OS and Software > All Things Macintosh > Fusion VMs constantly hosed

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Re: Fusion VMs constantly hosed

Umm, if you have legit copies of these software packages, you don't need to call India to get activated. I have legit copies of Windows and Office (no AutoDesk, ok, but still) and the electronic activation works fine on them.

Also, as a quick question, when you shut down the VM, how are you shutting it down? Are you actually doing a Windows based shutdown from it's Start Menu or are you suspending and shitting down the VM via the VM menu tools? If you're doing it via the menu tools, let me suggest that you make a habit of shutting it down via the Windows functions themselves. Do that for a few times as a test... shut Windows down (don't suspend) via its one controls and let the VM close on its own as the VM'd OS calls for it. See if that still corrupts it. If it doesn't then it's a problem with Fusion definitely and the next step would be to try a rebuild of the VM as I said above.

I do have to call India if I reinstall. MS internet activation will claim they're already activated and tell me to call or buy another license. Normal hardware signatures that would simply permit reactivation never work for my VMs, probably because attempts have been used up through Fusion updates which may have changed the underlying hardware in the view of the Windows VM. If I go without any underlying VM changes for 6mos or a year, then MS would probably let me reactivate without calling. Autodesk requires calling and email along with jumping through fire hoops on a pogo stick no matter what. Once the software is activated, you are toast, even if reinstalling on identical hardware. It simply won't do 2 activations for any reason. I have to call and then email explaining what happened. I've done it three times now and each time I have had to scan and email them my purchase receipts. Then a few days later I am told that isn't good enough and they a photo of my license keys. It always takes about a week to get through the Autodesk gauntlet, during which they suggest I simply upgrade my software to their latest overpriced version.

I shut down the XP VM down using a Windows based shutdown, just as if it were a stand alone machine. Once completely shut down, I close the VM window and exit fusion. Alternatively I select suspend within fusion, wait for it do do its thing and then quit. Suspend in Fusion has been more reliable for me than the Windows shutdown.

I haven't been able to duplicate the cause of corruption. I could do the exact same process 5 times in a row in terms of suspending or shutdown and when I open it the 6th time, I find it is hosed.

Build a new VM with Windows on it. You'll have 30 days to activate once it's loaded. Run that VM through the hoops with shutdowns, restarts, suspends, etc. See what happens. If it's stable, then go though activating the OS and installing your other apps. Go through the same shutdowns, restarts, etc. tests after that. See where you are. If still stable, then move your data over and stop using the old VM.