vmware workstation 6 locking up in Vista 32 bit

[wolluf]

Have been running workstation 6 for several months in a Vista 32 bit installation (Ultimate). Recently started getting problems running some of the VMs. 2 problems.

1. Start VM - and it just sticks on black screen. Can then do nothing with it - if you try to power it off, nothing happens (except power-off option greyed out). Also, once this has happened, can't shut down Vista either (hard shut-down or reboot only) - even after ending vmware with task manager. Have had this with vista, xp, 98 and 2k3 server as guest o/s.

2. Windows 95 VM. Loads to log on screen. Then after logon wants to install PCI device. Ok it to look for driver and the host Vista machine freezes.

Have uninstalled and reinstalled - same. But, the host machine is dual boot with Vista 64 bit. The same VMs work ok in there. It does have an older build of workstation 6 - so I tried installing that in 32 bit, but still no good.

Can't see anything in Vmware FAQ.

Any ideas appreciated. I suspect corruption of the various drivers vmware installs - when I uninstalled, I also removed all the vmware registry entries I could find after uninstall so new install was as clean as possible, but not sure I didn't miss something.

 

[linney]

What do comments like this "VMware Workstation 6 VMs Not Compatible with ESX and Fusion" mean, I see them in some Google links on your problem?

http://www.google.com/search?q=vmware+workstation+6+locking+up+in+Vista+32+bit&rls=com.microsoft:

Can VM be installed in a Compatibility mode for XP? Do you have the problem if you load VM via Run As Administrator?

The heretic in me says, use Virtual PC 2007, sorry, now I'm back off to the Vista and XP Forums.

 

[wolluf]

Hi linney

Thing is, as I said, it was working - so don't think its compatibility (and no, running as admin makes no difference). It may be something else I've installed of course which doesn't agree with vmware - and despite promising myself I'll always test new software on a test machine or VM first, I often don't!

I do use virtual PC too - but its lack of USB support is sometimes an issue.

I have got a whole stream of event log error entries for vmauthd similar to this:-

Cannot connect to VMX: F:\My Virtual Machines\Windows 95\Windows 95.vmx

But they've been there for months - ie, when it was working.

sorry to drag you out of Vista/XP!

PS. I also installed vmware on machine running 64-bit XP and copied 'problem' VM to it - runs fine there too! if it wasn't my main installation, I'd probably flatten it and start again.

 

[BadBigBen]

wolluf, don't know if you already updated to the latest build, or if you have read the following 'known issues' list at the vmware website...

Build number (latest): VMware Workstation 6.0.2, Build 59824

Release notes:

http://www.vmware.com/support/ws6/doc/releasenotes_ws6.html

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[BadBigBen]

another thing that springs to mind is that you already have the latest build and it is causing the problem, try to deinstall the 6.0.2 and reinstall the 6.0.1 or even 6.0.0...

http://communities.vmware.com/thread/105547

hope this helps...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[wolluf]

Ben - thanks - but I've already tried all that! Have decided to abandon vmware on 32 bit, and just run Virtual PC (life's too short). I can always use the 64 bit to access the vmware vms if I am looking at USB stuff (I don't often use the 64 bit install as I run some older 16 bit apps that just won't run on 64 bit at all - though do on 32 bit - which is why I ended up on 32 - would rather be on 64).

Must admit if I didn't have customers using vista I'd just go back to using XP as main installation. Apart from compatibility and other issues (I've had a series of issues with my Vista installations), XP just runs so much faster on the same hardware! (yes I know its not supposed to - but it does). And with a few exceptions, I still prefer its interface (and customers wanting new PCs & laptops are generally opting for XP rather than Vista). Of course everything will be better after SP1 (or not!)

 

[BadBigBen]

The only 64bit OS I am using at present is Linux, everything else is 32 bit at work (XP main install)...

our customers are using XP or W2k as guest under Linux...

with the exception to three workers who have opted to use XP 64bit instead... so no Vista for a long time to come...

but on the other hand, I am personally using Vista 64bit on my laptop in a dual boot environment, the other being XP 32bit... so my knowledge as to the 32 bit version of Vista is limited or derived from XP itself...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."