Map vdisk to Explorer with workstation 17

[KuenKwan]

I would like to map vdisk to Explorer to get a file. But I cannot find the Connect button in Workstation 17. Also, I cannot find "Map virtual disk" item on File menu. And I open the vdisk on Explorer directly it is not associated any program.

So, how can I map the vdisk？

[RDPetruska]

Per the release notes, this function is no longer available in 17.x.  And it hasn't worked correctly since 16.1.2 (i.e. none of the 16.2.x versions).

[rsbaker0]

I just upgraded to a newer version of Windows and Workstation and noticed this also.

What is the recommended alternative for viewing the contents of a VMDK file now that the map capability has been removed?

[RDPetruska]

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@rsbaker0 wrote:

I just upgraded to a newer version of Windows and Workstation and noticed this also.

What is the recommended alternative for viewing the contents of a VMDK file now that the map capability has been removed?

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Unfortunately, I am not aware of ANY.  Thus, I am keeping my Workstation instances at 16.1.2 forever.  @Mikero  any thoughts on this - since you killed this feature?

[rsbaker0]

Thanks for that information and recommendation. I found an archive copy 16.1.2 and will try that out.

[wila]

Hi,

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@rsbaker0 wrote:

I just upgraded to a newer version of Windows and Workstation and noticed this also.

What is the recommended alternative for viewing the contents of a VMDK file now that the map capability has been removed?

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Use 7zip ( https://www.7-zip.org/download.html )

Especially for virtual disks that have the Windows operating system.

--
Wil

[RDPetruska]

@wila Thanks for that info - I was not aware 7-zip could read/open a vmdk file!  I've tried it on one of my DOS VM disks and can see the files.  Do you know if it can safely *write* files to the vmdk as well?  I'm worried about corrupting the vmdk by doing that.  Obviously reading the disk to extract files from the guest won't do anything to modify the vmdk, but writing would.

[wila]

I don't know if it even allows you to do that.

Would have to try.
This is one of those questions I would have asked Ulli... I'm sure he knew.

I know Ulli recommended 7zip for reading from a vmdk file. Sadly I can't recall his opinion on writing.

Sorry I don't know the answer and making sure will take quite some time to research, unless someone already has done that research.

A quick google shows up:

https://sourceforge.net/p/sevenzip/discussion/45797/thread/af0ef122/

and reading a bit more seems to suggest it is readonly (I haven't tried)

This is a blog post with some of the options you have:

https://www.raymond.cc/blog/access-virtual-hard-disks-easily-in-windows-7/

--
Wil

[louyo]

>>This is one of those questions I would have asked Ulli... I'm sure he knew.

Have not seen him on here for sometime. Is he OK?

[RDPetruska]

Unfortunately, he passed away last year.  I didn't know either until Andre told me.

[louyo]

Oh, my. That is sad. 

He was such a great person.

Lou

[Novox]

Astonishingly, 7-zip also worked for me.  Feature killed for paying customers of VMWare Workstation Pro 17, but free 7-zip can handle it no problem?!  VMWare invented the vmdk format and now can't mount vmdk files?! smh... 

Needed to open VMDK with 7zFM...

then double click the "1.Basic data partition.ntfs" NTFS partition...

Then simply dragged and dropped... wow

[AGuyNamedSteve]

This is the last straw for me with VMware.

I'll be converting all of my VMware machines to Hyper-V and not looking back.