Downgrading the virtual machine hardware version in ESX/ESXi (1028019)

Symptoms

• A virtual machine does not boot after upgrading the virtual hardware version to 7, 8, 9, or 10.
• You cannot migrate or power on a virtual machine created on an newer version of ESX/ESXi to an older version.

Purpose

This article provides steps to downgrade virtual machine hardware from a newer version to an older version.

Resolution

To downgrade virtual machine hardware, power off the virtual machine and perform one of these options:

• Revert to a snapshot created before upgrading the virtual machine hardware. For more information, see Reverting Snapshots in thevSphere Virtual Machine Administration Guide. 
  
• Use VMware vCenter Converter Standalone and select the required virtual hardware version in the Specify Destination wizard. For more information, see Customize the Location of the Destination Virtual Machine in the VMware vCenter Converter Installation and Administration Guide or Customize the Location of the Destination Virtual Machine in your version of the VMware vCenter Converter Standalone User's Guide.
  
• Create a new virtual machine with required hardware version and attach the existing disk from the virtual machine.

Source:-

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1028019&src=vmw_so_vex_ragga_1012