vmware file is gone

Clicking on a vmware file from explorer is not really the proper way to start a virtual machine.
Starting vmware should give you a list of registered virtual machines.

Thank you Scott.  Can you plz walk me through the correct way?

When you open vmware from its icon, it should show you a list of your registered virtual machines.

I don't have a local copy of VMWare to give you screenshots as my organization runs VSphere, and it is run from a web interface.

Is this VMware Workstation ?

Powering On a virtual machine, which responds with the message "No operating system found", suggests, it's booting from the wrong BOOT device, or the Disk is corrupted, just like with a physical computer.

It's not really anything to do with the way in which the Hypervisor (application which runs the VMs) which in this case could be VMware Workstation or VMware Player.

I have this virtual machine and yes it is workstation on a super-fast USB drive. I also have to have the application installed on the laptop. when I open the VMware application on the laptop it doesn't show any machines in the window

As for which virtual machines are registered to power on, is a different issues, to the operating system not found.

The fault lies within the OS (e.g. inside the VM)

If you open VMware Workstation, and then click

1. File > Open > browse to the VM files and open it does it still state "operating system not found"

Also try the file above the one in your screen grab as it looks like the actual virtual machine file and not the virtual disk you have highlighted.

Ive tried clicking on all those files and windows doesnt recognize them

Andrew my comment didn't post here's how I start up the virtual machine first I click on VMware workstation on my desktop then I click on open a virtual machine and a window opens with the three little glass pane icon things has Windows 7 x64 with a to buy it so I double click that. then the virtual workstation opens up and I have to click on power on this virtual machine then I get the VMware splash screen.then winter comes up VMware workstation cannot connect to the virtual device SATA 0 1 because no corresponding devices available on the host. do you want to try to connect this virtual machine every time you power on the machine and I click yes then the slash dream comes back and I see missing operating system

by the way the icon that I clicked on is only about 3 KB so I still don't know where the actual VM file is

The only file you need to open is the *.VMX file if the Virtual Machine is not registered in VMware Workstation.

If you open the VMX file, and the Virtual Machine starts, and displays inside the VM - missing operating system

The virtual machine is corrupted or not booting, is this what is happening ?

(click other files which make up the VM, is not going to help)


The VM Data is stored in VMDK (VMX is the configuration file which LOADS the VMDK)

The VMDK will be the largest of your files.

Are you using this virtual machine on multiple computers from this USb thumb drive? It could be that the vmx file has full path specs to the virtual disk file that are now different.. IE... Originally the USB drive was "G", and now it is "H", or something similar...
I have to say I have never tried to run a virtual machine from a USB drive...

Yes, I have to use it on 2 different laptops

So, what do I do now guys?

Can you attach the VMX file, and upload here.

or the VMDK file has become corrupted.

You may have to start an OS repair.

is there a way to repair A VM OS?

If you do get it running, can you copy it to the two different laptops? Or do you have to retain some sort of last used state?

The other thing would be to somehow force the USb stick to be seen as the same drive letter on both systems...  And judicially use the OS disconnect tools before unplugging it to prevent corruption.

It stays on this usb.  Not sure about last used state.
Not sure what your other sentence means.

User closed Session without engagement.

This looks very much like the OS is CORRUPTED.

You will need to use the same standard techniques as you would with a physical computer which had the same error message, a Windows 7 repair.

Can you upload the VMX file to EE.

Dont think I can upload the file.  I work in a secure job.

So how actually do I run a repair on this?

It does not matter you've been using the Virtual Machine on a USB drive between laptops.

The issue is the VM has become corrupted.

You repair the VM using the same tools and procedures as you would any computer.

see here

https://www.easeus.com/partition-master/fix-operating-system-not-found-missing-operating-system-error-in-windows.html

But I suspect the Virtual Machine Disk (VMDK) has become corrupted on the USB device, and if that is the case the VM is broken, and needs specialist recovery.

Im not going to pay for recovery.  Im just wondering how to fix it myself

I've posted a link how to repair a missing operating system issue, but if the disk is bad.

But if the Virtual Machine Disk (VMDK) is corrupted because it's been on a USB device, which has been removed and plugged in between laptops, corruption happens.

Options are

1. restore from backup.
2. specialist recovery.

if the VM/data is important.

