Set Windows Server 2012 default screen resolution (VM Ware)

I need to set (default) screen resolution to Win Server 2012 hosted in VMWare vcentrum 5.5.0. It is a dedicated server for running automatic GUI tests for Windows applications by Jenkins. When connected from Jenkins, it has the screen resolution of 1024x768. I need higher, at least 1024px height.

What i tried so far:

Run setres.exe from Jenkins

c:\windows\system32\setres.exe -w 1280 -h 1024

result: The settings passed in could not be applied to the graphics device.

Add the following lines to the vmx file

svga.autodetect = "FALSE" 
svga.vramSize = "20971520" 
svga.maxWidth = "1920" 
svga.maxHeight = "1080"

result: setres.exe -i still returns 1024x768

Use Win API functions: ChangeDisplaySettings, EnumDisplaySettings

I wrote a C# utility which worked correctly on WS2003 (run from Jenkins) & Win7 (run locally), but on WS2012 run from Jenkins EnumDisplaySettings returns:

Supported Modes:
1024 by 768, 32 bit, 60 hertz
1280 by 1024, 32 bit, 60 hertz
1920 by 1080, 32 bit, 60 hertz
...shortened

However ChangeDisplaySettings returns

-1  : dislplay change failed

Alter registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video\{A8405CA4-B9D8-4123-B809-D912D3B666DC}\0000

enter image description here

result: none and after Jenkins connects, it sets the keys VidPNSource0Width & Height back to 1024x768

Any ideas?

Edit: VM hardware settings enter image description here

Ondrej Sotolar

Posted 2014-10-02T11:33:32.730

Reputation: 143

Is there any Video card connected?. What cable you are using VGA/HDMI/DVI?. – Renju Chandran chingath – 2014-10-06T16:34:29.143

No, its a virtual machine. No cables. – Ondrej Sotolar – 2014-10-07T05:41:55.217

Oh sorry. My bad. I misread VMWare vcentrum. – Renju Chandran chingath – 2014-10-07T12:07:33.663

Answers

Make sure VMTools is installed on the virtual machine
Shut down the virtual machine
Go to Edit Settings for the machine
Select the video card
Increase the Total video memory to about 64 MB

That should provide you with a wide array of possible resolutions

GapWim

Posted 2014-10-02T11:33:32.730

Reputation: 158

Within the VM client settings just go to graphic cards adapter, "List all modes", choose a mode, click OK and click OK again.

DarkEvE

Posted 2014-10-02T11:33:32.730

Reputation: 377

I have no such settings there. Please see the screenshot at the bottom of the question. – Ondrej Sotolar – 2014-10-07T11:53:55.430

ahh right sorry, well then judging by the software I would suggest this page http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/faq/id-1820753/vmware-virtual-machine-incorrect-display-resolution.html

– DarkEvE – 2014-10-07T12:19:46.507

Try MultiRes - maybe it would succeed where setres failed.

Jonathan

Posted 2014-10-02T11:33:32.730

Reputation: 2 294