vmware workstation : create virtual machine from vmdk file on external hard disk drive

You should be able to copy the vmdk file to your computer, start VMware, make a new machine (which will make the settings file) and at the point you need a disk or image, point to the vmdk file. That should work. I have done this but a while back.

Where did you get the VMDK, and what format is it ?

I would create a new virtual machine using VMware Workstation, and select the Operating System, CPU, Memory and Networking requirements.

Make sure you do this as Custom.

and then copy the VMDK file you have into the Folder VMware Workstation, has created and you have selected.

and then edit the VM Settings, and select Add Hard Disk, and select an Existing hard disk e.g. the VMDK you have!

BUT....you need to know where it was from, how it was converted, otherwise it may not start the OS.

I'm getting following error : (attached screen shot)

PXE M0F : Exiting Intel PXE ROM
Operating System not found.
vmware-error-screen.jpg

That error just says there is not likely an operating system for the machine. The vmdk might be useless at this point.

Where did you get it from?

It may be faster to build the virtual machine you need.

@Venkatesh Sharma  - Thanks and I was happy to help.

how to share my laptop's internet connection to virtual machine created through VMware workstation.

For a guest machine to get an internet connection is almost automatic.

The default setting for VMware Workstation is NAT and with NAT, the machine should have an internet connection. Check in the machine device driver that the network card (created by VMware) is working properly. It should be.

If you need a lot of help with VMware Workstation networking, you can always ask another question also.

Thanks for quick response and solution.

You are very welcome - happy to help.