Some users have complained that VMWare applications display the following error message when trying to open the Virtual Machine.

Can't lock file
Can't open disk 'C:UserDocuments Virtual Machines Windows.vmdk' or one of the snapshot disks it depends on.
Cannot enable module 'Disks'.
Unable to start the virtual machine.el>

In this article, we'll dive into the topic and see what you need to do if you see Unable to power on disk module on VMWare.

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    • How to fix VMware Module Disk power not turning on?

    Before we fix the problem, we need to know what it is and its causes. The problem is that some VMWare files are blocking your virtual machine. That goes without saying, won't let you play the game. But the question is why is it blocking the Virtual Machine. To understand this well, we need to understand the mechanism behind VMWare.

    When you open a Virtual Machine, some files are there to control the operation of your machine. Files with the .lck extension are created as soon as the machine is turned on, and they ensure that many virtual machines cannot read or write to the disk.

    The lock files will then be deleted as soon as you close the virtual machine. This is done to make sure it doesn't affect any other services. However, in the event of an improper shutdown or crash, these files will not be deleted on your system, which may cause the mentioned problem.

    There are several other reasons and solutions that we will talk about below. So without wasting time, let's go to our troubleshooting guide.

    Troubleshoot Disk Module not powering on on VMWare

    If you see the message “Cannot enable modular drive” on VMWare, follow the specified solutions to resolve the issue.

    1. Delete Lock folders
    2. Troubleshooting in Clean Boot
    3. Reinstall VMWare

    Let us talk about them in detail.

    1.Delete the Lock folders

    As mentioned earlier, the workstation creates a Lock folder that is meant to be deleted as soon as you shut down your Virtual Machine. However, sometimes, you have to delete it manually. We will see how to delete the Lock or .ilk folders manually. Follow the given steps to do the same.

    1. Shut down your virtual machine.
    2. Now we need to go to your directory. If you know the path just go there, if you don't know right click on your virtual machine and click Open VM folder. You will be redirected to a location in Windows File Explorer.
    3. Then delete the folder with the .lck folder.

    Finally, restart your computer and check if the problem persists.

    2. Troubleshooting in Clean Boot

    There are many applications that can interfere with your Virtual Machine. However, there is no way to just play Inki Pinki Ponki and find the right app. That's why Windows has a utility that allows you to select the application that is causing the problem, which is Clean Boot. You should do a Clean Boot and find out what is causing the problem and see what causes it. Then remove it and see if the problem persists.

    The clean boot fix is ​​designed to isolate performance issues. To perform clean boot troubleshooting, you must perform several actions, and then restart the computer after each action. You may need to manually disable each item to try and identify the one that is causing the problem. Once you have identified the offending object, you can consider removing or disabling it.

    3. Reinstall VMWare

    If your VMWare application crashes, then in addition to the crash, you may also see these types of messages. We can easily reinstall the app to solve the problem. If you are going to uninstall the app, be sure to make a backup, otherwise your saved data will be wiped clean. Uninstall the app, then download it, reinstall it and check if the problem persists.

    Hopefully, these solutions can solve the problem.

    Read : VMware Workstation Pro does not run on Windows computers.

    How to power a Virtual Machine in VMWare?


    It's pretty easy to enable virtual machines in VMWare. Open Workstation and go to the VM you want to open. Finally, click Enable virtual machine and your virtual machine will be launched. You can also right-click your virtual machine and click Power > Power on.

    That's it!