Unity mode view is one of my favorite features in desktop virtualization software VMware workstation. In Sun VirtualBox, the same technology called ‘seamless mode’. To run unity mode properly, virtual machine should have VMware tools installed on it. If unity mode not working in VMware workstation 7 try following steps to fix it.
If you get an error virtual machine cannot enter unity mode, it’s because of VMware tools problem. It can be,
1) No VMware tools installed on guest virtual machine
2) Different OS VMware tools installed wrongly.
3) Installed VMware tools is outdated ( you may face this issue if VMware workstation is upgraded)
To check whether unity mode is working, go to view on menu bar and select unity mode.
To Install VMware tools in guest OS, Click VM on tool bar and select Install VMware tools as shown below.
If VMware tools upgrade is required, same option will be ‘Update VMware tools’.
What is Unity mode in VMware workstation?
Unity mode view is created to run and view virtual machine’s programs in host desktop. Virtual machine will be maximized to full screen and you can see a guest’s start button just above host start button.
Below screen shot taken, when I run Windows Vista as guest on Windows XP host computer. I opened calculator in XP (Host) and Windows Vista (Guest). Now I can work on both calculators on XP (Guest) desktop as working in one computer only.
One small unity mode icon will be appeared on each screen you open through unity mode in Host.
Read more about VMware Tips and Tricks here.
Sorry for my English, but I wonder if VMware’s Unity feature applies also on a host machine that has Windows XP machine virtualized x86 and Windows XP is also x86. If it is not possible, as host systems needed o Hardware to use the VMware Unity. Thanks
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