So we ran into an application that required to run at 1280x1024 on a Windows XP vm. So after coming up empty on Google and finding out about high resolution timers in Windows XP vms I found an article that did a pretty decent job describing the process. But after following them I still didn't get the results I was expecting. So I got a document about VDI which pointed out one caveat. The settings needed to be before the extendedConfigFile directive. Also there are a couple of other caveats I have seen. The .vmx file changes and has the tenancy to blow out your settings.

So here are the steps:

• Shut down the VM
• Edit the .vmx file
• Add the followig lines before extendedConfigFile line
  • svga.maxHeight = "1200"
  • svga.maxWidth = "1600"
  • Svga.vramSize = "7680000"
• Save the vmx
• Make a backup copy
• Start the VM
• Change your resolution

From the first article it calls to edit your registry but that didn't seem to make any other changes.