I like Windows XP Mode a lot. As soon as I need to test something in XP, it is there. As soon as I am done, it just gets hibernated and waits for next chance to be used.
After upgrading my BIOS I could not get it to start anymore. It just said "'Windows XP Mode' could not be restored because either host processor type mismatch or lack of hardware-assisted virtualization support in the system." I just love those messages that pinpoint issue to few unconnected solutions...
Fortunately (since I already used that Virtual machine and since Windows XP mode does not require hardware-assisted virtualization support anymore) I could quite easily scratch one error cause and focus my attention only to host processor type mismatch.
My BIOS error got Virtual PC into thinking that restoration would not be wise move. Since I had no idea myself whether this would be good move or not, I decided just to delete hibernation files and reboot machine.
First I had to find configuration file. I had not need for one that ends in .wmcx since there is absolutely nothing of any significance there. I needed one that ends in .vmc and it is usually next to virtual disk (mine was at C:\Users\Josip\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Machines\Windows XP Mode.vmc). There is lot of data in it but I was interested only in
...
<settings>
<configuration>
<next_id type="integer">1</next_id>
<saved_state>
<path>
<absolute type="string">C:\Users\Josip\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Machines\Windows XP Mode.vsv</absolute>
<relative type="string">.\Windows XP Mode.vsv</relative>
</path>
</saved_state>
</configuration>
...
</settings>
...In this section there was data that defines where hibernation support files can be found. To make machine forget that it was hibernated, I only had to DELETE this section. Once that is done I could start machine once more.
P.S. This same recipe should be valid for any other hibernated Virtual PC machine.
Thank you very much for this article! It is really great when people who have knowledge, share it with others. This solved the hibernate problem, and saved days worth of work.
Paul Roberts is right! Thank you so much. Very helpful when someone with more knowledge points some thing out that would take us like hours (days) to fix. Thanks again, sir/ma’am.
Just want to add my 2 cents…This is what the internet was made for. a free exchange of ideas. your info was short concise and right on the money! Glad you shared!
Thanks this is very useful
Thank you enormously. Had trouble yesterday as XP Mode bombed after an automatic Windows Update (to XP Mode ) and Windows 7 host. Now working again – I rely on this so thanks again.
Thank you so much, you save my day. It’s working again..!!
Thank you very much, I tried to start my Virtual machine one week without result. Thanks a lot!
Let me repeat the “thank you” messages from others in this thread. You saved my morning!
Perfect solution!
Thank you!!!
Hot Damn! This worked like a charm. Saved me hours of troubleshooting. Thanks for posting!
Not sure why you’d edit that the .vmc file instead of just deleting the .vsv file.
But thank you for reminding me which file to delete! ^_^
Meh, to each their own, at least this thing popped up in Google pretty quickly. I just enabled Virtualization in my BIOS and got this error… so, installed it yesterday, did this, got the error, found this, and got it back in like 10 seconds. So, can’t hate. :)
THANKS SO MUCH. Someone else restarted my computer yesterday and XP totally locked up. Deleted the .vsv file and bam, it worked. Thanks for the tip.
Thank you very much. It’s very useful with me..
Very Good Solution.
It is working fine .thnks
Thank you! It worked for me also!!!!
Thank you very much, finally I found the solution in this proceed :).
Thanks a lot! That fixed it for me as well!
Thanks for this article – I had the same problem and probably wouldn’t have figured it out without your help.
Thanks a lot. I was stuck with the virtual machine hibernated and it was imposible to boot.
Thank you. I was stuck too. Editing the *.vmc file solved my problem.
thank you so much!
Thanks so much. Deleting the .vsv file also worked form me. Thank you so much for documenting!
Beer for You ;)
Thank you. that solve the problem ASAP ! thanks again.
Thanks A LOT for sharing your experience and knowledge!!!!
You’re the man … works like a treat.. thanks
THANK YOU!
I am a novice and tried to follow these instructions. When I drill down and find the Windows XP Mode.vmc file and click on it, it tries to open the application and gives me the same error message. How do I open the coding? I really need to use the Virtual XP mode to get to some files.
Thanks!
Dianne
You nee to open vmc in Notepad. Easiest approach would be to open Notepad and Explorer side by side and then just drag file to Notepad window.
But be sure to make a copy before-hand. You can mess configuration up in such manner that only resolution is creating new VM altogether.
thank you ;)
Thanks!!!!!
Thank you !!!!!!!!!!!
I removed that line C:\Users\…. and indeed the hibernation issue is gone. But when I launch the XP virtual machine, a new XP Mode.vsv is created, and the .vmc is automatically updated. When I start the VP again, my problem reappears.