Details

• VMware Server has measured your CPU speed to be 3200 MHz, but Windows reports that it is 3203 MHz. This may mean that your computer has a power-saving feature that varies the processor speed. As a result, the clock in your virtual machine may run too fast or too slow. For a workaround, please refer to the VMware knowledge base article at: http://vmware.com/info?id=97
• The host is a computer runningWindows that has power management features in the hardware that varies the processor’s operating speed.
• When the host processor speed increases, the guest operating system’s real-time clock (RTC) runs too fast.
• In the vmware.log file, you see the error:
  [msg.log.error.unrecoverable] VMware Workstation unrecoverable error: (vmx) ASSERT /build/mts/release/bora-528992/bora/vmcore/vmx/main/timeTracker_user.c:237 bugNr=148722

Solution

This problem can occur on some host computers that use Intel SpeedStep, AMD Cool ‘n’ Quiet, or other similar power-saving technologies that vary the processor speed.

Note: This article is designed for hosts running Windows for the listed product versions. For Linux hosts running these product versions, see Host Power Management Causes Problems with Guest Timekeeping on Linux Hosts (1591). For older product versions not listed here, see Locking SpeedStep, PowerNow, or Cool’n'Quiet on the Host to a Constant Speed (708).

Workaround

You must specify the correct maximum CPU speed of the physical hardware in the global configuration file ( config.ini).

Note: Before making any modifications to the config.ini, take a backup your virtual machine.

To specify the correct maximum CPU speed:

1. Find the maximum speed of the host computer’s CPU. To do this, open Control Panel > System. Note the speed rating of the processor (CPU) written in the model designation text. This may be higher than the current operating speed of the processor noted here. This value can often also be obtained from the computer’s BIOS diagnostic screen when starting the computer.
2. Find the config.ini file:
   • Windows 2000 or XP: %AllUsersProfile%\Application Data\VMware\<VMware-Product>\config.ini
   • Windows Vista or Windows 7 : C:\ProgramData\VMware\<VMware-Product>\config.ini

   Note: This file is normally created when the VMware product is installed. Make sure that Show hidden files and folders is enabled under Tools > Folder options > View. However, if the file does not exist, create a new text file in the appropriate location as described above, then add the required lines to form a valid config.ini file. For the specifications of the file, see Creating and Editing config.ini on Windows Hosts (1754).

3. Edit config.ini, and add the following lines.

   • host.cpukHz = "1700000"
     Modify the cpukHz value according to the value of the physical computer’s maximum CPU speed from step 1.
   • host.noTSC = "TRUE"
   • ptsc.noTSC = "TRUE"

   This enables a mechanism that keeps the guest’s clock accurate even when the time stamp counter (TSC) is slow.

4. The example above is for a computer that has a maximum CPU speed of 1700 MHz (or 1.7 GHz). The value entered on this line must be in KHz. To convert the speed from MHz, multiply by 1000. To convert from GHz, multiply by 1 000 000.
5. Restart the VMware Authorization service for the changes to take effect. Click Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services. Right-click VMware Authorization Service and click Restart.
6. In addition, verify that the VMware in the guest operating system are set to enable time synchronization:
   1. Open the VMware Tools toolbox application by double-clicking the VMware icon in the system notification area (tray).
      Note: The VMware Tools control panel can also be run by opening C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\VMControlPanel.cpl.
   2. Click Options, select Time synchronization between the virtual machine and the host operating system.

Additional Information

For additional information about timekeeping, see Timekeeping in VMware Virtual Machines (PDF).