Does your virtual machine have or a TPM enabled? These can sometimes complicate the manual editing process.
A VMware expert explained: "To get rid of the message, edit the .vmx file manually and remove 3 lines (two referencing serial0 and one additional one referencing 'thinprint')."
host, and do you actually need to print from within your virtual machine?
Select (or Serial Port 1 / serial0 ) from the device list. Click the Remove button at the bottom of the window. Click OK to save changes and start your VM. Method 2: Disconnect the Port at Power On
Serial0 unassigned YES unset administratively down down virtual device serial0 will start disconnected
serial0.present = "FALSE"
for the VM and remove the Serial Port device entirely to stop the log warning. Why is this happening?
This guide explains why this warning happens, what it means for your system, and how to resolve it permanently. Understanding the Warning
The VM configuration is actively looking for a physical serial port (like a 9-pin D-sub connector) on your host computer, but your modern desktop or laptop does not have one. Does your virtual machine have or a TPM enabled
The “Virtual device serial0 will start disconnected” message is a common informational warning that appears in various VMware products. It is not an indication of VM corruption or permanent failure, but rather a notification that the VM’s virtual COM port was unable to establish a connection during startup.
You can also edit the VMX file directly (with VM powered off):
Open it in a text editor and search for all lines beginning with serial0. :
Method 3: Change the Serial Port Connection Type (For Advanced Users) Select (or Serial Port 1 / serial0 ) from the device list
Another application on your host computer is already using the serial port.
You can eliminate this popup message using three different methods, depending on your environment and access level.
Another application on your host computer is already using the physical serial port or file resource, locking VMware out.
When the virtual machine is configured to use a physical serial port on the host (e.g., COM1, /dev/ttyS0), VMware must access that device. If the port does not exist, is already in use by another application, or is locked by the operating system, VMware cannot connect to it. The typical error in this case is "serial0: Unable to open the COM1 serial port: No such file or directory" or "Access is denied". In Windows hosts, VMware needs appropriate permissions, which may require running the application as an administrator or checking the port's availability.