Fusion Window Enters Weird State

[jonheal]

I'm using Spaces and I've assigned Fusion to a particular Space. Every now and then, when I switch to Fusion's Space, the window is in a weird unusable state (screenshot attached). Pausing and Resuming the Virtual Machine fixes things. My VM is Windows 2000.

Any idea what's happening?

[cbrew325]

I also use Spaces and have noticed the same problem. For me it usually happens if I've used Fast User switching to return to the login window. Then when I return to my computer, it looks like the picture you posted.

I can usually restore my VM by puting windows to sleep and then turning it back on.

[jonheal]

You're right! Fast User Switching definitely has something to do with it.

Any comments from the mothership?

[cbrew325]

It didn't happen in 1.1.3 for what thats worth. Its nice to know it's not just me...

[admin]

No comments yet. Are both Spaces and Fast User Switching required to reproduce this? How often/quickly does it happen? What type of Mac do you have, and what video card?

[jonheal]

I can reproduce the issue on my machine thusly:

1. Log in with my account (Admisistrative). Fusion is assigned to Space 3 out of 6 (3 wide x 2 high).

2. Start Windows 2000 in Fusion.

3. Fast Switch to log into my wife's account (Limited Account).

4. Fast Switch back to my account (re-entering password).

5. When my desktop rotates into view, the Fusion window is black.

Mac Mini 1.66Mhz Dual Core; 10.5.5

[cbrew325]

My problem can be reproduced by using fast user switching to go to the login window. Then when I log back in Fusion is often black. It does not happen every time.

I am running OS 10.5.5 on a MacBook Pro 2.4 Core 2 Duo w/ NVidia 8600M GT.

[jonheal]

This issue is still present in 2.0.1, but it's nothing more than a screen refresh issue. I can get the window to return to its normal state by simply clicking on the the little widget in the top right corner of the window that shows/hides the toolbar.

[batcave]

I'm using version 2.0.3, but I'm still having a very similar problem.

When I leave my workstation, I click on the "Login Window..." menu option under the fast user switching menu in OS X. (I'm running the latest version of Leopard and I uses Spaces heavily) I leave the virtual machine running when I do this.

About 50% of the time when I come back, I can log in, but then my keyboard is completely messed up. Its like the keyboard mapping has been changed to some foreign language. Also the virtual machine is completely unresponsive. I have to quit Fusion. A few seconds after it quits, my keyboard goes back to normal and I can restart it and continue my work.

But it is REALLY annoying!!