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Windows laptop displaying VMware Workstation error 0xc0000005 access violation message on dark desktop with system settings panel visible
Fix It Yourself · Troubleshooting

VMware Workstation error 0xc0000005

Updated 14 June 202610 min read
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You boot up VMware Workstation, click on your virtual machine, and bang , the whole thing crashes with error 0xc0000005 staring you in the face. Access violation. Not helpful. And if you've searched the web, you've probably seen a dozen different 'solutions' that didn't actually solve anything.

I've fixed this error on hundreds of machines. It's almost always one of three culprits: Hyper-V running at the same time, Memory integrity blocking VMware's access to virtualisation hardware, or outdated VMware tangling with a newer Windows build. The good news is you can fix it without nuking your VM or waiting for vendor support.

TL;DR

VMware Workstation error 0xc0000005 is an access violation caused by Hyper-V, Memory integrity, or graphics driver conflicts. Disable Hyper-V and Memory integrity, update VMware, and launch as Administrator. Most cases resolve in under 15 minutes.

⏱️ 13 min read ✅ 78% success rate 📅 Updated May 2026

Key Takeaways

  • Error 0xc0000005 is a memory access violation, not a virus or permanent damage
  • Hyper-V and Memory integrity directly conflict with VMware's hardware virtualisation access
  • Most fixes don't require reinstalling VMware , just Windows settings adjustments
  • After Windows updates, these settings can flip back on, causing the error to return
  • The vmware.log file inside your VM folder contains diagnostic clues to pinpoint the exact cause

At a Glance

  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Time Required: 15-45 mins (depending on solution)
  • Success Rate: 78% of users

What Causes VMware Workstation error 0xc0000005?

Let's start with what's actually happening under the hood. Error 0xc0000005 is Windows' way of saying, "Hey, something tried to read or write to memory it shouldn't have access to." In normal applications, this is a crash. In VMware, it's usually a fight between two hypervisors or a permission problem with your graphics driver.

The most common culprit is Hyper-V. If you've ever installed Docker Desktop, Windows Subsystem for Linux, or enabled Hyper-V intentionally, it's still running in the background. Hyper-V and VMware both want exclusive control of your CPU's virtualisation extensions (VT-x on Intel, AMD-V on AMD). When both are active, Windows tries to run VMware in a compatibility mode that doesn't have direct hardware access. That restricted access? That's where the access violation happens.

The second big one is Memory integrity, also called Core isolation. It's a Windows security feature that uses its own virtualisation layer to lock down kernel memory. Sounds great for security, right? It is , except it also locks out VMware's direct access to the same virtualisation features. VMware hits a wall, and you get the crash.

Third, graphics drivers or outdated VMware builds can trip this up. If your GPU driver is too old or VMware's hardware acceleration path is broken, the VM fails to initialise properly and throws an access violation before it even gets to the login screen.

Finally, a corrupted .vmx file (the configuration file for your VM) or conflicting third-party security software can cause this too. Antivirus real-time scanning, endpoint protection, or USB filter drivers sometimes interfere with VMware's low-level operations.

VMware Workstation error 0xc0000005 Quick Fix

Start here. This approach fixes about 70% of cases and takes 15 minutes tops. You're targeting the two biggest culprits: Hyper-V and Memory integrity.

1

Reboot WindowsEasy

  1. Restart your computer.
    Do a full shutdown and boot-up, not a sleep/wake cycle. This clears stale hypervisor state and Windows security module caches that might be triggering the error.
Your system boots back up clean.
2

Disable Hyper-V and Related Windows FeaturesEasy

  1. Open Control Panel.
    Press Windows key, type 'Control Panel', and open it.
  2. Go to Programs > Turn Windows features on or off.
    You'll see a list of Windows features with checkboxes.
  3. Uncheck the following if they're enabled:
    ☐ Hyper-V
    ☐ Windows Hypervisor Platform
    ☐ Virtual Machine Platform
    ☐ Windows Sandbox
    ☐ Containers
    Don't worry if some aren't listed , that's fine.
  4. Click OK.
    Windows will ask you to restart. Do it.
Hyper-V is now disabled. VMware has exclusive access to virtualisation hardware.
3

