I use an old computer running XP Professional as a host for a couple of virtual machines. I have used VMWare Server 2.0.2
for years, it does what I need. The most important VM runs Ubuntu (11.04 I think). I was using the VM to customise firmware
for a satellite set top box. I regularly updated the VM. About four months ago, I updated, but didn't check it had worked
and I have been busy with other things since. Yesterday, I started it all up, started the VMware Remote Console and was
presented with a black screen. After a bit of messing about I discovered that I can ping the vm, I can see the samba shared
public directory (I had intended sharing my home dir but never got around to it :(. Clicking and dragging the cursor in the
'black' screen of the console, I could reveal parts of my desktop! The x and y coordinates are offset by a couple of inches,
but it is there. I can see that the desktop is bigger than the console, but there are no scroll bars. I checked the vmware
log and there are hundreds of entries of the form
Dec 17 22:03:04.921: mks| SOCKET 7 (1600) VNC backend add update (0, 0) 2360 x 1770 failed
Dec 17 22:03:07.312: mks| SOCKET 7 (1600) VNC backend add update (2188, 0) 71 x 24 failed
I am guessing the coordinates in () are the top left of the rectangle it cannot update.
Ideally I would like to get the vm working again, but I would settle for access to the virtual disk to rescue my files.
Does anyone have any suggestions?