VMWare SVGA 3D driver missing resolution mode 2560x1440 (WS 10.0.2 build 1744117, Tools 9.6.2, build 1688356 for W$)

[msch65]

Hello 🙂

I'm having a HP Elitebook 8570p with an ATI Radeon HD 7570M video card (DP v1.2) (http://h20628.www2.hp.com/km-ext/kmcsdirect/emr_na-c03565466-1.pdf), using a Fedora 19 64-bit host (kernel 3.13.9-100.fc19.x86_64), running Workstation 10.0.2, build 1744117.

I have a Windows 7 guest OS (32-bit), using the above mentioned VMWare SVGA 3D driver, arriving in VMWare Tools 9.6.2, build 1688356.

I have the laptop connected to a docking station and via Display Port a Samsung SA850 display, running 2560x1440_60. The Linux host reports and uses the correct resolution of this display.

When booting the guest, it defaults to 800x600 and I can get it to run 1920x1440 (and all 'below'), but not the correct resolution of 2560x1440.

(the remaining suggested resolutions in the guest are 2048x1536, 2560x1600 and 2560x1920, all exceeding maximum hight)

I have tried to force the resolution in a number of different ways:

Editing the .vmx file: svga.autodetect = "FALSE", svga.maxWidth = "2560", svga.maxHeight = "1440", svga.vramSize = "16777216" -> correct resolution not available (2560x1440x4=14745600, but WS 'defaulted' to 16777216 > 14745600)

Editing the .vmx file: svga.autodetect = "TRUE", svga.maxWidth = "2560", svga.maxHeight = "1440", svga.vramSize = "16777216" -> correct resolution not available

Specifying settings for monitor in WS (VM -> Settings -> Display) (the correct max resolution was already present, so to force it, I had to change the values to something wrong, save and then enter the correct values and save again) -> correct resolution not available

Editing registry in guest: Search for vmx_svga and add the correct resolution, not possible (option does not exist, apparently removed in WS > 6.5)

Editing registry in guest:Search for 'VMWare SVGA 3D', change VidPNSource0Width to 0xa00 (2560) (wherever found) -> reverts to 1920x1440 upon reboot

So having exhausted (proposed and contrived) solutions and still having the problem, I ask: What to do?

Regards

Morten S 8^)

[SteveDawkins]

Check your VMs hardware compatibility level as once I updated mine I got 2560*1440 in my VMs and allowed the use of Unity mode. Before I did this all I could get is 1920x1080 and unity mode could not be entered.

See http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&docTypeID=DT_KB_1_1&externalId=1...

[msch65]

Hi Steve

Thank you for your contribution!

I was pretty sure I already had upgraded the hardware compatibility to version 10, but I went ahead and checked anyway - and unfortunately it is the most current version 😞

Any other suggestions ..? 🙂

Regards

Morten S  8^)

[SteveDawkins]

Hi, Sorry that's all I have as mines now working.

[msch65 · Accepted solution]

Finally had some time to work out a solution (even if both computer hardware and WS version had changed, the problem still persisted):

I combined the information in these two KB articles:

VMware KB: Adding video resolution modes to Windows guest operating systems 

and

VMware KB: Increasing virtual machine display resolution beyond the maximum resolution listed in Mic...

1.I found the vmx_svga HKEY under CurrentControlSet (and ControlSet01 and ContrlSet02) and added the REG_SZ (string) 'Resolution.1' (since none existed) containing '2560x1440' to it (all three HKEY's)

2. Next i opened an administrator CMD prompt and ran this command 'VMwareResolutionSet.exe 0 1 , 0 0 2560 1440'

Viola ..! Nice to be able to use the full real estate of my monitor!

Hope you find this useful, if you are stuck, like me.

Morten S  8^)

[webshaker]

Do not work's for me...

Where can I find the .vmx file ?

My window is instaled via bootcamp

[RDPetruska]

You might want to post in the VMware Fusion forum instead of the Workstation forum, where you should get better answers for your product/platform.