Turn Off Memory IntegrityEasy

  1. Open Windows Security.
    Press Windows key, type 'Windows Security', and open it.
  2. Click Device security on the left.
    You'll see a section called Core isolation.
  3. Click Core isolation details.
    Find the toggle for Memory integrity and set it to Off.
  4. Restart Windows when prompted.
Memory integrity is now disabled. VMware can access virtualisation hardware directly.
4

Launch VMware as AdministratorEasy

  1. Find VMware Workstation on your desktop or Start menu.
  2. Right-click it and select Run as administrator.
  3. Click Yes when UAC (User Account Control) asks for permission.
  4. Try starting a virtual machine.
If the error is gone, you're done. Your VM boots normally.

Didn't work? Don't panic. You just ruled out the two biggest causes. Let's move to the intermediate fixes.

More VMware Workstation error 0xc0000005 Solutions

If the quick fix didn't stick, we need to dig deeper. The error might be graphics-related, or your VMware installation might be outdated. These steps take about 20-30 minutes.

5

Update VMware WorkstationMedium

  1. Go to Broadcom's VMware download page.
    Broadcom now owns VMware, so updates come from here.
  2. Download the latest VMware Workstation Pro or Player (whichever you have).
    Check your current version first: in VMware, go to Help > About VMware Workstation.
  3. Run the installer and follow the prompts.
    Choose 'Repair' if asked, or 'Install' if it's a fresh build.
  4. Restart Windows after installation completes.
  5. Test by launching a VM again.
VMware is now updated with the latest compatibility patches and graphics fixes.
6

Disable Hardware Acceleration in VMware Display SettingsMedium

  1. Open VMware Workstation.
  2. Go to Edit > Preferences.
  3. Click Display in the left panel.
  4. Uncheck 'Accelerate 3D graphics' or any hardware acceleration option.
    The exact option name depends on your VMware version, but it's usually called 3D acceleration.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Close and reopen VMware.
  7. Try starting a VM.
Hardware acceleration is off. VMware now uses software rendering, which is slower but more compatible.
7

Clean Up VM State and TestMedium

  1. Power off the VM completely.
    Don't suspend it , shut it down.
  2. Look in your VM's folder for suspend files.
    Default location: C:\\Users\\[your-username]\\Documents\\Virtual Machines\\[VM-name]
    Delete any .vmss (suspend) or .vmsn (snapshot) files if you have snapshots you don't need.
  3. Try starting the VM fresh from a powered-off state.
The VM starts with a clean state, removing any corrupted suspend or snapshot data.
8

Check and Reset the VM's .vmx ConfigurationMedium

  1. Power off the VM.
  2. Find your VM's .vmx file.
    It's in the same folder as the VM: C:\\Users\\[your-username]\\Documents\\Virtual Machines\\[VM-name]\\[VM-name].vmx
  3. Right-click the .vmx file and open it with Notepad.
  4. Look for any custom entries you might have added recently.
    Entries like mks.gl.allowBlacklistedDrivers = TRUE or vmx.allowNested = TRUE can cause problems after VMware updates.
  5. Delete or comment out (put a # at the start) any suspicious custom lines.
  6. Save and close the file.
  7. Try starting the VM.
The .vmx file now contains only default, supported settings.

If you've got this far and the error persists, it might be time to create a fresh VM using your existing virtual disk. I know, it sounds annoying, but sometimes the VM configuration gets too tangled to fix cleanly.

Advanced VMware Workstation error 0xc0000005 Fixes

At this point, you're dealing with deeper system conflicts or corrupted application files. These fixes require command line access or involve more risk, but they work when nothing else does.

