explorer.exe process not starting on guest machine or linked clone sessions

[njd62495]

I'm running into an issue where the guest machine that I am using as my master image is not starting the explorer.exe process upon start up.

It's an XP image. I ran into this issue before when I deployed linked clones, I would connect to the pool, open a session and I would just get the wallpaper and that's it. I would then have to manually start the explorer.exe process to see my icons, start menu, task bar, etc...

I thought my image was corrupt so I just created another one but I ran into the same issue right after I installed the VMview agent on the system.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? If so how did you fix it?

[Zsoldier]

I'm seeing the same issue. Seems to occur right after I install the View Agent on the Gold image. My guests are configured as follows:

XP SP3

VMWare Tools, SoftGrid Client, Office 2003, McAfee.

Something about the View Agent (3.1.1) is causing this issue, not sure what it's doing to cause it though. Going to try installing an 3.0.1.

[Zsoldier]

3.1.1 View Agent seems to be the issue. I installed View Agent 3.0.1 and the problem does not appear.

[Mizzou_RobMan]

Ditto same issue here with explorer.exe not starting and I'm trying to quickly setup Proof of Concept for upper management.

XP SP3

Citrix Access Client

Microsoft App-V agent

Microsoft Office 2007

Microsoft Office Live Meeting 2007

Symantec AntiVirus

VMware View 3.1

ZoneLabs Integrity Client

[Zsoldier]

Yeah, going through the same process here. Install the 3.0.1 agent instead, seems to work fine at least for a POC. I have someone from VMWare that is going to be submitting a bug report.

[njd62495]

Z please let us know when VMware gets back to you with a response. At least now I know I'm not going crazy. I tried updating XP to SP3, excluding the process from DEP...nothing seems to work.

I guess for now I'll just have to go with 3.0.1 like you guys said.

[mittim12]

Check out this thread, http://communities.vmware.com/thread/216043, and this KB

If you found this or any other post helpful please consider the use of the Helpful/Correct buttons to award points

[Zsoldier]

I shall.

[Zsoldier]

I've performed exactly as the KB article as stated, the agent is the last thing I install. Issue is still apparent. Haven't tried the registry fixes suggested on the community board. 3.0.1 is getting me by for now, so I'll wait to hear back from VMWare about 3.1.1.

[Mizzou_RobMan]

Yes 3.0.1 appears to work much better. Thanks for the link, I wish I would have found it two days ago.

[Zsoldier · Accepted solution]

3.1.2 is out. Has anyone tried it yet? I plan on trying it today.

K. Chris Nakagaki (Zsoldier)

http://tech.zsoldier.com

[arjanhs]

Regarding the KB this problem is solved in 3.1.2, work around is changing the userint key in the registry and switch the lines so that the Softgrid line is first.

[njd62495]

Great...Thanks everyone. At least now I dont feel so bad thinking it was something I configured wrong.