VMware
11 Replies Last post: Nov 25, 2005 8:26 PM by magi  

r there any option for 16 bit color on vmware tools for video card? posted: Nov 24, 2005 9:05 AM

Click to view TraiToRRR's profile Novice 9 posts since
Nov 22, 2005
hey again i want to install a game on my windows 98 virtual OS. When first win98 is installed on my virtual machine, it comes with only 16 colors option so i installed vmware tools. it added 32 bit high color option but not 16 bit color. i need 16 bit option to run the game, i tried to install the directx from the game cd but it said something like "newer version of directx is installed, installation willnot continue." then i opened dxdiag, then directx features, tested directdraw acceleration and direct3d but it said "your computer doesnt support 640*480 with 16 bit color." must i install my real computer's video card driver or what must be done to open 16 bit color? thx
Click to view jasonboche's profile Champion 5,896 posts since
Jan 7, 2004
What version of VMware Workstation are you using? You must use version 5.5 for directX support.

For the sound card, you will ADD a piece of hardware to your virtual machine's .VMX file configuration. Choose the sound card hardware. You must have a functioning sound card on the host in order for sound to work within the VM.
Click to view jasonboche's profile Champion 5,896 posts since
Jan 7, 2004
If the option isn't there, then I guess not. I checked Ulli's website for a possible .vmx hack to force 16 bit color but no option is available.
Click to view jasonboche's profile Champion 5,896 posts since
Jan 7, 2004
I'm not sure at all 5.5 supports the 16 bit color option. I advised you to upgrade solely for the reason that 5.5 is the first version to support DirectX. DirectX was one of your requirements and you're not going to get that support on a version less than 5.5.
Click to view petr's profile Champion 7,218 posts since
Jul 10, 2003
Use http://platan.vc.cvut.cz/ftp/pub/vmware/vmsdepth.exe to set color depth different from one on which your host runs. Note that depending on OS on your host and quality of video driver on your host you may end up with black screen in full screen mode if you'll select different color depth than one your host uses.
Click to view magi's profile Master 2,096 posts since
Aug 8, 2003
DirectX8 support was introduced in Workstation 5.0, not 5.5, and hasn't changed hugely in 5.5, so 5.0 versus 5.5 shouldn't make a difference here. But note that it's supported for NT-based guests only, not Win9x.
Click to view jasonboche's profile Champion 5,896 posts since
Jan 7, 2004
Really? I was at the Workstation 5.5 presentation at VMworld2005 and they made a pretty big deal about how the new version now has direct3d support and the ability to support applications and games rendered with 3d graphics. During the entire presentation, a VMware employee played "Max Payne" as a demo on the big screen. I thought this was a brand new feature in 5.5
Click to view magi's profile Master 2,096 posts since
Aug 8, 2003
jason: all true, except it was introduced in WS 5.0 (still new from the point of view of VMworld, since at VMworld 2004, WS 5 hadn't been introduced yet).

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