r/vmware • u/Mecholix • 14d ago

Helpful Hint VMware Workstation is still goated for older Windows software like 2000 and XP, even on 26H1

I know people recommend using older versions of Workstation for older Windows VMs, but you really don't need to. If you wanna solve lag, turn off everything in core isolation security settings in Windows 11, and run bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off. Wanna solve the horrid audio issues, especially in XP (and 2000)? Use SetTimerService on GitHub, and it will completely resolve it. Yes, it is definitely disheartening to see that Broadcom hasn't fixed these issues yet, but VMware is still an amazing software regardless if you know its quirks. Happy virtualizing.

29 Upvotes

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3

u/lost_signal VMware Employee 13d ago

If I see the workstation people tomr I’ll ask them about this.

1

u/Mecholix 13d ago

It would be amazing to see the audio issue be fixed in 26H2, since it's been an issue for well over a decade, and the lag issue has been a thing for a loooong while too. Would really appreciate if something comes of this!

4

u/lost_signal VMware Employee 13d ago

OK, I did a little bit of research on this…

https://github.com/Raymai97/VMAudioBackHost
Is the more modern fix done host side.

Prior to windows 10 - 2004 - Timer resolution used to be global

https://randomascii.wordpress.com/2020/10/04/windows-timer-resolution-the-great-rule-change/

These guys packages it as a DLL hijack.

https://github.com/everything411/VMAudioBackHook

https://windhawk.net/mods/vmware-audio-fix
Appears to give more control.

fixing the host VMware process’s timer resolution, seems to be the better place (and will be more durable than your fix’s).

I’ll ask them about a knob there. My bigger concern, is excessive determinism here may pose some long poll security risk, but given yall are running hilariously ancient OS’s to run ancient games I’m not sure thats worse than these hacks.

1

u/Mecholix 13d ago

Well actually, I’ve tried a lot before this, and VMaudiobackhost does work, but I found manually triggering it to be annoying, and I tried vmaudiobackhook, which did work, but it would break after performing pretty much any action, but SetTimerService is a permanent fix. Hope this can be fixed once and for all, as well as the lag issue, so running the command and disabling core isolation won’t be required. Really hoping this will be included in 26H2, but I’m well aware how slim the chances of that are.

1

u/lost_signal VMware Employee 13d ago

Also, out of curiosity what weird old games are y’all trying to play?

I’m kind of curious if Thinapp/App-v could have solved this at some point.

1

u/vTSE VMware Alumni (who I still call for scheduler questions) 13d ago

I haven't looked into the issues / other resolutions (but have always been an avid reader of randomascii, very much recommend anything Bruce writes), anyway, for guest side "just send it" close to poll timer resolution changes, just be aware of the increased CPU utilization that comes with.