I have an Ubuntu VM that I recently force shut-down as a result of having to install the new update to VMWare (10.0.3). However, ever since the VM was unsafely shut down, I'm getting the following error every time I try to boot up the VM:
Could not open virtual machine: D:\Users\Me\Desktop\Ubuntu 64-bit - Web Server\Ubuntu 64-bit - Web Server.vmx
Error while loading this virtual machine's policies: A required file was not found.
Looking at the following knowledgebase article: VMware KB: Starting a virtual machine in Workstation or Fusion fails with the error: This virtual machine's policies…
it is suggested that you remove some lines in the *.vmx file to resolve the issue.
Unfortunately, my VM is encrypted and these are the contents of my *.vmx file:
.encoding = "windows-1252"
displayName = "Web Server"
encryption.keySafe = "vmware:key/list/(pair/(phrase/HkQNlLdRsQE%3d/pass2key%3dPBKDF2%2dHMAC%2dSHA%2d1%3acipher%3dAES%2d256%3arounds%3d1000%3asalt%3deRfqGPODWEa9vrRcB9UidQ%253d%253d,HMAC%2dSHA%2d1,MPPHucOO1xKg3kzDfGOZM0h3cF8SFWUkZ77LSfVeosfwn2ju7VFMx5uldDt%2bBb1rTsscn7PzEZbOjqa1l6dd4g12izoyaVKLFJ3FucyKIxWPCbPVho%2faGEDdtkZ3BBQluAkRwuc2TIpMGneQ15AX9uUvsjg%3d))"
encryption.data = "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"
I do know the password to decrypt this VM, but it doesn't serve me any use since I can't do anything within the VMWare Workstation program because I immediately get the error right after I type in the password and I don't have the ability to access even the settings.
So there needs to be a way to decrypt this *.vmx file so that I can access the hidden underlying settings that are underneath the encryption. I am assuming that after decrypting the *.vmx file, I should be able to adjust the vmx properties slightly and hopefully get the VM to reopen again.
I had a lot of personal info within this VM and I'd really like to have access to it again as I didn't have any backups.
Any help is appreciated!