Floppy Drive Visible in Guest OS but Not Listed in vCenter VM Settings

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi
• VMware vCenter Server 8.0
• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

In certain virtual machines (VMs), administrators may observe that the floppy drive is not listed when viewing the VM’s configuration under Edit Settings in vCenter. However, the floppy drive still appears inside the guest operating system (OS) under File Explorer.  

Check VM Hardware in vCenter

• Open vSphere Client → Edit Settings for the VM.

• Look under Virtual Hardware → confirm if Floppy Drive is listed.

• If not listed, vCenter believes the floppy device is not part of the VM configuration.

This discrepancy causes the floppy drive to be hidden from vCenter but is accessible within the guest OS. 

Environment

VMware vCenter Server

Cause

The floppy drive configuration is still present in the VMX file

vm.createDate = "XXXXXXXXXX"
ideo:0.deviceType = "atapi-cdrom"
ide0:0.fileName = "emptyBackingString"
ide0:0.present = "TRUE"
floppy0. startConnected = "FALSE"
floppyo. fileName = "Floppy 0"
etherneto.virtualDev = "vmxnet3"
etherneto. addressType = "static"
etherneto.address = "XXXXXXXXXXX"
ethernet0.uptCompatibility = "TRUE"

Reviewing the VMX file reveals entries related to the floppy drive, even though vCenter does not display it in the VM’s hardware settings.

Resolution

Customers are advised to modify the VMX file by commenting out the floppy drive parameter.

• Before editing the .vmx file
  • Always power off the virtual machine.
  • Make sure the user is logged in with the correct permission level to edit the file.
  • Make a backup copy of the .vmx file. If the edits break the virtual machine, rolling back to the original version of the file is an option.
  • For more information on using the vi editor to edit files, see Adding/Deleting/Editing a host entry on vCenter server or ESXi host using vi editor (345284).
    
    
• SSH to ESXi host where the VM is located.

• Locate the virtual machine VMX file

  • /vmfs/volumes/<datastore>/<VM_Name>/<VM_Name>.vmx

• Open the .vmx file with a text editor (e.g., vi).

• Identify floppy drive configuration lines as below

  floppy0. startConnected = "FALSE"
  floppyo. fileName = "Floppy 0" 

• Comment floppy drive configuration lines as below:
  
  vm.createDate = "XXXXXXXXXX"
ideo:0.deviceType = "atapi-cdrom"
ide0:0.fileName = "emptyBackingString"
ide0:0.present = "TRUE"
#floppy0. startConnected = "FALSE"
#floppyo. fileName = "Floppy 0"
etherneto.virtualDev = "vmxnet3"
etherneto. addressType = "static"
etherneto.address = "XXXXXXXXXXX"
ethernet0.uptCompatibility = "TRUE"

• To save the file Press Esc → type :wq → press Enter.

• Reload the VM configuration - Reloading a vmx file without removing the virtual machine from inventory

• Power on the VM.

Since the floppy drive entries remain in the VMX file, the guest OS continues to detect and display the floppy drive. Commenting out or removing these parameters ensures the floppy drive is no longer visible inside the VM.