Error while powering on: Unable to Open File. one of the disks in this virtual machine is already in use by another virtual machine or a snapshot

[DNagia]

Hi all,

I received the below error when we had a power failure and the server restarted, but now the VM is unable to start:

Error while powering on: Unable to Open File. one of the disks in this virtual machine is already in use by another virtual machine or a snapshot

I tried deleting all LCK files and restarted the server but I'm still getting the same error.

How could I solve this error?

Thanks.

[a_p_]

Take a look into the vmware.log file located in the VM's directory or post it here.

This will tell you which file is locked.

André

[DNagia]

Hi Andre,

Thank you for your reply, I can't find the error in the log files, I've attached them as well if you could help.

[a_p_]

According to the file date stamps, the files you attached are not the correct ones (dated March and Arpil).

The log file needed should be fond in the VM's folder where the vmx file is located, too.

It should have a current date/time stamp.

André

[DNagia]

Unfortunately, these are the log files residing in the same VM folder beside the VMX file, and I don't know why the log file isn't updated !

The timestamps inside the logs refer to the last successful times it was opened last month. But all my trials after that are not appended to the log file.

[a_p_]

That's strange.

Do the other files have a current timestamp?

Open Edit settings for the VM and save the configuration. Does the vmx file get a new timestamp?

I suggest you run chkdsk for the drive.

Also take a look at the access permissions (NTFS) and the file attributes of the folder and the files to make sure none of them is set to read only.

André

[DNagia]

The VM is on Linux Redhat 3, the file is owned by the root with read-write-execute privileges. The VMX file has same privileges.

Actually the whole message gives me a name of the file causing the problem but I don't know what to check. The exact error message is :

Unable to change virtual machine state. Unable to open file "/media/usbdisk1/Clone/Hard Disk Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3-0-cl1.vmdk" : one of the disks in this virtual machine is already in use by a virtual machine or by a snapshot

What can I do with the mentioned file ? it's the name of one of the hard disks created on this VM

[admin]

Did you see the KB on this?

Virtual machine does not power on because of missing or locked files

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/10051

Rick Blythe

Social Media Specialist

VMware Inc.

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[continuum]

looking at the name of the vmdk it seems to be a clone. So you may have to inspect its parent as well




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