Is there any other way to extract files from the virtual disk files?

[JeJen]

I tried using VMware workstation to start the virtual machine but it says its missing a file.

Is there any other way to extract files from the virtual disk files?

[JeJen]

ok but its a 3 gig file. its going to take a while to open

[oreeh]

The VMX file can't be 3GIG - it should be about 1-4KB.

[KevinG]

open a dos prompt and cd in to the folder containing

the files

then execute

"C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware

Workstation\vmware-vdiskmaanger" -r "Other Linux

2.6.x kernel-000002.vmdk" -t 0 "new Other Linux 2.6.x

kernel.vmdk"

@ oreeh Do you feel the need to repeat what I had already posted? You even copied my type o in the spelling of vmware-vdiskmanager

[JeJen]

oh ok let me check.

config.version = "8"

virtualHW.version = "4"

scsi0.present = "TRUE"

scsi0.virtualDev = "lsilogic"

memsize = "1024"

MemAllowAutoScaleDown = "FALSE"

scsi0:0.present = "TRUE"

scsi0:0.fileName = "Other Linux 2.6.x kernel-000002.vmdk"

ide1:0.present = "TRUE"

ide1:0.fileName = "auto detect"

ide1:0.deviceType = "cdrom-raw"

floppy0.present = "FALSE"

ethernet0.present = "TRUE"

usb.present = "TRUE"

sound.present = "TRUE"

sound.virtualDev = "es1371"

sound.fileName = "-1"

sound.autodetect = "TRUE"

displayName = "Debian 3.1r5 Server"

guestOS = "other26xlinux"

nvram = "Other Linux 2.6.x kernel.nvram"

scsi0:0.redo = ""

ethernet0.addressType = "generated"

uuid.location = "56 4d 6b 97 c9 a1 fd e3-32 ef 56 fc 54 cf 8b f7"

uuid.bios = "56 4d 6b 97 c9 a1 fd e3-32 ef 56 fc 54 cf 8b f7"

ide1:0.autodetect = "TRUE"

tools.remindInstall = "FALSE"

ethernet0.generatedAddress = "00:0c:29:cf:8b:f7"

ethernet0.generatedAddressOffset = "0"

ide1:0.startConnected = "TRUE"

tools.syncTime = "FALSE"

[KevinG]

You need to post Other Linux 2.6.x kernel.vmx.

If you configure your "Folder Options" to not hide files with known file extensions you will see the .vmx file

[JeJen]

I did

[oreeh]

@ oreeh Do you feel the need to repeat what I had already posted? You even copied my type o in the spelling of vmware-vdiskmanager

no I really don't feel the need

Since JeJen didn't got it to work I decided to post it again and thereby add the missing double quotes - but I missed the spelling error

[KevinG]

It's possible that Other Linux 2.6.x kernel.vmdk is corrupted.

Do you have a backup of this VM?

[KevinG]

Ok, I now see JeJen reply

[JeJen]

How do you tell if its corrupted?

I only have the original on the DVD.

Isn't there another way to open these files?

[oreeh]

There are several possible reasons for this.

You say you have it on DVD - do you know which VMware product was used to create it?

Message was edited by:

oreeh

I assume it was created using VMware Server and you are experiencing the results of the "pathname" bug - the eror message is an indication of this.

If this is the case it can be solved.

[JeJen]

how

[oreeh]

First we need to check if this really is the case.

Download the following zip http://sanbarrow.com/diskreport/tools.zip

extract it and copy ddtget.exe in the VM folder.

Then open a dos shell (cmd.exe) cd to the folder and execute the following commands

ddtget.exe --vmdk="Other Linux 2.6.x kernel-000002.vmdk" --desc=snapshot.txt

ddtget.exe --vmdk="Other Linux 2.6.x kernel.vmdk" --desc=base.txt

Then post the contents of the two generated text files.

[JeJen]

snapshot.txt

\# Disk DescriptorFile

version=1

CID=3584cec6

parentCID=28abdfed

createType="monolithicSparse"

parentFileNameHint="C:\Documents and Settings\mkj\My Documents\My Virtual Machines\Debian 3.1r5 Server\Other Linux 2.6.x kernel.vmdk"

\# Extent description

RW 16777216 SPARSE "Other Linux 2.6.x kernel-000002.vmdk"

\# The Disk Data Base

#DDB

ddb.toolsVersion = "6434"

\----

---

base.txt

\# Disk DescriptorFile

version=1

CID=28abdfed

parentCID=ffffffff

createType="monolithicSparse"

\# Extent description

RW 16777216 SPARSE "Other Linux 2.6.x kernel.vmdk"

\# The Disk Data Base

#DDB

ddb.toolsVersion = "0"

ddb.adapterType = "lsilogic"

ddb.geometry.sectors = "63"

ddb.geometry.heads = "255"

ddb.geometry.cylinders = "1044"

ddb.virtualHWVersion = "4"

[oreeh]

You are experiencing the pathname bug.

Modify snapshot.txt according to the following

\# Disk DescriptorFile

version=1

CID=3584cec6

parentCID=28abdfed

createType="monolithicSparse"

parentFileNameHint="Other Linux 2.6.x kernel.vmdk"

\# Extent description

RW 16777216 SPARSE "Other Linux 2.6.x kernel-000002.vmdk"

\# The Disk Data Base

#DDB

ddb.toolsVersion = "6434"

Then copy ddtset.exe to the folder and execute the following command

(I assume you still have a copy of Other Linux 2.6.x kernel-000002.vmdk in case something goes wrong)

ddtset.exe --vmdk="Other Linux 2.6.x kernel-000002.vmdk" --desc=snapshot.txt

Then try to start the VM.

[JeJen]

'ddtset.exe' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

It worked before when I executed these commands

ddtget.exe --vmdk="Other Linux 2.6.x kernel-000002.vmdk" --desc=snapshot.txt

ddtget.exe --vmdk="Other Linux 2.6.x kernel.vmdk" --desc=base.txt

Don't know why its giving that error now.

[oreeh]

You have to copy ddtset.exe (included in the zip file you downloaded earlier) in the folder containing the VM files.

[JeJen]

Ok I did that and it did whatever it needed to do.

It still gives the same error message.

File not found: Other Linux 2.6.x kernal-Snapshot2.vmsn

This file is required to power on this virtual machine. If the file was moved , please provide its new location.

Is it just a missing file and can never be accessed without this file? or is there a way to access the files that store the hard drive data without this file?

[oreeh]

This file is still missing but not really needed.

Rename Other Linux 2.6.x kernel.vmsd to Other Linux 2.6.x kernel.vmsdx and try again.

Message was edited by:

oreeh

Seems I forgot to include this in my last post

[JeJen]

it works =D

but its giving me a warning about memory. take a look

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa248/tttt678/950.jpg?t=1185483199