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Restarting the virtual machine results in a black screen (2018045)
Details
The virtual machine console appears black after a reboot
After rebooting, the virtual machine displays a black screen
When accessing the VM console through vSphere Client or Remote Desktop, a black screen is displayed
Changing the memory allocated to the virtual machine does not resolve the issue
This issue occurs in a secure environment
Solution
This issue occurs due to a Windows Domain Security Profile that does not allow hot added devices for security reasons. If a hard drive is added while the machine is powered on, it is listed as a Hot Add device in the .vmx file. During reboot, because of the policy, Windows remains at the black screen and does not boot after displaying the Windows Splash Screen.
This workaround is required to match the Windows Group Policy to allow the virtual machine to function properly.
Note: If your issue persists even after performing the workaround, file a support request with VMware Support and note this Knowledge Base article ID (2018045) in the problem description. For more information, see How to Submit a Support Request.
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