Display Driver Failed to Start error

[Bengineer435]

I am running a Windows 10 Host and Windows 10 Guest with VMware 16.2.4.  My screen flickers when running the guest, starting infrequently (every minute or 2) and increasing in frequency until 20-30 minutes in.  After it becomes more frequent, the guest display size shrinks to half the screen and I get an error message on the guest window: "Display driver failed to start; using Microsoft Basic Display Driver instead.  Check Windows Update for a newer display driver."  Windows Update shows I am current.  I have tried a repair of my VM Tools and have made sure I am using the 16.2 version of the hardware configuration.  How can I fix this?

[scott28tt]

As your post needs moving to the area for Workstation, I have reported it to the moderators.

[PM5]

I suspect that this is related to this issue:

https://communities.vmware.com/t5/Workstation-Tech-Preview/W10-VM-Chrome-Youtube-video-playback-cras...

The symptoms are very similar.

[silverstandart]

Same issue. Win server 2016

[silverstandart]

Hi, this is more info

/------------------------------------------------------ General

Faulting application name: dwm.exe, version: 10.0.14393.0, time stamp: 0x578999ab
Faulting module name: dwmcore.dll, version: 10.0.14393.2248, time stamp: 0x5ae3f893
Exception code: 0xc0000225
Fault offset: 0x0000000000045fec
Faulting process id: 0x2508
Faulting application start time: 0x01d8fe9acc40d5f3
Faulting application path: C:\Windows\system32\dwm.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\system32\dwmcore.dll
Report Id: c037007d-3c77-4782-929e-58f5167dbaee
Faulting package full name:
Faulting package-relative application ID:

/------------------------------------------------------ Details

- System

- Provider

[ Name] Application Error

- EventID 1000

[ Qualifiers] 0

Level 2

Task 100

Keywords 0x80000000000000

- TimeCreated

[ SystemTime] 2022-11-22T17:49:51.563639700Z

EventRecordID 20150

Channel Application

Computer ANDREYTC12

Security

- EventData

dwm.exe
10.0.14393.0
578999ab
dwmcore.dll
10.0.14393.2248
5ae3f893
c0000225
0000000000045fec
2508
01d8fe9acc40d5f3
C:\Windows\system32\dwm.exe
C:\Windows\system32\dwmcore.dll
c037007d-3c77-4782-929e-58f5167dbaee

[silverstandart]

Reinstalling VMWare Tools into VMware-Tools-windows-11.3.5-18557794 could solve this issue. 

Time will show but I think it is much stable so far.

[SCL2IBM]

Tried re-installing VM tool - no different.

Same crash with dwm and display driver

[DrDooDad]

I am getting the same error for my Windows 10 VMWare workstation ... it happens way too frequently and becomes unusable.

Is ther a fix for this .. I have repeatedly uninstalled then installed VMWare tools .. yet the problem persists ...

I am running:

VMware® Workstation 16 Pro

16.2.5 build-20904516

Please help

Thanks

[DrDooDad]

Hello VMWare !

Any news on this issue ... it is very annooying to run VMWare workstation when this occurs .....

Some feedback would be nice .. so far feel like im sitting on the tarmac in an American Airlines plane ... not goiing anywhere 🙂

[SCL2IBM]

I have the same problem. System SKU LENOVO_MT_20YR_BU_Think_FM_ThinkPad P15 Gen 2i - Windows 10 Enterprise. Vmware Workstation 15.5.7 build-17171714. I have tried un-install tools and re-install tools - no different. I have tried disabling NVIDIA 3D GPU - no different. I have tried forcing the Graphics controller vendor ID in the VMX file - still the same dwm crashing.

This only started happening after migrating to a new ThinkPad P15 Laptop. Everything worked reliably on previous Lenovo Laptop p52.

I also experience problems with the system clock, the clock in the VM runs ahead and when VM syncs with the HOST this causes a jump back in time of the VM clock.

This problem only happens in some of my VM's. At the moment it seems to be consistent in Windows Server 2016 machines. I have some 2008 R2 machines that are not affected by this.

It is really frustrating, cannot find a stable solution for this.

[Bengineer435]

Update:  I have tried a few things as mentioned.  I have re-installed VMware Tools multiple times with only temporary improvements.  Looking at when I do or do not get this error, I think it may have something to do with the docking station.  It seems like when I open a VM with my Lenovo P17 laptop disconnected from the docking station, I start getting the error, and it persists after I re-connect the docking station.  There was a recent VMware workstation update to 16.2.5 and I have not had any errors since then.  However, I have co-workers that still get the same error.  I also don't believe I have tried using VMware without the docking station since them update.  I still suspect it has something to do with the docking station and the drivers for the docking station with external monitors. 

[DrDooDad]

Yup .. it seems when I have multiple monitors it is worse .. much worse .. I have disabled 3d graphics .. I have fixed the display size to be a fixed size , I have increaese my RAM ... still get the problem ... almost unworkable 😞