VMware workstation 14 Pro loses Mouse Focus

[xmick]

Has any one found / have a solution for - Mouse repeatable loses focus after a short time. Focus restored by moving mouse to top of screen over Vmware menu bar.

No problem on VMW 12.

[banackm]

We've gotten a number of similar reports about mouse issues on Windows hosts when upgrading to Workstation 14.  They appear to be host-side issues with our input stack, so they only happen on some host machines, regardless of the guest tools or guest configuration.  Our best guess at this point is that it's a permissions issue related to our interfacing with certain 3rd party mouse software/drivers, particularly on laptops.

Some users have reported that launching Workstation as an Administrator (either by being logged in as an Administrator, or using the "Run as Administrator" option in the Windows right click menu) resolves the issue, but it hasn't worked for everyone.

We're still looking into ways to reproduce this in-house.

[xmick]

Thanks for the info, feedback in case its useful:

1/ People report this happens with a clean install - see this thread. I have also tried a clean install and the problem persists.

2/ Bulk standard mouse also has this problem on my laptop. ( so that's a trackpad and two different mice)

3/ I always run as admin and the problem persists.

4/ Happy to try anything out for you as mine is just a test installation.

Regards

[f2065]

I have a problem on all my computers and laptop. I checked as there are general programs at the laptop and computers.

WizMouse v1.7.0.3 is installed on all my computers and laptop…Config: WizMouse enable, Run as Administrator, Re-hook.

But maybe this is not the reason, I can not check it right now in VMware 14

VMware 12.5.9 works with WizMouse without problems.

[banackm]

One other idea that came up, is that you might also try making the VM a "Shared VM" and run that and connect a console to it (with no other VMs running on the system).

Although I think that loses some features in the VM (like 3D graphics support).

[AppleBag]

Just to contribute:

I'm also using a Logitech mouse (MX516).

I always run as Admin.

Just out of curiosity, is anyone else also running Stardock Fences?

[xmick]

No, I'm not running Stardock Fences nor am I using Wizmouse

[f2065]

I found the same programs (which work in the background) on all my computers:

MS Visual Studio 2017 (serivces VSStandardCollectorService140, VSStandardCollectorService150)

K-Lite Mega Codec Pack

CorelPSP (PsiService_2.exe, Corel License Validation Service V2)

Chrome (Google Update Services)

FireFox (Mozilla Maintenance Service)

Adobe Acrobat Update Service

WizMouse

Driver USB TV/FM/DVB-Tuner

[xmick]

The only services on my laptop common to those you listed are:

Google x3

Mozilla

Adobe (mine is Flash)

I disabled all and the fault still persists.

It should be interesting to Vmware that all your machines have the fault; as the implication from Vmware so far is that the fault is only showing on a few machines

I have also tried an uninstall using Revo Uninstaller and deleted all files associated with Vmware. Followed by deletion of registry entries using Ccleaner.

After reinstall the fault persists.

The latest version also still throws an error on first run attempt. Second try the program runs.

[mike78729]

I am seeing the same issue except, when I run a VM with 12.x Hardware the mouse runs fine.

If I upgrade to 14.x, the mouse will stop "clicking".  It will move, and hover but no clicks will make it into the VM.

I am trying to get a support call in before my upgrade support has expired since this makes the VM unuseable 😞

[bonnie201110141]

Hello everyone,

I can reproduce this issue after installing WizMouse on my host. And this issue is gone after uninstalling WizMouse. Can you confirm if this resolves your issue if you uninstall WizMouse (if that is the case)? Thanks a lot!

[f2065]

I checked:

Updated VMware 12.5.9 to VMware 14.1.1 - the mouse buttons stopped working.

Turned off WizMouse (uncheck option Enabled) - mouse buttons do not work.

Unloaded WizMouse completely (did not delete) - mouse buttons are normally pressed.

Found that the buttons work if you disable the WizMouse Re-Hook option

I confirm that on my laptop the problem arises with WizMouse, and if WizMouse is removed - then the mouse normally works in VMware 14.

But in VMware 12.5 (and all older - I WizMouse take many years) is no problem. This bug VMware, and not a bug WizMouse.

[xmick]

I don't have Wizmouse! This is causing the problem for another.

All I have is ASUS Smart Gesture - Asus touchpad software.

This doesn't cause the problem.

I also have a program touchpadblocker (which helps prevent accidental track-pad clicks when typing.)

This is the program causing the problem for ME

http://touchpad-blocker.com/

Other users probably have a mouse or touchpad related program which is causing the problem for them.

[bonnie201110141]

I understand your point. We are still investigating the issue.

[vanRijn]

xmick​ I just want to clarify what you're saying...

I think you're saying that you are using touchpadblocker, which causes this problem. Could you please verify... if you do not have touchpadblocker running, do you not see this problem anymore? Like, could you maybe try disabling or shutting down touchpadblocker and use your VMs for a few hours and see if you do not see this problem?

I agree with your thinking that people who are seeing this problem seem to all have 3rd party touchpad/mouse software installed. I'd just like to get confirmation from someone who has this problem that they do not see this problem if that software is disabled or not used in combination with interacting with a VM.

Secondly, could you please try running your additional touchpad/mouse software as administrator and see if you're able to reproduce this broken behavior in that scenario? I'd like to see if that might be at least a short-term help to people who are hitting this problem.

Thanks! =:)

[xmick]

Because It was verified that Wizmouse was causing this problem AND I don't use Wizmouse I looked for other mouse related software. Uninstalling (and later reinstalling)  this related software until I found the software causing my problem.

I found that uninstalling touchpadplocker allows Vmware WS14 to work correctly.

I'm running windows as admin.

I'll update if I have further information..................

