Windows XP hangs when shutting down in VMWare Fusion

Here's the background: I use a Macbook from this year and run VMWare Fusion (newest update). One of my VM's is Windows XP Professional. Two times recently, I have brought up the VM window to see that it has decided to shut down and is at the "Windows is shutting down" blue screen (not bsod). At this point it seems like using the menu drop down "Shut Down" does not work. The first time, I was able to force quit fusion (suspending the VM) and then come back in and shut it down from menu, but this time, no luck.

Is there any way to "pull the power" on the VM?

Please also answer if you know what might be causing the VM to decide to shut down (besides windows update) or what it might be "thinking" as it hangs mid-shutdown.

Solution 1:

Try using the vmrun utility included with VMWare Fusion. Launch the VM in Fusion and execute this command (in a Terminal window) to make vmrun can see it:

/Library/Application\ Support/VMware\ Fusion/vmrun list

If the problematic virtual machine shows up, run:

/Library/Application\ Support/VMware\ Fusion/vmrun -T fusion stop "/path/to/.vmx" hard

That should shut it down immediately.

Solution 2:

Thought I'd chime in with my QSW results so they may help teh next.

While THIS thread has the SERP, this thread has teh solution: http://blog.unseenbattle.net/windows-xp-not-shutting-down-in-vmware-fusion.

Hold down the Option Key > Click Virtual Machine > See teh Power Off option > Click it.

kthanxbai