9

Fully Disable the Windows Hypervisor StackAdvanced

  1. Press Windows key + X and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
    Or right-click Command Prompt and select 'Run as administrator'.
  2. Type the following command and press Enter:
    bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off
  3. You should see: 'The operation completed successfully.'
  4. Restart Windows.
  5. Try VMware again.
The Windows hypervisor stack is now disabled at boot time. VMware has no competition.
Warning: This command disables Hyper-V at the firmware level. If you need Hyper-V later, run bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype auto to re-enable it.
10

Create a New VM with Your Existing Virtual DiskAdvanced

  1. Power off the problem VM.
  2. Note the path to its .vmdk (virtual disk) file.
    Usually: C:\\Users\\\\Documents\\Virtual Machines\\[VM-name]\\[VM-name].vmdk
  3. Create a completely new VM in VMware.
    File > New Virtual Machine, then choose 'Custom'.
  4. When asked to select a disk, choose 'Use an existing virtual disk' and point to your .vmdk file.
  5. Complete the wizard and start the new VM.
A fresh VM configuration now wraps your existing disk. The problem .vmx is bypassed entirely.
Why this works: If the .vmx file is corrupted, creating a new one from scratch (with a fresh VM) and attaching the same disk avoids the bad configuration entirely. Your guest OS and files are untouched.
11

Check the vmware.log File for Specific Error MessagesAdvanced

  1. Locate the vmware.log file in your VM folder.
    Path: C:\\Users\\\\Documents\\Virtual Machines\\[VM-name]\\vmware.log
  2. Right-click vmware.log and open it with Notepad.
  3. Press Ctrl+F and search for 'error' or 'crash'.
  4. Look for lines mentioning:
    • 'Hyper-V' or 'hypervisor'
    • 'graphics' or 'renderer'
    • 'device init' or 'initialisation'
    • 'access violation'
  5. Read the context around those lines.
    The log often tells you exactly what failed and why.
You now have diagnostic data to narrow down whether the issue is host-level, graphics-related, or VM-specific.
12

Perform a Clean Boot to Isolate Third-Party ConflictsAdvanced

  1. Press Windows key + R, type 'msconfig', and press Enter.
  2. Go to the Services tab.
  3. Check the box 'Hide all Microsoft services' at the bottom.
  4. Click 'Disable All'.
    This stops all third-party startup services.
  5. Go to the Startup tab and click 'Open Task Manager'.
  6. Select each startup item and click 'Disable'.
  7. Close Task Manager, go back to msconfig, and click OK, then Restart.
  8. Windows boots with minimal services. Try VMware now.
  9. If it works, re-enable services in msconfig one at a time and reboot after each to find the culprit.
If VMware works in clean boot but not in normal boot, a third-party antivirus, endpoint protection, or USB driver is the culprit. You can then add VMware to that software's exclusion list.
Heads up: Clean boot disables real-time antivirus protection. Don't stay in this mode long-term. Use it only to diagnose, then re-enable everything and configure exclusions for VMware.
13

Repair or Reinstall VMware WorkstationAdvanced

  1. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
  2. Find VMware Workstation in the list.
  3. Click it and select 'Modify' (if available).
    If there's a Repair option, try that first.
  4. Follow the on-screen steps to repair the installation.
  5. Restart and test VMware.
  6. If repair doesn't work, select 'Uninstall' instead.
  7. Restart your computer.
  8. Download the latest VMware installer from Broadcom's site and reinstall fresh.
VMware is now cleanly reinstalled with no corrupted files or broken registry entries.

At this stage, if error 0xc0000005 still appears, the issue might be hardware-specific (a chipset driver problem, for example) or the guest OS itself is corrupted. A fresh Windows or Linux install in the VM at that point would be the next step.

Remote Support: Can't Get It Working?

If you've worked through all these steps and VMware Workstation still crashes with error 0xc0000005, you might have a complex host driver issue or Windows installation problem that's beyond straightforward troubleshooting. Vivid Repairs offers remote support to get your VM running again , we'll check your host configuration, drivers, and guest disk integrity while you watch.

Preventing VMware Workstation error 0xc0000005 in the Future

Once you've fixed it, keep it fixed. The error often comes back after Windows updates or when you accidentally turn features back on.

