external hard drive - Vmware workstation takes too much time to shut down

Each time I shuting down my virtual machine - it takes like 30 minutes for VM Ware to complete the process. The shut down is done, but it shows a black screen and doesn't respond to any command. I can't do a Power > Power OFF or Power > Suspend. When I click it - nothing changes.

When trying to close - it says "still busy". This happens only when using a Virtual Machine stored on an external hard drive. When Virtual Machine files are stored on a local drive - everything is OK. Hard drive is working good.

Any suggestions how can I investigate the issue?

Answer

Maybe this might work for you, for me it worked.

VM Takes Long Time to Shutdown Fix

1. Shut down the VM before you do anything; if something like a Production server, you should either backup the entire directory that holds the VM files or take a snapshot (depends on your product).


2. In the VM's folder, locate the .VMX file


3. Make a copy (backup) of the file (this is important!)


4. 
   

   Edit the file using notepad (don't use anything like Word) - locate the following entries in file - if you DO NOT find them, add them to the bottom of the file:

   
   

   prefvmx.minVmMemPct = "100"
   mainMem.useNamedFile = "FALSE"
   mainMem.partialLazySave = "FALSE"
   mainMem.partialLazyRestore = "FALSE"
   



5. Save the file and exit notepad


6. Start the VM - let it completely start, log in, then choose normal shutdown - should now shutdown in a matter of seconds.

I've had no adverse effects with these settings but use at your own risk.

^{Source: http://davidmsterling.blogspot.com.br/2012/08/vmware-virtual-machine-takes-long-time.html}