Configuring the SVGA video driver on older versions of Windows virtual machines
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Configuring the SVGA video driver on older versions of Windows virtual machines

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Article ID: 324855

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Updated On:

Products

VMware VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

When installing VMware Tools in a Windows NT, Windows Me, Windows 98, or Windows 95 virtual machine, you might receive a message saying that VMware Tools failed to install the SVGA driver automatically. When you click Finish in the wizard, a Notepad file appears, displaying instructions for installing the SGVA driver manually. This article includes the same text shown in that file.


Resolution

Unfortunately, when the Notepad file appears, another message also appears, prompting you to reboot the virtual machine. If you happen to click Yes in the reboot prompt, the Notepad file closes, and you cannot find it again after the reboot. Also, you can no longer access the SVGA driver to install it manually.

This KB article has been written to help you in that situation.

If you accidentally click Yes when prompted to reboot, follow these instructions. After the virtual machine reboots, run the VMware Tools installer again (choose VM >Install VMware Tools). This time, in the installation wizard, select the Repair option. You need to select the Repair option so that the Notepad window appears again and so that the installer is able to access the SVGA driver.
Note: The VMware Tools are available at packages.vmware.com.

For your convenience, the instructions from the Notepad file are reprinted below. See the steps that correspond to your guest operating system:

Windows NT

To install the SVGA driver:

  1. After installing VMware Tools, click Finish.

    The Display Properties dialog box appears.

  2. Click the Display Type button.

    The Display Type dialog box appears.

  3. Click the Change button.

    The Change Display dialog box appears.

  4. Select VMware, Inc. from the Manufacturer list.
  5. Select VMware SVGA as the display adapter and click OK.
  6. Click Yes in response to the on-screen question about third-party drivers to install the driver ,and click OK to confirm the drivers were installed.
  7. Click Close from the Display Type dialog box and click Close from the Display Properties dialog box.
  8. Click Yes to restart Windows NT and start using the new video driver.

Windows ME

To install the SVGA driver:

  1. After installing VMware Tools, click Finish.

    The Display Settings dialog box appears.

  2. Click the Advanced button.
  3. Click the Adapter tab.
  4. Click the Change button, and after the Update Device Driver wizard starts, click Next.
  5. Choose the option Specify the location of the driver and click Next.
  6. Check the Specify a location check box and enter this path:

    C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\Drivers\video

  7. Click OK.

    Windows ME locates your driver.

  8. Select the VMware SVGA II display adapter and click Next.
  9. Click Next to install the driver.
  10. If you are upgrading a virtual machine created under VMware GSX Server 2, you might see a dialog box that warns The driver you are installing is not specifically designed for the hardware you have.… Do you wish to continue? Click Yes.
  11. After the driver is installed, click Finish.
  12. Click Yes to restart Windows ME and start using the new video driver.

Windows 98

To install the SVGA driver:

  1. After installing VMware Tools, click Finish.

    The Display Settings dialog box appears.

  2. Click the Advanced button.

    The Standard Display Adapter (VGA) Properties dialog box appears. If you are upgrading from a previous version of the VMware drivers, this dialog box is titled VMware SVGA Properties.

  3. Click the Adapter tab.
  4. Click the Change button, and after the Update Device Driver wizard starts, click Next.
  5. Choose the option Display a list of all drivers in a specific location and click Next.
  6. Select Have Disk.

    The Install From Disk dialog box appears.

  7. Enter this path:

    C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\Drivers\video

  8. Click OK.
  9. Select VMware SVGA display adapter and click OK.
  10. Answer Yes to the on-screen question and click Next to install the driver.
  11. After the driver is installed, click Finish.
  12. Click Close in the SVGA Properties dialog box and click Close in the Display Settings dialog box.
  13. Click Yes to restart Windows 98 and start using the new video driver.

Windows 95

To install the SVGA driver:

  1. After installing VMware Tools, click Finish.

    The Display Settings dialog box appears.

  2. Click the Advanced Properties button.

    The Advanced Display Properties dialog box appears.

  3. Click the Change button.

    The Select Device dialog box appears.

  4. Select Have Disk.
  5. Enter this following path and click OK:

    C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\Drivers\video

  6. Click OK again to install the driver.
  7. Click Close from the Advanced Display Properties dialog box and click Close from the Display Setting dialog box.
  8. Click Yes to restart Windows 95 and start using the new video driver.

Note: You must set your resolution to 1024 x 768 in the display settings as they remain at 640 x 480 after the reboot.

Additional Information

For translated versions of this article, see:
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