VMware-getting "device guard" error in spite

Paul Bacon · 04 Dec 2017

I keep getting this error in attempting to open VM Player v14.

VMware-getting "device guard" error in spite-error-opening-player.jpg

I was using Hyper-V for a few days and decided to try out VMware Player using Brink's tutorial. I tried using cmd "bcdedit" to turn off Hyper-V, and got this result:

VMware-getting "device guard" error in spite-error-cmd-hyperv.jpg

Then, as I had saved a system image before working on Hyper-V, I restored that system image. I'm still getting that first error. I went to the link to follow VMware's instructions, but I couldn't run their code because access was denied to the boot configuration data store:

VMware-getting "device guard" error in spite-trying-opend-bcdedit.jpg

I have virtualization enabled in the BIOS and hyper-v is uninstalled via "turn Windows features on or off".

Could someone walk me through this troubleshooting? I've tried a number of things already, but no success.

Kari · 04 Dec 2017

You are running BCDEDIT in normal user mode Command Prompt. BCDEDIT requires elevated Command Prompt (tutorial).

That is also clearly told in Brink's tutorial you referred to. Extract from a warning at the beginning of said tutorial:

Warning

To be able to run a VM in VMware Workstation Player and no longer can run a VM in Hyper-V, you will need to perform the steps below to turn off hypervisorlaunchtype.

A) Open an elevated command prompt.
B) Enter bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off into the command prompt, and press Enter.
C) Restart the computer to apply.

(From Install Windows 10 as Virtual Machine in VMware Player Virtualization Tutorials)

Paul Bacon · 04 Dec 2017

Okay Kari, I'll follow the tutorial.

I thought I was using an elevated cmd because I'm the administrator, but obviously I'm mistaken.

I'll be back :).

Thank you sir!

Kari · 04 Dec 2017

Paul Bacon said:

I thought I was using an elevated cmd because I'm the administrator, but obviously I'm mistaken.

It's not the same thing. Your user account is something called local administrator account, your screenshots revealed that you had run Command Prompt in user mode, as you. Running an application, program, command or tool elevated means that instead of your local admin account it will be run with highest priviliges, as built-in administrator.

You can start an application elevated by right clicking it and selecting Run as administrator, or for instance in case of Command Prompt by pressing WIN + R to open RUN prompt, typing cmd and pressing CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER (pressing ENTER alone starts it in normal user mode).

Tutorial: Open Elevated Command Prompt in Windows 10 General Tips Tutorials

Kari

Paul Bacon · 05 Dec 2017

Kari, thanks to your links I'm now using an elevated cmd.

I followed the instructions in the VMware knowledge base article. Upon reboot I disabled 2 items at the prompts. The first time I opened the Player I got this error:

VMware-getting "device guard" error in spite-remove-hyper-v-role.jpg

Then I went back and re-did steps 1 and 2 in the article. I had already done that yesterday, and the settings were still correct. Now I'm back to this error when I click on Play (the green arrow.)

Do you think I should start from scratch? --enable Hyper-V again, then follow the KnowledgeBase article to the letter?

Paul Bacon · 05 Dec 2017

Never mind Kari. I got it. I ran the hypervisorlaunchtype off.

I think I'm in business! Thank you for your help!