Auto start VMware VMs with powershell script

START-VMwareVMs.ps1

# VMware Startup PowerShell Script
# This script starts multiple VMware virtual machines in the background
# and handles lock file removal if necessary.

# ---- Configuration ----
$vmrunPath = "C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Workstation\vmrun.exe"
$logFile = Join-Path $PSScriptRoot "vm_startup_log.txt"
$delay = 50 # Delay between starting VMs (in seconds)

# ---- VM Paths ----
# Add or remove VM paths as needed
$vmPaths = @(
    "D:\Vritual Machines\Alpine\Other Linux 6.x kernel 64-bit.vmx",
    "D:\Vritual Machines\Ubuntu-22.04.3-64-bit\Ubuntu-22.04.3-64-bit.vmx"
)

# ---- Functions ----
function Write-Log {
    param([string]$message)
    $logMessage = "$(Get-Date -Format 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss') - $message"
    Write-Host $logMessage
    Add-Content -Path $logFile -Value $logMessage
}

function Check-VMRunning {
    param([string]$vmxPath)
    try {
        $output = & $vmrunPath list
        $vmxFileName = [System.IO.Path]::GetFileName($vmxPath)
        if ($output -contains $vmxPath) {
            Write-Log "VM is already running: $vmxFileName"
            return $true
        } else {
            return $false
        }
    } catch {
        Write-Log "ERROR: Failed to check if VM is running: $vmxPath. Error: $($_.Exception.Message)"
        return $false
    }
}

function Remove-LockFiles {
    param([string]$vmxPath)
    $vmDir = Split-Path $vmxPath -Parent
    Write-Log "Checking for lock files in: $vmDir"
    $lockFiles = Get-ChildItem -Path $vmDir -Filter "*.lck" -Force
    if ($lockFiles) {
        Write-Log "Lock files found. Attempting to remove..."
        try {
            $lockFiles | Remove-Item -Force -Recurse -Confirm:$false
            Write-Log "Lock files removed successfully from $vmDir"
        } catch {
            Write-Log "WARNING: Failed to remove some lock files in $vmDir. Error: $($_.Exception.Message)"
            Write-Log "Waiting for 20 seconds before continuing..."
            Start-Sleep -Seconds 20
            Write-Log "Continuing script execution after 20 seconds."
        }
    } else {
        Write-Log "No lock files found in $vmDir"
    }
}

function Start-VM {
    param([string]$vmxPath)
    Write-Log "Starting VM: $vmxPath"
    try {
        & $vmrunPath start $vmxPath nogui
        if ($LASTEXITCODE -eq 0) {
            Write-Log "Successfully started VM: $vmxPath"
        } else {
            Write-Log "ERROR: Failed to start VM: $vmxPath. Exit code: $LASTEXITCODE"
        }
    } catch {
        Write-Log "ERROR: Exception when starting VM: $vmxPath. Error: $($_.Exception.Message)"
    }
}

# ---- Main Script ----
Write-Log "---- VMware Startup Script Started ----"

# Check if vmrun.exe exists
if (-not (Test-Path $vmrunPath)) {
    Write-Log "ERROR: vmrun.exe not found at $vmrunPath. Please check the path."
    exit
}

# Process each VM
foreach ($vm in $vmPaths) {
    if (Test-Path $vm) {
        $isRunning = Check-VMRunning $vm
        if (-not $isRunning) {
            Remove-LockFiles $vm
            Start-VM $vm
            Start-Sleep -Seconds $delay
        } else {
            Write-Log "Skipping VM as it is already running: $vm"
        }
    } else {
        Write-Log "ERROR: VMX file not found: $vm"
    }
}

Write-Log "---- VMware Startup Script Completed ----"
Write-Log "Total VMs processed: $($vmPaths.Count)"
Write-Log "Check the log file for details: $logFile"

Read-Host "Press Enter to exit"

schedule this task to run on start up

comment any issues if found

---

NOTE : Maybe you do not need to delete .lck files of the VM!