Odd vSphere issue - XP Remote/Console window will not restore

SteveOBHave · 16 Aug 2011 at 16:46

As the title really. I have an XP Pro box installed in vSphere that works fine right up until the point that you minimise the remote/console window, then it will not restore. All my other servers are fine, unfortunately none of the other ones are XP but all will minimise and restore just fine.

I've tried updating VMWare tools and also checked the VM specific video driver and it is using the VMWare tools one. Kinda stumped really.

Again - VM is XP Pro
Desktop with vSphere installed is W7 Ultimate
vSphere version is 4.1.0
vCentre is 4.1.0

Any help is appreciated, I can't find anything in the VMWare forums or via Google.

smargh · 16 Aug 2011 at 19:31

Disable all offloading on the guest's NIC.

Lanz · 16 Aug 2011 at 20:03

Right click on the icon is task bar and restore that way.

Lithium · 17 Aug 2011 at 10:39

All I know is that vSphere client SUCKS on Windows7, even with the update they made to try and fix it.

Nutbusta · 20 Aug 2011 at 08:17

Why not just RDP? or download RSAT and rattle up a remote desktop MMC for all your physical and virtual servers and XP?

I only use vSphere to set IP and join the domain.

$c8t@ · 20 Aug 2011 at 11:21

It's a common issue. There's a post about it here;

http://communities.vmware.com/thread/280348?start=0&tstart=0

Trojan · 23 Aug 2011 at 00:51

Nutbusta said:
download RSAT and rattle up a remote desktop MMC for all your physical and virtual servers and XP?

Just download Remote Desktop Connection Manager, it's much simpler:

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=21101

Nutbusta said:
I only use vSphere to set IP and join the domain.

You shouldn't even need to do that. Create yourself a Customisation in Customisation Specifications Manager and vSphere will automatically join the virtual to the domain and implement an assigned IP address.

Skidilliplop · 27 Aug 2011 at 12:32

I don't really use the remote console if I can avoid it, RDP is far easier to use.

Expecially as in 2008 even with VMWare tools isntalled the mouse cursor is still horrific compared to XP and 2003

(this is on a windows 7 machine mind, it could just be a client bug)