Workstation pro 14 black screen

[zmware1979]

I’m looking for some help and advice with regards to Vmware. I’m completely new to using this software and I am already running into a few problems. I’m using Vmware pro workstation 14 in trial mode. I have successfully installed Windows 10 within the virtual PC and a few other programs. Everything seemed to be going just fine until all of a sudden, I was faced with a black screen within Vmware. I’m not sure if I’ve pressed something or done something to cause this to happen. I have noticed that there is suddenly, a thumbnail bar at the bottom which seems to show my virtual PC powering on and off. If I try to click it to open it up on the main screen it doesn’t work, I just get a black screen. I’m also having problems now connecting to the update server. I have uninstalled and reinstalled Vmware 4 times now without it making any difference. Is there any advice you can offer with regards to what the problem may be? I guess worst-case scenario is I would need to reinstall Windows 10 within Vmware, however this will take a fair bit of time and I still would not be aware of what I did that caused the problem in the first place.

I have attached a screenshot to show you what I’m looking at now when I open Vmware.

Thanks again.

Regards

Christopher

[aloshka]

Did you recently do an update to creators fall update?

[zmware1979]

I did a fresh install of Workstation Pro 14. It was working fine until I rebooted the next day. I’m not sure if it something I did or a glitch with the software.

[zmware1979]

Any help anyone?

[srinigvas]

Click anywhere on the Black screen, just incase if its a screen saver.

If that does not help, from the menu bar goto VM->Power->Shut Down Guest. Once it is shutdown, go back to VM->Settings->Display and if you find 'Accelerated 3D Graphics' enabled, uncheck it and click on OK and then power on the VM.

[zmware1979]

I've done all of this many times over, it makes no difference.  I can see the computer running in the thumbnail preview, but not in the main console screen.

[wila]

Hi,

Apparently it is due to a winsock configuration issue.

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

--

Wil

[zmware1979]

Thank you for the reply, however that's not the cause of the problem. I've already tried that fix with no luck. Any more ideas please?

Regards

Christopher

[zmware1979]

Thank you for your offer of help but I found the problem. I had previously installed ZoneAlarm. I have uninstalled the program, however it had left some files behind. These files could not be removed manually as it would cause more problems, like my LAN Network adapter would stop working. I was able to get a clean tool from ZoneAlarm for windows 10, which I then ran on my PC. After all files were removed I rebooted, everything worked perfectly afterwards. If anyone else need this tool please PM me.

Thanks again.

[MikeButler]

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.

[ger1820]

Hello i have the same issue here...

1. Run the command "netsh winsock reset"

2. Reboot system

3. VM shows screen

4. Start and connect NordVPN

5. Any VM started after NordVPN gives me a black screen

[ger1820]

I requested a support case at NordVPN today about this issue.

[ger1820]

As of now NordVPN is working an a new version where this issue is fixed 🙂

[weingarp]

I had the same problem.  I use Astril's VPN software.  It had just been updated and I didn't correlate that with the problem of my Win7 VM, set for NAT, which wouldn't boot and gave me the "black screen".  I turned off the VPN, and now it boots/works fine.

[jamer7]

This has been nagging me for months, never got ver. 14 working so I reverted back to ver. 12. Decided to try again today and after hours reviewing these boards, I figured out the solution.

I noticed that several commenters mentioned having a VPN and that when they disconnected, it fixed the problem. Didn't think much of it because I wasn't connected to my VPN (IPVanish). But as soon as I closed the VPN application (which starts with Windows automatically), it solved the problem and no more black screen.

[BSmithw6]

Yes, that is exactly my issue too. IPVanish and Workstation 14 do not play well together.

If you launch WS14 after opening IPVanish you will get black screen. Exit IPVanish and close WS 14 and then open WS 14 and all is good. You can then open IPVanish again if needed.

Go figure.

--Brian

[all70]

I was having the same issue, but not on every VM; only new ones.

Looks like my issue was caused by McAfee Firewall and possibly Antivirus.

Still researching if I fixed it by changing settings and adding ports 443, 902, 903 to firewall exclusions.

McAfee Livesafe (v16) & SecurityCenter (v17.4)

[HDCFH]

Hello all. I don't have VPN and just use VMWARE 14. I now get black screen and when I try to close, go to prior snapshot, pause it just sits there doing nothing. I actually let it run for a whole day. Finally rebooted my pc. On one vm, it crashed my hard drive and is now in recovery mode. VMSupport does nothing.

Any help is appreciated.

[TimothyHuckabay]

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).