vSphere Client VM console only interactive when full screen

[FrinkTheBrave]

When I display the console tab on a VM I can see it correctly and the display updates as expected, but I can't interact with it with the mouse or keyboard.

Ctrl-Alt-Enter and Ctrl-Alt-Del from the keyboard has no effect.

Guest> Send Ctrl-Alt-Del works correctly although I can't log in as the keyboard/mouse still doesn't work.

Guest> Enter Full Screen does work and I can then use the VM full-screen as expected. Pressing Ctrl-Alt when in full screen reverts back to the console in the client with no user interaction possible as before.

The same is seen if I pop the console out of the client.

It did work once before, when someone else connected to my VM so we were both connected, then I could interact with the VM in the client console.

I am using version 4.1.0 for ESXi and Client. I have installed the latest VMWare Tools. The only warning I get on startup is that there is insufficient video RAM to use the maximum resolution (2560x1600) but I don't want that resolution.

Any ideas? TIA,

- Frink

[idle-jam]

looks like more of a client issue? may i know what is the operating system you're accessing from? what about using another pc/laptop.

[FrinkTheBrave]

I'm using Windows XP. Actually I'm not sure if I am using the latest VMWare Tools, but colleagues can access the same VMs with no problems so that's probably not a factor.

[idle-jam · Accepted solution]

if you colleague can access with no problem chances it may be your PC client's issue. what about reinstalling your vsphere client? or download the thinapp version of vsphere client http://blogs.vmware.com/thinapp/2011/03/thinapped-vsphere-client-fling-new-download-available.html

[FrinkTheBrave]

In the end I had to do a reinstall of my machine for another reason and it worked after that