Frequency System Crash on Starting a VM (Workstation Pro 12, Windows 10)

[ddtemplar]

I am using Workstation Pro 12 and Windows 10 (both fully updated).  Often I get a full system lock on starting a VM.  Occasionally the system eventually produces a kernel crash (blue-screen) report, other times a hard reset is required. Other times the VM starts without issue.  If it starts than it is smooth sailing.

Is this a known issue?  I am unable to use VMWare because of this issue.

[PeterEvans59]

Yep I have experienced the same behavior (Workstation Pro 12.1 and Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 1511).

What I found was that not all VMware services get started at boot (behavior is random).  Which will either produce a BSOD or a total system hang.

Also found that occasionally, vmnetdhcp.exe stops working.

The only way I have found to work around this problem is:

- after boot; or

- after some VMware service suddenly stops

Run Virtual Network Editor:

- click on change settings

- select restore defaults

This then runs and resets the various VMware services, I can then run VMs

Hopefully, VMware can fix this major issue ASAP in an update to 12.1

[ddtemplar]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

Do you know if VMWare staff monitor the forums, or a way to contact them about this issue?

It seems you need to be a customer to place a ticket, but I only have an academic key.

[CaShc0w]

VMware engineers are monitoring this community.

They will open product bug if they can reproduce your issue on their setup.

And if you can provide more details, like:

1. logs mentioned in "About VMware Workstation" dialog (click menu "Help" > "About VMware Workstation")

2. Collected support data (click menu "Help" > "Support" > "Collect Support Data...")

3. Crash dump files

They may also file bug for the issue.

[ddtemplar]

I can't seem to find anything useful, although this may be because it is hard locking.  I just see logs confirming a startup after an unclean shutdown.

I can provide additional information or try to reproduce the specific condition if a VMWare representative needs it.

Thanks for the information!

[yanw]

Hi, ddtemplar:

   Would you please upload the "Collected support data" and the windows dump files ? Thank you very much

[ddtemplar]

Hello,

Sorry for the late reply.  I am not sure how exactly to find/capture the windows dump files.

When it occurs, the blue-screen error is "Clock Watchdog Timeout".

I have found a similar posting: Windows 10 ver 1511 BSOD clock_watchdog_timeout Error Vmware Workstation 12.1

[yanw]

Hi，

  Would you please check if there are any dump file in the C:\Windows\Minidump folder ? If yes, would you please upload the files ? You can refer the following link for the windows dump file info:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_10-update/blue-screen-of-death-bsod/1939df35...

Windows 10 Forums

[lsv20]

Is there any updates on this issue?