Fusion Player 13 Not Updating Time on Windows 11 ARM

[sayremr]

I noticed that my Windows 11 ARM machine installed on a Macbook with an Apple M1 Pro chip does not update the Windows 11 clock to the correct time when the machine is resumed following a Suspend event. "Synchronize Time" is checked in the Advanced settings in Fusion 13.

I observed that the Windows Time service was set to run manually. I changed that service to run automatically. I restarted the Windows 11 machine. The time service is running after the restart. I then suspended the Windows 11 machine for 10 minutes. When the machine was resumed, the Windows time was 10 minutes slow and did not update over the ensuing 5 minutes. I understand that the Windows Time service is not updating the clock very often.

Has anyone else noticed this issue? Is there a fix or workaround?

Thank you.

[Technogeezer · Accepted solution]

There are no VMware Tools in a Windows 11 ARM VM other than the graphics and network drivers. That means there is no VMware component in the VM that will sync the time in the guest with the host, or gracefully prepare the Windows guest for suspend or resume. 

You are correct in that Windows Time service does not frequently update (one source I found says it updates weekly) and won’t update under certain circumstances (especially if the delta between the local and remote clocks is too great). If the VM or host is suspended, the clock stops in the guest.

You will need to use other Windows mechanisms to sync the clocks after suspend until VMware delivers a full VMware Tools implementation. 

[MNSteve]

> until VMware delivers a full VMware Tools implementation. 

Is there any hope for this happening?

[Technogeezer]

Yes.

The 2023 Tech Preview (public beta) includes updated tools that provide host/guest time sync. these will be included in a generally available Fusion release that VMware hints we’ll see this fall.

I’ve tested this tech preview with Windows 11 ARM and it does work. 

[MNSteve]

I can wait until "this Fall" but is there a way that regular 'ole customers to obtain the beta?  And does this enhancement also address the issue of copy/paste between the native operating system and the VMWare host?

Thanks for the information.

[RDPetruska]

https://communities.vmware.com/t5/Fusion-2023-Tech-Preview/ct-p/fusion2023

[ColoradoMarmot]

It does have copy/paste, but not shared folders. 

You may have you rebuild the VM from scratch.  There are issues when upgrading the manually installed drivers that can cause video artifacts.  If you do, there's a new 'unofficial guide' in the tech preview documents section - use those instructions.

[Technogeezer]

Adding to the link that @RDPetruska posted:

The 2023 Tech Preview is a public beta. Anyone can download and use it. Please be prepared to report back any difficulties you have with it in the 2023 Tech Preview Discussions forum. The link provided gets you to that forum and a link to download the software.

Download and read the Tech Preview Testing Guide - link also provided on the page referenced above.

Download and read the Unofficial Fusion 2023 Tech Preview Companion Guide https://communities.vmware.com/t5/Fusion-2023-Tech-Preview/The-Unofficial-Fusion-2023-Tech-Preview-C... . It's full of information that'll help you get your Windows 11 ARM VM up and running - and it's tailored for the Tech Preview (branched document from the Fusion 13 Companion).

[MNSteve]

I want to thank everyone who has posted here with the information I was looking for.

I have decided to wait for the official release of the new version.  I am hoping that I can simply upgrade, install VMWare Tools, and move on with my life with copy/paste and time sync.  This is a selfish decision on my part, based on my workload and the risk of breaking my working Windows environment.  In the best of all worlds, I would enjoy the "fun" of installing the beta and be able to contribute to the process of identifying issues, but it's not that world for me.

I just want to say that I do appreciate the efforts of those of you who labor to make the product straightforward and reliable for customers like me.  Thank you.

[ColoradoMarmot]

Can't argue with that.  Hopefully they'll fix the upgrade bug with the tools.

Based on past schedules, I expect we'll see the full release sometime in October or early November.