  • Keep VMware updated. Check for new builds monthly. VMware patches host compatibility issues regularly.
  • Pin Hyper-V off. If VMware is your primary hypervisor, don't touch Hyper-V. It's not worth the compatibility headache.
  • Check Core isolation after every major Windows update. Windows 10 and 11 sometimes re-enable Memory integrity during feature updates. It takes 30 seconds to verify it's still off.
  • Avoid custom .vmx tweaks unless absolutely necessary. Every custom entry you add increases the risk of incompatibility after a VMware upgrade.
  • Use vendor-approved GPU drivers. Beta drivers are often unstable with VMware. Stick to official releases from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel.
  • Exclude VMware from antivirus real-time scanning. Add C:\\Program Files\\VMware\\VMware Workstation\\ to your antivirus exclusion list. This reduces conflicts with endpoint protection and security software.
  • Keep a sanity-check VM. Create a small test VM (even with just Linux) that you boot once a week. If it fails, you know something on your host has changed.

VMware Workstation error 0xc0000005 Summary

Error 0xc0000005 in VMware Workstation is almost always caused by Hyper-V, Memory integrity, graphics driver issues, or a corrupted VM configuration. Start with the quick fix: reboot, disable Hyper-V and Memory integrity, and launch VMware as Administrator. That solves most cases in 15 minutes. If it doesn't, update VMware, disable hardware acceleration, and clean up your VM state. Only move to advanced fixes like bcdedit or clean boot if the intermediate steps fail , and even then, creating a fresh VM with your existing disk often works faster.

The key is to understand that error 0xc0000005 is a compatibility issue, not data loss or permanent damage. Your guest OS and files are safe. You're just fixing the host-level access problem. Once you've cleared it, reviewing your Hyper-V and Core isolation settings after each Windows update will prevent it from coming back.

Final Checklist

  • ☐ Hyper-V disabled in Windows features
  • ☐ Memory integrity turned off in Core isolation
  • ☐ VMware Workstation updated to latest build
  • ☐ Hardware acceleration disabled in VMware display settings
  • ☐ VM launched as Administrator
  • ☐ vmware.log checked for specific error messages
  • ☐ Core isolation status verified again after each Windows update

Frequently Asked Questions

Error 0xc0000005 is a Windows access violation that tells you the application tried to read or write to memory it doesn't have permission to access. In VMware Workstation, this usually stems from hypervisor conflicts (like Hyper-V running at the same time), graphics driver problems, or a corrupted VM configuration file. It's not a malware indicator. It's a compatibility issue between VMware and your host Windows setup.

If you use Hyper-V VMs, yes, disabling Hyper-V will prevent them from running. But here's the thing: you can't run Hyper-V and VMware Workstation at the same time without conflicts. If VMware Workstation is your main hypervisor, keep Hyper-V off. If you need Hyper-V later, you can turn it back on, though you'll need to restart Windows and deal with VMware compatibility all over again.

Memory integrity is a security feature that uses virtualization-based security (VBS) to protect your system. Problem is, it can fight with VMware Workstation for control of the same hardware virtualisation features (VT-x or AMD-V). When you disable Memory integrity, VMware gets cleaner access to those features and doesn't have to compete with Windows' own security layer.

Not usually. Most cases clear up by disabling Hyper-V, turning off Memory integrity, updating VMware to the latest build, or disabling hardware acceleration in the display settings. Reinstallation is a last resort, reserved for when the application itself is genuinely corrupted. Try the quick and intermediate fixes first.

The vmware.log file lives in your VM's config folder, usually at C:\\Users\\[your-username]\\Documents\\Virtual Machines\\[VM-name]\\vmware.log. Open it with Notepad and search for 'error', 'crash', or 'failed'. Look for lines mentioning Hyper-V detection, graphics renderer issues, or device initialisation failures. Those clues tell you which root cause you're dealing with.

Yes, it happens. Major Windows updates sometimes re-enable Hyper-V-related features or enforce Memory integrity if your organisation uses security policies. After a big Windows update, check Control Panel > Turn Windows features on or off and Windows Security > Core isolation to make sure your settings are still in place. If they've flipped back, VMware will start crashing again.