be full size of hard disk

re-run bootcamp assistent

at that point, the partitions are created.  how can I change partition to NTFS?  If I boot off a windows 8 DVD natively I think I will have same options I had previously which did not allow me to change partition type.

This can be done at least two different ways with the Windows 8 Install DVD and can be done during a normal install if you select "Drive options (Advanced)" in the "Where do you want to install Windows" Windows Setup dialog box.  So there is no need to give details on the method when selecting the "Repair your computer" option.

If you like to have a chat about any of this you can send me your phone number in a Private Message and I can give you better details about the failure and why and the Terminal method so you understand what would be involved vs. starting over.  It's just easier over the phone then getting into all the technical details here.

[pkellner]

Thanks for the very clear advice.  I'm just wining because I'm tired of going around the hamster wheel installing and reinstalling.

If I had known deleting the partition would was bad, I would have worked harder earlier to avoid it.  Who's to know.

Anyhow, I'm going through the reinstall process again (I'm getting pretty good at it).  I think one way or another I'll be able to convert the FAT32 to NTFS.  I'm confident that I can reboot as many times as I want once the USB has turned into my boot device.  Over the past year or so I'm pretty sure I've bought some tools that do this.

If I don't figure it out, I'll be back and I do appreciate the volunteering to chat about it. Hopefully I just have one round left of reinstall.

-Peter

[pkellner]

not surprising, things did not go as planned.

if you have a free moment, my phone number is on my contact page http://peterkellner.net/contact/ I get 1000 uniques a day and almost no one ever calls that number.

[WoodyZ]

Peter, was nice talking to you... glad you have things up and running and let me know whether or not you like Winclone once you've used it.

[pkellner]

Will do.  Turns out it was only $20!   just ordered it.

Thanks for all the help.

Not that you need the help, but I post some random stuff on my retina at macwinguy.com