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VMware 14 Launch Virtual system black screen

VMware 14 Launch Virtual system black screen

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mhampto
VMware Employee
VMware Employee

Can you try reinstalling Tools on the VM? Are you able to make it into a screen at any time?

What changes happened before this issue appeared?

If you do make it to Windows:

To uninstall VMware Tools from your virtual machine:

  1. Power on the virtual machine.
  2. Uninstall VMware tools
  3. VM > Install VMware Tools.
  4. In the Windows virtual machine, click Start > Run, type cmd, and click OK. The Command Prompt opens.
  5. In the command prompt, enter D:.
  6. Run this command:

    For 32 bit guest operating systems: setup /c
    For 64 bit guest operating systems: setup64 /c


  7. This uninstalls VMware Tools and performs a complete clean up.
  8. When prompted, allow setup to continue the uninstallation of VMware Tools.
  9. After VMware Tools is uninstalled, reboot the virtual machine.
  10. In Workstation, navigate to VM > Install VMware Tools.

If the above does not work, please create a custom VM using the existing vmdk Creating a Workstation virtual machine using existing VMDK virtual disks (2010196) | VMware KB

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wila
Immortal
Immortal

Hi,

Please have a look here (same reported issue for Workstation 14)

Re: workstation pro 14 upgrade from ver 12 produces blank screen when running existing VM's

--

Wil

| Author of Vimalin. The virtual machine Backup app for VMware Fusion, VMware Workstation and Player |
| More info at vimalin.com | Twitter @wilva
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LukeKuss
Contributor
Contributor

All,

I ran into the same black screen issue on my Windows vm's while moving from VMware Workstation version 12 to 14.   I was able to resolve by following the resolution highlighted in VMware KB 2034627  - VMware Knowledge Base

Resolution


To resolve this issue:

  1. Boot the virtual machine into Safe Mode.
  2. In the Device Manager, change the driver for the VGA card to the standard MS VGA Driver.
  3. Reboot the virtual machine.
  4. Uninstall the wrong version of VMware tools.
  5. Install the correct version of VMware tools.

Luke Kuss

MikeButler
Contributor
Contributor

I tried everything I could find on the web and nothing solved the issue.  Days and still VMs opened with a black screen thought I could tell they were running.  I decided to format my laptop and start over.  I accidentally discovered that if I have NordVPN on when I start the VM, I get a black screen.  Turn off NordVPN and the VM works fine.  Then I turn on NordVPN and the VM and VPN work just fine.  In my case, it is the order of the programs starting.  Hope this helps someone.

ErnestK
Contributor
Contributor

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caskilhas
Contributor
Contributor

This also happens with other VPN applications. Confirmed

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TimothyHuckabay
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I am experiencing this issue, repeatedly and reproducibly, even with the latest version of Workstation 14 (i.e., 14.1.8).  I also have some idea regarding the cause: a resource exhaustion ostensibly related to a lack of virtual memory in Windows, but I actually have virtual memory disabled.  In my case, the Chrome browser, when I leave several tabs open for days or weeks on end (my research requires that), eventually something "breaks" in terms of VM resources in Windows, and the VMware display driver itself fails.  Occasionally, attempting to change the display mode (e.g., full, centered, or whatever) will bring the display back, but not usually.  Ordinarily, I am forced to either revert to a snapshot or reboot to get the display back.  So, this looks like a failure on the part of the SVGA 3D driver when the Chrome browser (in my case) exhausts some resource which it interprets as Windows' virtual memory.  As I said, I have now experienced this multiple times, and every time it comes down to Chrome and resource exhaustion, but the failing "component" is VMware's virtual display driver.  I do not know if this occurs under Workstation 15, as I am not using that due to the fact that it's claimed virtual hardware improvements (e.g., nvme drives) are mostly just sales hype (i.e., they are mostly false in practice).

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wila
Immortal
Immortal

No need to post it in 3 separate threads... it would have been best if you had just started your own thread really and in the correct forum. (FTR, this is the correct forum, the Fusion forum was not that relevant, different issue there)

With Chrome it is important to disable the 3D hardware acceleration as it doesn't work well with the VMware adapter.

See for example here for the steps: How to Turn Hardware Acceleration On and Off in Chrome

--

Wil

| Author of Vimalin. The virtual machine Backup app for VMware Fusion, VMware Workstation and Player |
| More info at vimalin.com | Twitter @wilva
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