Error: Windows XP Professional.vmwarevm is damaged and cannot be opened

[sdschweitzer]

The machine is question is an mac min w/ vmware Fusion 3.1.3 (416484).

According to the user, she rebooted (unsure if she meant the virtual machine or the mac mini) this morning and couldn't start her Virtual machine.  I rebooted the mac, launched vmware fusion and got the following errors:

Bundle "/Users/marygwilson/Documents/Virtual Machines.localized/Windows XP Professional.vmwarevm" is damaged and cannot be opened.

File "/Users/marygwilson/Desktop/Virtual Machines.localized/Windows XP Professional.vmwarevm/Windows XP Professional.vmx" line 1: Syntax Error.

I have no idea what to do and I don't want to poke around and run the risk of making this worse.  I am trying not to panic.  Please advise!

Thank you,

Dena

[a_p_]

Hi Dena,

The Syntax 1 error usually relates to a corrupted vmx file. Please attach the VM's log files as well as the current vmx file from the VM's package/folder. For what to attach see e.g. Re: Line 1: Syntax Error

André

[sdschweitzer]

André,

Thank you for such a quick response.

I followed the instructions as I understood them.  In Finder, I went to ~/Documents/Virtual Machines folder

The only item was Windows XP Professional.vmwarevm

I right clicked and selected "Show Package Contents"

A new finder window opens as such:

No .vmx or .log files.

Yikes!  Now what?

Dena

[a_p_]

Dena,

that does not look very promising. I don't use a Mac myself, so I'm not sure whether there are ways to search/recover lost files. I hope WoodyZ reads this thread. Maybe he has an idea or hint!?

André

[sdschweitzer]

André,

You inspired me to keep looking.  Thank you!  The log files were not in the "usual" place. 

Got 'em.

Dena

[WoodyZ · Accepted solution]

The attached "Windows_XP_Professional.vmx.zip" file contains a new "Windows XP Professional.vmx" file created from the supplied vmware.log file.

With VMware Fusion closed unzip (double-click) the attached "Windows_XP_Professional.vmx.zip" file and replace the original "Windows XP Professional.vmx" file with the one here.

[GummiMakki]

I have a similar problem with W7. I hope you can help me recovering the work.

The file was by accident moved to a different location and after that I got the error.

Best regards,

GummiMakki

[WoodyZ]

I have a similar problem with W7. I hope you can help me recovering the work.

The file was by accident moved to a different location and after that I got the error.

Not sure why you think your issue is similar however if you want me to help then 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.

Also what error did you get?

Note:  I'm not interested in the contents of the VMWareGummi.sitx file you attached because I don't what to have to download and install an application to deal with a archive package that is not natively supported by Mac OS X.

[GummiMakki]

Thank you for your quick response.

The message shown in Virtual Machine Library Window is

Bundle "/Users/Orri/Documents/Virtual Machines.localized/Windows 7-32.vmwarevm" is damaged and cannot be opened.

Attached is the .tgz-file.

It would be very thankful if you can help me out in this, the crash happened on a hectic moment.

Best regards,

GummiMakki

[WoodyZ]

The necessary files for the Windows 7-32 Virtual Machine are missing from it's Package.  In other words if you ctrl-click on the Windows 7-32 Virtual Machine Package in ~/Documents/Virtual Machines and select Show Package Contents the .vmx configuration file and the .vmdk virtual hard disk file(s) are missing.

So the bottom line is if you don't know where they were moved to and move them back or if in the Trash and put them back or can restore from a backup then you're out of luck and there is really nothing I can do for you in this case.

What did you do with these files?

You can try the following commands in a Terminal to try and find the missing files.

mdfind "Windows 7-32.vmx"
mdfind "Windows 7-32.vmdk"

[sdschweitzer]

I am having another error on a different machine.  This is .vmx Syntax Error Line 1.  I have attached the vmx & log files.  Would you be willing to help me again?  Is this something I can learn to do?  I manage 10 Macs w/ vmware and over 2 years this has only occured 2x and that is in the last 6 weeks.

Thank you!

Dena

[a_p_]

Hi Dena,

it looks like the HP driver overwrites the firs 512 Bytes of the vmx file for any reason!?

Anyway, I fixed the vmx file from the entries of the vmware.log.

André

[sdschweitzer]

Thank you André!