Powering on a virtual machine fails: could not open/create change tracking file

Virtual machine does not power on and we see the error.

could not open/create change tracking file vmdk_file_name

To resolve this issue, remove or rename the filename-ctk.vmdk file.

To remove or rename the filename-ctk.vmdk file:

•     Make note of the SCSI controller type used by the hard disk.
•     Remove the hard disk specified in the error message from the virtual machine.
•     Open a Secure Shell session to the host.
•     Navigate to the virtual machine's folder:

    /vmfs/volumes/GUID/vm_name

•     Remove or rename the filename-ctk.vmdk file.
•     Re-add the hard disk back to the virtual machine using the SCSI controller type from step one.
•     Edit the descriptor file (.vmdk) and remove or comment out any references that specify use of a ctk file.
•     Power on the virtual machine.