Cant start VM after OS X crash

[Anei]

Got same issue after OS X crash (VirtualBox 5.1.6).

1. Discard state than try to start -> failed with same error.

2.

Code: Select all

$ VBoxManage controlvm WinXP poweroff
VBoxManage: error: Machine 'WinXP' is not currently running

No effect.

3. Host restart, discard state again, run -> worked.

[Richlv]

i've had such crashes several times recently, and this might help somebody.
turns out, the programs themselves do not crash - the mac ui crashes, but everything keeps on running in the background, somewhere.
this is also the reason why vbox console shows the vm as still running - it actually is running.

no idea how to fix it without a reboot, but you don't have to lose the vm state. save the state in the console, reboot the mac, restore the vm.

[AJB]

You can avoid restarting the system by quitting all the VBox* processes that are running via Activity Monitor.

[Kaplan]

Got same issue after OS X crash (VirtualBox 5.1.6).

...
3. Host restart, discard state again, run -> worked.

For anyone who desperately needs to run his/her VM, this also solved my issue.