Solved 3 failed VM attempts - W8 and Linux Mint

[Boozad]

So got round to installing Mint Petra tonight and immediately ran into a problem, namely I can't set a 1920x1080 screen resolution. This is going to be fun!

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
Did you install VMware tools after first boot of your VM.

Note also that the monitor settings are probably controlled from your HOST --if the HOST doesn't have the relevant setting enabled your GUEST probably won't either.

If you are using multiple monitors with HDMI connections organise that from the HOST. The GUEST will probably be using a VMware generic video driver for its video resolution and monitor settings and the Virtual video adapter is dependent on the HOST's hardware.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Boozad]

Hi Jimbo,

I did install VMWare tools onto the VM and the install went fine although there was still no option for 1920x1080. I'm set at 1920x1080 in my host Windows 7 Pro 64-bit. Interestingly I installed Ubuntu into a VM last night to see if that worked and I have the exact same problem. My Windows 8 VM works perfectly.

I'm only using one monitor, no multiple monitor setup.

 

[whs]

In the virtual system you have to allow for some screen space for the host's taskbar. My maximum Mint resolution is 1680 x 912 whilst the Windows 7 host resolution is 1680 x 1050.

 

[Boozad]

In the virtual system you have to allow for some screen space for the host's taskbar. My maximum Mint resolution is 1680 x 912 whilst the Windows 7 host resolution is 1680 x 1050.

I did consider that Wolfgang but what I found strange is that I can choose resolutions much, much higher. Also the W8 VM I ran could go to 1920x1080 easily, which is perfect for running VMWare in full screen mode with no host taskbar.

 

[whs]

Of course, in full screen mode you have the whole screen. But I prefer to maintain the taskbar of the host system so that I can easily switch from one system to the other.

 

[Boozad]

All I did was hover at the top of the screen and the VMWare toolbar would drop down, I'd just minimise it that way. I suppose that's by the by though, just a personal preference. I have searched numerous times to resolve the resolution issue in Linux and Ubuntu but and many people seem to have (or have had) the same problem although I haven't found a solution yet.

 

[whs]

This is indeed unusual. I also run Mint Mate from a USB flash drive and there I had no problems setting it to maximum screen resolution. So apparently it is not a Linux problem.

 

[Boozad]

That was why I tried Ubuntu too, just to see if it was a one off but the same problem occurred. I'd have put it down to VMWare but W8 being fine muddied the waters there. I'll keep looking into it, and I'll try Mint Mate on a USB and see what happens.

 

[whs]

For the installation of Mint Mate on a USB stick, have a look here.

 

[Boozad]

I'll get onto that tomorrow Wolfgang, many thanks.