vSphere client vm console windows become inaccessible on Windows 7 after upgrading to 4.1

[sfisher78]

After I upgraded to vSphere 4.1 (from 4.0u1) I have a recurring issue when using vSphere client to access vm consoles.  I can open the console for a vm and everything works fine until I minimize the console and move to another active window.  I am using Windows 7 and when I hover over the taskbar item for vSphere client I can see the console window appear but if I click on it nothing happens.  I have to close the console window from the taskbar and then open up a fresh console.  Sometimes this happens even when I don't minimize but move an active window in front of the open console. There are four of us using vSphere client on seven computers running 64bit Windows 7 Pro and three of them have the problem.  I have tried uninstalling/reinstalling vSphere client to no avail. The only thing that seems to fix it is to disable aero, but this seems totally unnecessary as the older vSphere client worked just fine with aero enabled.

[BOETTT]

I am having the same issue, although it also occurs using a non-Aero theme.  I did notice that on the Aero theme, I cannot even use ALT-TAB to bring up the window, but on the non-Aero theme that does work.  Did you ever find a solution?

I am using vSphere Client version 4.1.0 build 258902.

[peetz]

There have been improvements in the Windows 7 compatibility with Update 2 of vSphere 4.1 (s. http://v-front.blogspot.com/2011/10/vsphere-41-update-2-released-whats-in.html).

Please try if these issues also occur with that version.

I think you do not need to update vCenter and or the ESXi hosts (although this would also be a good idea), it's enough to update the client only.

- Andreas

[sfisher78]

I tried updating to 4.1 u2 (both vCenter and client) and that had no effect on this issue.  I've also recently upgraded to vSphere 5 and that still has the same issue.  Every time I minimize a vm console window I cannot get back into it.  Still there in aero peek but totally inaccessible.  I must close that console window and open another.  So strange.