Encryption failed - NEED HELP !!!!

[WhiteKnight]

Trying to encrypt one of my virtual machines I got this error message:

Now my VM is a mess and I don't have a backup !!!

What's that crap?!? Why is this happening? Why isn't VMware Workstation restoring the virtual machine to a consistent, functional state when showing this error message?

What to I need to do to get this VM back running? And what to I need to do to avoid this bloody error?

[Super_Kevin]

Hi WhiteKnight,

I am really sorry about this. Could you post the file list of your VM directory?

You can use the Command Prompt, "cd" to your VM directory and type "dir".

[HiJackson]

Could you please provide workstation log files to us?That will be helpful to investigate the problem ASAP!

[WhiteKnight]

Hi Kevin, thanks for helping me on this issue.

Attached please find the file list you requested.

Best regards,

Axel

[WhiteKnight]

Hi Jackson,

thanks for trying to help me on this issue.

Do you mean the VM's log files? Or are there others? Where would they be?

Thanks,

Axel

[HiJackson]

[WhiteKnight]

HiJackson​

I just sent you a private message with the log's contents.

I used a PM because I fear there's sensitive data included in the logs.

[HiJackson]

Based on the info in the log file:

2018-11-21T13:33:26.717+01:00| vmui| W115: VMCryptoVMDB::Encrypt: Failed to validate the current crypto state of the virtual machine: Dictionary problem

2018-11-21T13:33:26.717+01:00| vmui| I125: DlgUI: This virtual machine is in an inconsistent state.

2018-11-21T13:33:26.717+01:00| vmui| I125+ Its configuration file is unencrypted but at least one of its components is already encrypted. Check to make sure it is not using a disk from an encrypted virtual machine.

So the problem should be the validation before real encryption was failed when trying to loading config file to dictionary.

You may want to check the config file or send us the config file to us.

BR,

Yinghua CHEN

[HiJackson]

Further error found when loading config to Dictionary:

2018-11-21T13:32:20.092+01:00| vmui| I125: DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "C:\Users\dahmena\AppData\Roaming\VMware\config.ini": Unknown error 2 (0x2).

2018-11-21T13:32:20.092+01:00| vmui| I125: [msg.dictionary.load.openFailed] Cannot open file "C:\Users\dahmena\AppData\Roaming\VMware\config.ini": Unknown error 2 (0x2).

2018-11-21T13:32:20.092+01:00| vmui| I125: PREF Optional preferences file not found at C:\Users\dahmena\AppData\Roaming\VMware\config.ini. Using default values.

SO please check config file: C:\Users\dahmena\AppData\Roaming\VMware\config.ini

BR,

Yinghua CHEN

[continuum]

Hi
if a VM is in such a dubious state the first thing I would check is wether the vmdk files are already encrypted.
If not just, discard the vmx-file and recreate one from scratch using the existing vmdks.

[HiJackson]

Please also do backp the vmx-file before discard it to avoid more problems!

[WhiteKnight]

I did a backup right after the error occured.

I won't be at the office until Tuesday. I'll try all the suggestions as soon as I'll be back then.

BTW: The VM seems to run in this state, but I cannot encrypt it or remove encryption, so I cannot apply a TTL.

[WhiteKnight]

There is no config.ini file in this directory (this is by default):

continuum​: I just sent you a PM with the VMX file's content. I don't find any encrypted part in there. But when I remove the 'dataFileKey = "type=key:cipher=AES-256:key= ...' line, I cannot start the VM. Workstation is telling me then that there's a "dictionary problem" with the configuration file.

[WhiteKnight]

Any news on this?

VMware, can you please make sure this situation won't ever happen again?