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veganjustice
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Not a Valid Virtual Machine Configuration...

Okay, I thas been probably about 3 days since I started VMWare Fusion up and ran Windows. I go to run it this morning, after shutting it down properly the last time I used it, and when I pick my Vista VM and hit run, I get a warning up saying...

"/Users/my name/Documents/Virtual Machines.localized/Windows Vista.vmwarevm/Windows Vista.vmx" is not a valid virtual machine configuration file

and I have the option of hitting OK, and then nothing happens.

This happened to me on a past install of XP on Parallels, and other problems, that is why I came to VMWare, and everything has been great, my XP install and my bootcamp install, but this Vista install isn't valid anymore. Is there a way to fix this? Or do I have to reinstall?

Thanks

Jordan

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WoodyZ
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Replace the existing target "Windows Vista.vmx" with the attached one and you should be good to go.

File Attached: "Windows Vista.vmx"

View solution in original post

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WoodyZ
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Is there a way to fix this?

With the Virtual Machine shutdown and Fusion closed need a Screenshot of the Virtual Machine Bundle Package as in the example below showing name, file size and date/time stamp showing. Also archive the .vmx and .log files in the bundle and attach to reply post. Note: You will need to move the archive file to the Desktop to attach it.

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kristein
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Could you please create a new VM using the existing Virtual Disk

Select "New" in Virtual Machine library > Click Continue --> select Operating System > and version > Click Continue > give VM Name and set the path > In virtual Hard Disk pane, drop down advanced disk options>select "Use an existing virtual disk" > Select the virtual disk (Windows XP.vmdk) and power on the VM and check if this helps

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WoodyZ
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Could you please create a new VM using the existing Virtual Disk

Select "New" in Virtual Machine library > Click Continue --> select Operating System > and version > Click Continue > give VM Name and set the path > In virtual Hard Disk pane, drop down advanced disk options>select "Use an existing virtual disk" > Select the virtual disk (Windows XP.vmdk) and power on the VM and check if this helps

While one certainly can create a new Virtual Machine using an existing virtual hard drive you should refrain from telling someone to do that when you have no idea whether or not a Snapshot is in place. In other words if the OP does as you've suggested and there is a Snapshot in place then they would not be accessing it by pointing to the Base Disk as in your directions, which by the way the OP issue is with Vista not XP, and if the Base Disk gets modified then one may not be able to recover the orphaned Snapshot.

There is a good reason I ask for the directory listing so I can see if a Snapshot is in place and the date/time stamps and file sized provide additional information to help provide the best solution under the unknown circumstances that caused the issue.

Think twice about offering solutions that can have irreversible consequences when you don't have all the facts!

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veganjustice
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Let me know what else you might need. Thanks!

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WoodyZ
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Let me know what else you might need. Thanks!

Okay, I see the problem, the .vmx file is zero length so I'll create a new one from the .log file and post it back shortly

veganjustice
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Awesome, I appreciate that. What would make this happen? And how can I prevent it from happening in the future, I am doing something wrong, I would assume, since this same thing happened to me with a different VM Software.

Not sure what to do.

Thanks again.

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WoodyZ
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Replace the existing target "Windows Vista.vmx" with the attached one and you should be good to go.

File Attached: "Windows Vista.vmx"

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veganjustice
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Yup, it seems to be starting up fine. Amazing! Thank you soooo much.Yes! I am in Windows(well not yes, since it still is Windows, haha), but it is working fine!

Okay, what can I do to make this not happen in the future? Or how did you recreate a new .vmx file? Is there something I can do to fix this? Should I be taking Snapshots?

Thanks again!!!

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admin
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What would make this happen?

We're not sure. We think there's an Apple bug where files sometimes get truncated. This seems to only happen to .vmx files and .vmss files.

veganjustice
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Okay, so if it happens, it happens, I might not be doing something wrong? Well, how can I create a new vmx file, so I don't always have to post it on here and have someone attach a new one?

Or can I not do that?

Thanks

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admin
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Okay, so if it happens, it happens, I might not be doing something wrong?

Right. If it's any consolation, I think it's pretty rare (e.g. it's never happened to me, and I run a bunch of virtual machines daily).

Well, how can I create a new vmx file, so I don't always have to post it on here and have someone attach a new one?

If you look in the logs, the .vmx file is logged. You can reconstruct a .vmx file from the log by removing the extra formatting. Both files are plain text.

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veganjustice
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Awesome, thanks for that tip. I will know what to do next time (hopefully).

hopefully there won't be a next time. Yeah, I have been running VM's for a long time, and it has happened twice, with VMWare and another. But you guys actually helped me, so I know who I am sticking with!!! Smiley Happy

Thanks again!

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Sonicar
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Hello etung, this is the 2nd time I'm experiencing the problem described here, with the exception that I had a XP VM.

I tried to follow your technique on how to recreate the .vmx file, "If you look in the logs, the .vmx file is logged. You can reconstruct a

.vmx file from the log by removing the extra formatting. Both files are

plain text". But, as I'm really new with Macs, you instructions were not very clear to me. So, could you please expand your explanation by giving the step-by-step procedure?

I have attached the screnshot and the required files just in case you need them.

Thanks in advance,

Sonicar

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WoodyZ
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Replace the existing "Windows XP Professional 2.vmx" file with the one attached and you should be good to go.

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Sonicar
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Thanks a lot Woody, it worked like a champ!

Because I've seen this problem twice in less than 2 months, I'm pretty confident that it will reoccur. So could you please describe the procedure on how to recover the .vmx file?

Thanks,

Sonicar

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admin
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In this example, vmware.log and Windows XP Professional 2.vmx are both zero length, so no good. The next newest log is vmware-0.log. Let's open it in TextEdit. Looking through the file, we come to a section that begins:

Jul 21 17:08:58.446: vmx| DICT --- CONFIGURATION
Jul 21 17:08:58.446: vmx| DICT            config.version = 8
Jul 21 17:08:58.446: vmx| DICT         virtualHW.version = 6
Jul 21 17:08:58.446: vmx| DICT             scsi0.present = TRUE
Jul 21 17:08:58.446: vmx| DICT                   memsize = 512

An equivalent section of the .vmx would look like:

config.version = "8"
virtualHW.version = "6"
scsi0.present = "TRUE"
memsize = "512"

You remove the timestamp, label, and leading whitespace, and add quotes around the value. Continue doing this for the entire configuration section (look at a working .vmx file to get a sense for what one looks like). Save the .vmx file (be sure to use plain text, not rich text).

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dude1974
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Hi Friends,

Can some one help me, I am unable to run my vmware. Please find the attachment for the error msg and the vmware log file.

Thanks in advance.

Arun

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admin
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Looks like a script would be helpful. Oh well, I always wanted an excuse to try perl...

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dude1974
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Thanks a lot it is working now.

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