Knowledge Base

If your legacy virtual machine uses disks in nonpersistent mode, any changes you make to those disks -- such as upgrading VMware Tools -- are lost when you power off the virtual machine.

To upgrade VMware Tools in the virtual machine, you need to change the configuration so the disk accepts and stores changes. After upgrading VMware Tools, you may then switch back to a mode equivalent to the nonpersistent mode used in older versions of Workstation or GSX Server.

The following steps apply if all the disks attached to your virtual machine are in nonpersistent mode. If you have a mixed-mode configuration, with some disks in nonpersistent mode and other disks in a different mode, see www.vmware.com/info?id=40.

1. A snapshot exists for this virtual machine. You must remove it. Choose Snapshot>Remove Snapshot.
2. Power on the virtual machine.
3. Upgrade VMware Tools. For details, see Installing VMware Tools in a Workstation virtual machine or Installing VMware Tools in a GSX Server virtual machine.
4. Shut down the guest operating system and power off the virtual machine.
5. Choose File>Upgrade Virtual Hardware.
6. A dialog box cautions you that the operation is irreversible and recommends that you back up the virtual disks before proceeding. If you are ready to proceed, click Yes.
7. A dialog box displays a message describing what is about to happen. Click OK to continue.
8. Power on the virtual machine.
9. The guest operating system finds the new virtual hardware and may need to install new drivers for it. For details on the process, see the standard steps for upgrading to VMware Workstation 4 or standard steps for upgrading to VMware GSX Server 3.
10. Shut down the guest operating system and power off the virtual machine.
11. Take a snapshot of the virtual machine. Click Snapshot on the Workstation toolbar.
12. If the virtual machine is running under Workstation, use the Virtual Machine Control Panel to set the virtual machine to revert to the snapshot every time you power it off. Go to Edit>Virtual Machine Settings>Options>Snapshot.Under When powering off select Revert to the snapshot.

    If the virtual machine is running under GSX Server, use the virtual machine settings editor to set the virtual machine to revert to the snapshot every time you power it off. Go to VM>Settings>Options>Snapshot.Under When powering off select Revert to the snapshot.