VMware 8.5.3 problem with Windows 10 Preview build 15007

[hawk521]

Have used Fusion on my MacBook Air (8gb, 500gb SSD) for 2 years without significant problems.  After upgrading from Windows 8.1 to 10 a year ago I turned on the Fast ring of Preview builds from Microsoft.  Through numerous updates to Windows it has performed flawlessly and impressively.

This past week two updates came down from Microsoft.  First build 15002, followed 2 days later by build 15007.  Both updates installed without any problem.

BUT - beginning with 15002 I can no longer right-click on the taskbar.  Initially I thought this was directly related to the new Windows update(s).  But today I updated my HP notebook to the same 15007 build and it does not exhibit this problem.  So I can only conclude that the issue is somehow tied to the combination of running Windows 10 (15007) on Fusion.  Am hopeful that a future Windows build will correct this issue.  But since it does not show up on my HP notebook I am posting this note in the hope that the folks at VMWare Fusion can get involved.  Every other feature on the Fusion session seems to work fine - although it does seem to occasionally become unresponsive to taps on the touchpad.  This unresponsiveness is sporadic and frustrating.

Any suggestions would be welcome.  I am running the latest VMWare Fusion (8.5.3).  At least this isn't a show stopper of a problem - although it does mean that I cannot access the features normally available by a right-click on the taskbar.  I can access Task Manager other ways - but the ability to add a new Toolbar escapes my efforts to work around this problem.

Thanks for any thoughts.

-JohnMcD

[hawk521]

Perhaps this problem is unique to my installation?  I suspect not - but then that is why I have posted this query.

Could anyone confirm that 15002 and/or 15007 versions work properly on their Mac VMware Fusion?  Specifically does your taskbar respond to a <right-click>?   Mine does not and I am trying to learn whether it is a problem with 15002/15007 or with VMware Fusion 8.5.3.  Prior to 15002 this was not an issue on my 8bg  MacBook Air.

Anyone with experience on this is welcome to share...

[hawk521]

I rolled my Windows 10 install back to preview 14936 using a snapshot from October 2, 2016.  This remedied my problem with the non-responsive taskbar.

Since there have been three new Windows 10 preview releases since the initial problematic 15002 I decided to do the upgrade directly to 15019 in the hope that the problem would not come back.

Alas I was wrong.  Upon the upgrade from 14936 direct to 15019 the taskbar again became totally non-responsive.  The icons on it still function, but I cannot right-click on the empty taskbar area to invoke the menu of options.

NOTE:  This issue DOES NOT OCCUR on any of my other Windows 10 machines running 15019 - including one that runs under Parallels on the same MacBook Air (8gb)..

Thus I am fairly certain the issue is related to my VMware installation (8.5.3).  I've tinkered with some of the compatibility settings - but no joy to be found.  

Has anyone else encountered this?  Surely I am not the only one! 

[hawk521]

I've got to say that the participation on this board is unimpressive to say the least.  What do I need to say to at least get someone to reply as to whether I'm the lone ranger with this problem?

I guess it is possible that I am the ONLY person on this discussion board with VMware 8.5.3 running Windows 10 preview builds...  But somehow I doubt that.

Is everybody here just that bashful?  

My next inclination is to just abandon VMware totally and try my luck with VirtualBox.  I've got Parallels but grew unhappy with them after they upgraded the Parallels version just 3 months after I bought mine and expected me to pay ANOTHER $49 to upgrade.  I refused to do so simply on principal.

Anyway, I'll check back someday and see if anyone ever thought it worth a minute or two to reply to my issue.

[wila]

Hi John,

In the past I've run Win10 developer previews, nowadays I'm just on the normal release channel, so can't reproduce your issue.

I don't know how many Win10 users here active at the forum actually are on the developer previews, I sincerely doubt that it is a large number.

Here's a standard answer that might help:

For your information, the Community Forum is not an official support-forum and is not officially monitored by VMware Support or Product Managers. This is a community based forum where VMware Fusion users help other users.

As a side note there are VMware employees who keep an eye on the forums and try to help out, but they might not see every post and most - if not all of them - are doing so in their own free time.

To get official support please go to: Fusion Support and open a ticket at File a Support Request

Really in this case, it might be the best way to get help on the issue.

--

Wil

[hawk521]

Thanks wila - I appreciate the input.  This morning I decided to clean house on my MacBook Air and clean installed the latest Siera OS and subsequently added a 350gb BootCamp partition.  I seldom use the Mac OS - but I love this little powerhouse of a notebook.

So with the BootCamp install I'm not seeing any strange issues.  I'll just run it this way until maybe someday I feel like another adventure down VMware lane...