XP Applications Hang After Update

[Basiliscus]

I am running an XP virtual machine on a Macbook with Yosemite.  Recently, several updates were auto-installed in XP when I turned on the Macbook.  Now the XP virtual machine will boot and display the desktop, but any application I run just hangs. 

Any suggestions as to how to diagnose the problem?

[Basiliscus]

ps.   I have Time Machine backup of the VM files, but I've been loathe to restore a pre-update backup because I don't want to risk damaging the VM installation.  How risky is it to restore a VM from backup?

[wila]

Hi,

Time machine backups of virtual machines are not reliable, so do not throw away your original before restoring your VM.

You can unregister the VM you have problems with and NOT delete it from disk, then rename it in Finder before trying to restore via TM.

--

Wil

[Basiliscus]

How do I "unregister" a VM?  I see menu items for creating clones, creating snapshots, etc., but not for registering & unregistering VMs.

[wila · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Oh my bad, register/unregister is the terminology used with the VMware vSphere product,

In Fusion the same thing is called "delete" then you get a popup

"Remove virtual machine" with buttons "Move to Trash", "Cancel", "Keep File".

Choose "Keep File"

--

Wil

[Basiliscus]

Your instructions worked after all.  I powered off the XP VM, deleted it, renamed it, and restored from backup.  This time there was no problem in starting up the restored VM, and everything works as it did. 

Naturally, I've turned off automatic updates!

Thanks.