VMware Failed To Lock File Error

Issue: Running VMware windows guest on a Ubuntu host failed to start with error "Failed to lock the file".

Quick: In the VMguest folder delete the .WRITELOCK files.

Visual/Learning:
Error message looks like this:

"Cannot open the disk '/var/lib/vmware/Virtual Machines/Windows XP
Professional/Windows XP Professional.vmdk' or one of the snapshot
disks it depends on.
Reason: Failed to lock the file."

Go to the directory for the vm guest /vm/GuestDirectory
Delete all the writelock files.
rm *WRITELOCK
Now it starts up.