FYI:

Touchpadblocker is an installed application which starts at start up.

The mouse keys stop working on the VM within less than a few minutes (sometimes seconds) for me (when I have touchpadblocker installed)

[vanRijn]

Guys, I'm trying to get a handle on what's going on here. To everyone who is having this problem... specifically, who is having the problem with Windows Workstation 14, where mouse events don't work or stop working, can you please give me more information so I can be sure I'm doing and seeing the same thing you are?

1) What version of Windows are you using?

2) Are you using a Desktop or Laptop?

3) How many monitors do you have connected to your machine? If you're using a laptop, are you using external monitors?

4) What mouse/touchpad-related software do you have installed on your machine? WizMouse, TouchpadBlocker, something else?

5) Are you logged into Windows as an administrator user normally privileged user?

6) Please give me exact and detailed reproduction steps for this problem so I can follow exactly the same steps and see the problem here.

Thanks!

[xmick]

1) What version of Windows are you using? W10 x64 1709

2) Are you using a Desktop or Laptop? Asus Zenbook Laptop

3) How many monitors do you have connected to your machine? If you're using a laptop, are you using external monitors? None

4) What mouse/touchpad-related software do you have installed on your machine? WizMouse, TouchpadBlocker, something else? TouchpadBlocker

5) Are you logged into Windows as an administrator user normally privileged user? Admin

6) Please give me exact and detailed reproduction steps for this problem so I can follow exactly the same steps and see the problem here.

Problem only if TouchpadBlocker is installed AND only on VW14 (VM12 works properly)

All Vms - in less than a few minutes both mouse buttons stop working. Moving mouse pointer over top bar reinstates button functions for the next few minutes.

[vanRijn]

Thanks xmick. But I need more granular steps than this:

6) Please give me exact and detailed reproduction steps for this problem so I can follow exactly the same steps and see the problem here.

Problem only if TouchpadBlocker is installed AND only on VW14 (VM12 works properly)

All Vms - in less than a few minutes both mouse buttons stop working. Moving mouse pointer over top bar reinstates button functions for the next few minutes

Something more like this, please:

1) Install TouchpadBlocker

2) Power on Windows 10 guest

3) Click in Windows 10 VM

4) Open Notepad

5) Start typing in Notepad

6) Left click the Notepad "File" menu

7) Move mouse to over "Open" file menu item

😎 Click "Open"

9) In browse window, now click on left side to open "c:\" drive

10) Move mouse to right pane of browse window

11) Try to click "Windows" folder

12) Observe that single mouse click does not work

13) Try to double-click "Windows" folder

14) Observe that double-mouse click does not work

15) Move mouse cursor to left pane again

16) Try to scroll mouse up and down

17) Observe that mouse scroll events aren't working either

etc....

Specifically

• what exactly are you doing to start interacting with the VM (motion grab? click grab? explicity grab via Control+G?),
• what exactly are you doing to see that the mouse is working initially (clicking on things? what exactly?)
• what exactly are you doing between when the mouse events are working and when they stop working (are you continuing to interact with the VM the whole time? are you using the mouse in the same application in the VM and it's working for 2 minutes and then it just stops working? are you switching back and forth between the VM and the host OS? if so, how? just moving your mouse in and out of the VM? or explicitly clicking to grab and explicitly ungrabbing?),
• then what exactly are you doing when both buttons stop working? (i.e. I left-click on the "open" button and now it doesn't work, etc.)

Sorry for asking for so much information, but all of these little details are REALLY important to figuring out what's going on here.

[xmick]

It's much simpler. The fault shows globally whatever the user interaction. On all my Guest Windows 10 and Linux Mint Vm's

Hardware comparability 12 and 14

All 3 issues of VW14 and associated vmware tools.

With only the touchpad and when plugged-in both the USB Mice I have.

Only the left and right buttons stop working. The scroll wheel works as do extra mouse buttons. (not sure about the middle button)

Time I have seen to non working buttons - 5 seconds to 2 minutes (estimate)

Mouse grab is as the default on installation - that is automatic. Other settings have no effect.

single click and multiple clicks fail to do anything.

Sequence: With Touchpadblocker installed.

Open a VM

On the desktop or in file explorer Left click on a folder or right click on an object for context menu.

Do anything or nothing.

Periodically try to open a folder or do something with left or right button.

Until the mouse buttons cease to function.

Move the mouse pointer over the top bar and the buttons start to work. Repeat.

There are no specific sequences the buttons always fail to work. Its only the buttons the touch-pad/mouse would still to be recognised and connected so its not the grab function.

You should be able to reproduce this the same as for WizMouse very easily. If you can't we can investigate further. For me its 100 percent repeatable.

I don't currently have TouchpadBlocker installed.

[AppleBag]

1) What version of Windows are you using? Windows 10 x64 Version 10.0.16299.125 Host & guest

2) Are you using a Desktop or Laptop? Desktop

3) How many monitors do you have connected to your machine? If you're using a laptop, are you using external monitors? 2 physical monitors. 1 in VM.

4) What mouse/touchpad-related software do you have installed on your machine? WizMouse, TouchpadBlocker, something else? Wizmouse on host. not running, and with the rehook option unchecked. I also run the latest version of Logitech Gaming Software for my USB mouse (only on the host).

5) Are you logged into Windows as an administrator user normally privileged user? I'm logged in as admin acct on both host and guest.

6) Please give me exact and detailed reproduction steps for this problem so I can follow exactly the same steps and see the problem here. Same as mentioned by several others. I simply run the vm, go about my business, and suddenly the mouse buttons stop working until I move the cursor out to the vm desktop area. Then it happens repeatedly until vm is paused/restarted.