VM Workstation 8 - client os often freezing for a moment

[UpperPark]

I installed beta 8 today and am noticing the client OS becomes non-responsive and hestitating (ie. I click on something and have to wait for 3-5 seconds for the system to respond). The non-responsiveness happens in all the applications in the VM. It always comes back but you have to wait.

This VM was used in 7.1 for a long time w/o problems.

There is plenty of RAM available on both the host and VM.

BTW, it looks like ver 8 is using way less RAM. Thumbs up!

The host is Win 7 Ultimate 64-bit. The VM is running Win XP.

Host RAM 12GB, VM set to 1GB.

Any ideas or other folks reporting something similar?

I used this same VM for many hours over the last 4 days and the symptons definetly started this morning after upgrading.

TIA,

Rick

[RDPetruska]

Why would you install the beta version, which will expire at the end of the month, when the full version was released 2 days ago?

[UpperPark]

I'm guessing I don't have the beta.  Someone I worked with said the beta was available, I upgraded my license and downloaded vmware 8.

The actual version number is 8.0.0 build-471780.

Rick

[andreaplanet]

The default settings are Preferences/"Allow some virtual memory to be swapped". Switch to "Fit all virtual memory into ...", this could be a reason why you use less RAM and you get some freezing.

[Felix-The-Cat]

Hello Rick,

Thanks for posting and sorry to hear you have a problem with WS 8.

To speed-up investigation, we need more info:

1. Do you upgraded to Workstation 8" from 7.1 or it's clean install?

2. Could you please attach UI Log (Help->About->UI log file) and vmware.log file from the VM's directory.

------------------

Cheers

[UpperPark]

I made the change to "Fit all virtual memory into ..." and the problem is still occurring.

[UpperPark]

Hi Felix,

I ran the VMWare 8 install which uninstalled 7.1 during the process. It was not a completely clean install.

Here are my log files.

It is really odd. The mouse still moves around but I am not able to click on anything. If a process is running I can see it freeze.

Task Manager in the client is not showing excessive CPU activity.

TIA,

Rick

[UpperPark]

Some additional information.

Only this one VM of 4-5 I've worked with since upgrading is showing this behavior.

It is really annoying. I'd say the VM freezes for 1-2 seconds every 20-30 seconds.

Any ideas??

Thanks,

Rick

[amode]

We have exactely the same issue here:

• Running on a Ubuntu Server Host
• No problem with 7.1
• Upgraded from 7.1 to 8 (no clean install)
• Upgraded the hardware of the XP-based virtual machines
• Now observing stalls/freezes for 1 sec all 10-20sec

Just open task manager and observe the scrolling cpu graph and see that it stalls.

Worked wth 7.1 without any trouble! Please help!.

Thanks,

Achim

[NJoyiT]

Same here unfortunately

• VMWare Workstation running on Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (Core i7, 6 GB RAM).
  
• No problem with version 7.1.
  
• Upgraded the Windows XP virtual machine to version 8.
  
• Now the OS frequently freezes, followed by a large CPU spike.
  
• Freezing occurs almost every time when going from the host OS to the VM OS.
  

[Hbc201110141]

Same issue on Windows XP 32 guest!

[kratochviljan]

Same issue

• Dell Precision Workstation T3500 (Xeon 3520), 12GB RAM, Win7 x64 Enterprise
• Without any problems on VMW 7.1.x
• Upgrade from 7.1.x
• Same symptoms across different guest OS (W2k3, WinXP, Win7, Linux)
• After guest reboot running normally for a while
• When more application running on guest symptoms appears almost immediately (screen not properly refreshink, blinking, freezing, aaplication can not be minimized or windows moved)

Addition:

- I tried to uninstall 8.0 and do a new fresh install

- I also tried to delete "caches" directory for each VM

- I also wondered whether it somehow relates to the display driver, so I tried to install the latest version

- And finally I tried to install 8.0 on another hardware on which it has never been installed any version of VMW

Unfortunately, none of these solve the problem

So, left me nothing else than to uninstall 8.0 and go back to 7.1.

Now is everything OK.

Message was edited by: kratochviljan

[amode]

So, only some people here having this, but still the issue is there...

@vmware: Any info/progress/update/ideas here?

Thanks.

Amode.

[NJoyiT]

I agree. Any information from VMWare concerning this problem would be nice.

[amode]

Does anyone know if there was any update here?

It seems we are the only ones having this?

Perhaps related to the updated install? A fresh install might help?

Thanks,

Amode

[Fanghorn]

I have a clean version 8 installation on a 64 bit i7 win 7 pro system. VM's go unresponsive almost anytime i minimize the XP guest. Same VM on same machine runs for days without problems under the version of Player shipped with WS 8. Any thoughts would be helpful

[portland2011101]

I have the same problem,

Host System:

DELL Latitude E6420 / 8GB RAM / Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit

I made an update from version 7.1 to 8.0.0 build-471780.

[DiablitoVM]

FIX HERE (Actually Workaround)

Same issue

• Host has 12GB RAM, Win7 x64 Enterprise
• Without any problems on VMW 7.1.x
• Upgrade from 7.1.x
• Same symptoms across different guest OS (W2k3, WinXP, Win7x86, Win7x64)
• After guest reboot running normally for a while
• When more application running on guest symptoms appears almost immediately (screen not properly refreshink, blinking, freezing, aaplication can not be minimized or windows moved)
• Then VMWareWorkstation freezes for a few seconds. This happens every 30sec to 3 mins.

Not taking credit for this. I found it here: tinyurl.com/3pt9fnv  (tinyurl 3pt9fnv)

SOLUTION

• After starting the guest VM, disconnect from the host CD/DVD.

Apparently it's working. It has certainly improved behavior in my setup.

Hopefully VMWare will release a permanent fix for this, otherwise I'm going back to VM7. I can't afford to be without a CD.

[UpperPark]

This workaround does not solve the problem for me.

Anyone else with any ideas?  It is really annoying when I have to work in this VM.

Thanks,

Rick

[NJoyiT]

My CD Rom drive is still connected but I did disconnect my floppy drive and that made a big difference. Perhaps worth a try.