Hyper-V failed to import virtual machine

Hello Michael, I am Henry and I want to help you with this issue.

To help me diagnose the exact cause, I need to ask a few clarifying questions

1. Source of the VM: From which version of Windows Server or Windows 10 was this virtual machine exported or moved? (e.g., Server 2019, Server 2022, etc.)
2. Export Method: How did you move the VM files?
   • Did you use the "Export" feature in Hyper-V Manager?
   • Or did you manually copy the VM's folder (containing the .VHDX and configuration files) after shutting it down?
3. Import Method: In the "Import Virtual Machine" wizard, which registration type did you select?
   • Register in-place (use the existing unique ID)
   • Restore the virtual machine (use the existing unique ID)
   • Copy the virtual machine (create a new unique ID)
4. Virtual Switch Configuration: What is the name of the virtual switch the VM was connected to on the old server? Does a virtual switch with the exact same name exist on your new Server 2025 host?
5. File Location: Where are the VM files located on the new Server 2025 host? Are they on a local drive (like C:\VMs) or on a network share (e.g., \fileserver\VMs)?

While I await your answers, the most common causes for a "failed to realize" error are related to networking, permissions, or configuration mismatches. The detailed, specific error is almost certainly logged in the Event Viewer.

1. On your Server 2025 host, open Event Viewer.
2. Navigate to: Applications and Services Logs -> Microsoft -> Windows -> Hyper-V-VMMS -> Admin.
3. Look for any Error or Critical events that occurred at the exact time you tried to perform the import.
4. The event details will likely give a much more specific error message, such as "Failed to connect virtual machine to switch" or "Access Denied to VHDX file."

Besides that, if the VM's configuration file points to a virtual switch that doesn't exist on the new host, the import will fail at the "realize" stage.

• On your new Server 2025 host, open PowerShell and run Get-VMSwitch. This will list all existing virtual switches.
• Confirm that one of them has the exact same name as the switch used by the VM on the old host. If not, you can either:
  • Create a new virtual switch on the Server 2025 host with the correct name.
  • Or, proceed with the import, but do not connect a network adapter during the import wizard. You can then attach it to a valid switch after the VM has been successfully imported.

Let me know what you find in the logs and your answers to the clarifying questions