Well, there's nothing in the EaseUS to help me.  And I have no idea where a backup might be.  Heck, I cant even find the actual .vmx file that has the vm on it!

the data for the VM is stored in the

VMDK (virtual machine disk) - I've seen this file in the two screenshots you have provided.

VMX - this is a TEXT configuration file, which you can edit and open with a text editor e.g. notepad

VMware Workstation opens the VMX file, this is a configuration file which describes the VM pararmeters to VMware Workstation e.g. CPU, Memory, Networking and Disk.

This loads an opens the VMDK and BOOTs it.

Your VMDK is corrupted, or the OS within it is corrupted.

The link I've posted describes 5 reasons for a Missing Operating System

Part 1: Reasons/causes for the operating system not found error

System/BIOS does not detect Windows installation hard drive/disk

System hard disk drive failure due to physical/logical damage

Improper/incorrect set BIOS settings

Windows Master Boot Record disk is corrupt/damaged

Windows boot files in system partition are no longer active

After knowing the top 5 major reasons that cause operating system missing in Windows, you may try to figure out which reason that has caused your Windows OS not found and then find a relative solution to fix the problem.

Source
https://www.easeus.com/partition-master/fix-operating-system-not-found-missing-operating-system-error-in-windows.html

and it also shows 5 Solutions.

It was working for the last month, so it's not bios.  I wish I knew how to do a repair.

But I still cant find a file in there that's 20-40gb.  Do you know?

Here's what I see when I click on the .vmdk

search for *.VMDK

There are 5 options, which need to be checked and followed, that is your repair.

(it's not VMware Workstation which has broken)

Yes, that's the file which contains the VM data, but you CANNOT open it directly and run it!

It can only be run from within VMware Workstation.

and what you are observing is NORMAL, if you try to click it!

(that does not mean it's broken!)

I need the exact steps to repair the .vmdk

First you need to check if this is an OS fault, following the 5 procedures above?

how do you know it's a VMDK fault at present ?

If you don't want to do the 5 checks above, a very quick method, would be to create a new VM, and then add this disk to that VM, and check the contents from that VM, which we call a Helper VM.

here's what I see when I use the desktop app and try to run

Im sorry I dont understand the "five steps"

and if you Open the Windows 7 x64 (2).vmx file ....

which is normal.

ok gotchya

which file is the one with the actual vm?  The vmx is only 3kb

Okay, if you do not understand the

5 Steps,

I'm sorry but fixing a VMDK file is technically challenging, if not impossible more difficult than the 5 steps.

both files

VMX
VMDK

make up the VM.

I would suggest working with Experts Exchange Experts on Live to attend to your issue, or Starting a session.

ok, gotchya.  So what can I do to actually fix this?

where is the experts on live button?

I think you need additional help.

https://www.experts-exchange.com/live/

what about that idea you had for creating another one and "adding" it?

You should be able to do that!

that will show, if the VMDK is damaged or not.

ok. how?

1. Create a new VM.
2. When new VM is created.
3. Powered OFF.
4. Add the "damaged non-booting VMDK" to new VM.
5. Add Disk in menu.
6. Power ON VM.
7. Check disk in Explorer.

Sorry, I dont understand those steps.  Can you clarify?

what all of them ?

I need to know exactly what to do.  I don't have a lot of experience with virtual machines

Do you know, how to create a virtual machine, with a Windows OS installed ?

Do you know how to Power On a VM ?

Do you know how to Power OFF a VM ?

Do you know how to add a disk to a VM ?

no.  somebody created this one for me so I'm not sure how

Do you have Windows OS media ?

no

I can power on and off a machine that's easy

If you do not have any Windows media, you will need to find Windows media, or download an evaluation ISO from the internet.

Before you can do anything and create a virtual machine, you need the WIndows OS software

here are places to obtain a Windows ISO

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8ISO

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

You will need your product key for installation

this is a work laptop.  I dont have any of that

They can be downloaded from the Internet, provided you have a Product Key, no Product Key you will not be able to install and OS.

If someone else created that VM for you maybe you should ask them if they have the skill to repair it...
The technical skills needed to repair that system are not going to be communicated with a checklist...

You might as well ask us to write out how to do brain surgery in 5 easy steps...

You will need to find a skilled tech to do it for you. Is there something on that Vm that you need to recover? Or is it something that can be easily recreated?

