What is a .VMDK-CONVERTTMP file?
A .VMDK-CONVERTTMP file is a kind of temporary file that is made by a program called VMWare Fusion. VMWare Fusion is a special software that lets you run different operating systems, like Windows or Linux, on your Mac computer as if they were just another app. This is really handy for people who need to use programs that only work on certain operating systems or for developers who need to test their software on different platforms.
When you use VMWare Fusion to set up a new operating system (we call this a guest operating system because it's running inside another host system), it creates something called a virtual machine, or VM for short. This VM acts like a separate computer within your computer, with its own files and operating system. The .VMDK-CONVERTTMP file is one of the files that VMWare Fusion creates temporarily while it's setting up or making changes to this virtual machine. It's stored inside a folder that ends with .VMWAREVM, which is like a container for all the files your virtual machine needs to run.
You can usually find these .VMWAREVM folders in a specific place on your Mac. They're typically located in the "Virtual Machines" folder inside your "Users" folder (you can get there by going to Macintosh HD, then "Users," and then your username).
It's important to know that these .VMDK-CONVERTTMP files can get pretty big, sometimes taking up hundreds of gigabytes of space on your hard drive. If you're running low on space, you might be tempted to delete them. While it's true that you can delete these temporary files without messing up your virtual machine, you should be careful. It's a good idea to either make a copy of your entire virtual machine before you delete anything (just to be safe) or to ask for help from VMWare Fusion's technical support team if you're not sure what to do.
In summary, .VMDK-CONVERTTMP files are temporary files used by VMWare Fusion during the setup or update of a virtual machine. They're stored inside .VMWAREVM packages and can be safely deleted if you need to free up space, but it's wise to take precautions before doing so.
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