Hey Andrew can we do a GoTo Meetting?  Or anyone else?

connected with user to show him how Sessions works

Scott, the guy who helped me set this up is confused too

The VMDK cannot be repaired.

Your only hope is to try and connect to a new VM, which you will need to create and download and ISO, and have a Product Key,

well I dont have any of that for sure here at work

Fist, I need to backup my data.  Can you help?

So you do not have any Windows media, or License Keys ?

To backup the data just make a copy of the *.VMDK large file.

no keys and Ok I will do that now. Thank you

Do you have fast internet access ? to download software from the internet ?

yes

Okay, it's possible we can download some software, connect it to the virtual machine, and run some diagnostics on the virtual machine OS partition to see if it's corrupted or not.

I posted some software choices on the new thread

All fixed.

Mgr wants me to get the new version vm.  So waiting for approval

I'm not sure what that means.

But, it's clear the the Virtual Machine has become corrupted.

I've posted details of how to mount the VMDK, which you can try and recover data, but if the VMDK has become corrupted the folders and files must be treated as suspect.

version 15.  Guess he's had enough of v.11 and it's problems.  I will DEFINITELY try and mount that file yes.

It is not going to make any difference what version of virtual machine he creates.

Virtual Machine hardware versions just support different hardware. (later hardware, more memory etc)

STOP using USB flash drives, external hard disks which get easily corrupted.

Moving a virtual machine on a flash drive between different computers, eventually is going to get corrupted.

I second the above comment... If you really MUST use more than one laptop, put a virtual machine copy on each of them and create a secure location on the network to store the data you want to keep... That way you can access your data from either machine

or host the Virtual Machine on VMware vSphere! (ESXi Hypervisor)

Isnt vSphere just for servers?  Not sure what you are recommending

VMware vSphere is the Enterprise Edition of VMware Workstation designed for Servers and Workstations, and is recommended if you are going to share a virtual machine, hence the recommendation, of swapping laptops to use a VM!

Do you have any documentation to prove your claim?

http://www.vmware.com

VMware Workstation is an application which installs on a PC.

VMware Workstation is a Type 2 Hypervisor, other Type 2 Hypervisors include, VMware Server, VMware Player, Virtualbox, and Parallels.

Type 2 Hypervisors are SLOW.  In most reviews and experience, they perform at roughly 30-40% hardware capability.  That means an OS in a VM run off VMWare Workstation will likely perform at best like it has an 800 MHz CPU if you have 2 GHz physical CPU. You install Type 2 hypervisors onto of an existing host operating system.

If you use a Type 1 Hypervisor, you get MUCH better performance. ESX, ESXi, are all Type 1 hypervisors - they (based on experience and reviews) typically get 80-90% hardware capability - so that same VM run off the same 2 GHz CPU should operate more like it has a 1.6 GHz CPU instead of 800 Mhz. Type 1 hypervisors are installed on the bare metal of the server.

Type 1 Hypervisors also include Hyper-V.

Anyway question is going off topic. I think this question is now closed, please select an answer and award points.

We can discuss Hypervisors for Organisations in another thread.

(what you are doing is not recommended!)

No, not yet.

Also, I know the vmware website.  I am looking for a source citation for your CLAIM.  If you are the source, please tell me where you got the info

checkout the comparison between the desktop product you are using...

https://www.itcentralstation.com/products/comparisons/vmware-vsphere_vs_vmware-workstation

Swapping files between workstations on USB flash drive is prone to error and corruption, and is not best practice, you would be better using a network share, if you are going to share virtual machines, but if the Virtual Machine is run centrally and hosted on a server, then all parties can benefit.

VMware vSphere can do this for you, the software is designed to run on a server, but can Host many different Guest VMs (servers and desktops)

On phone w/vmware.  They say Workstation is a hypervisor.

Yes it is... A type 2 hypervisor, which means it runs UNDER a full OS that is also consuming resources...

A type 1 hypervisor runs at the root of the system, with very little processor and memory consumed by it...

Yes, it is but an application which performs poorly compared to a Type 1.

Ask VMware, which performs better VMware Workstation or VMware vSphere?

VMware Workstation is generally used by single Developers on a single machine, later on the organisation decides to migrate to an Enterprise Corporate product VMware vSphere.

However, this question was about your file which is gone, which has not gone it got CORRUPTED.

which branched to a question here

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/29139400/Repair-Windows-7-OS.html

Did you recover your files ?

Thank you everyone.