Clipboard use between different OS environments?

networkman

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
10,436
1
0
Here's the work scenario:

HP thin-client stations running 32bit Windows XP SP3 (embedded) running Java-based applications(library environment). Also running VMware client (v5.3) which connects to a 64bit Windows 7 Pro VDI desktop (virtual desktop used to also be Win XP but has been updated).

Staff used to be able to copy & paste text (book titles, authors, etc) from the VMware 32bit WinXP environment to the 32bit WinXP local thin-client application. Now, with the VMware environment being 64bit Win7 Pro, they are unable to copy said text.

However, we can copy text to the clipboard from the 32bit WinXP on the thin-client into the VMware 64bit Win7 Pro desktop.

So the question is, is this because 64bit Win7 is backward compatible and able to "see" the 32bit XP clipboard? If so, is there any way to copy text from 64bit Win7 to 32bit WinXP short of saving and opening files in a shared location?
 

Ketchup

Elite Member
Sep 1, 2002
14,553
248
106
That is interesting. My situation is reverse and it works ok most of the time. I have a 64-bit 7 host machine and a 32-bit xp VM. I can copy and paste text in both directions, but I know once in a while the latest save on the host doesn't make it to the vm clipboard on the fist attempt.

Sorry I can't answer your question, but I am wondering if VM tools is not playing nicely with the VDI setup you are using. That is purely a guess though.
 

Mushkins

Golden Member
Feb 11, 2013
1,631
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Is it the same version of VMware? The bitness might be running you on a wild goose chase when it could be a later version/patch simply defaults to some security setting to segregate the clipboards, it might even be a per-vm option. Worth a look through the settings at least.

I've used older versions of VMware with all sorts of bitness mismatches between windows versions with no issues, though im not that familiar with the latest versions.

Can you still drag/drop a file from the VM to the host desktop and vice versa?
 

Snoop

Golden Member
Oct 11, 1999
1,424
0
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I am sure this has been checked but make sure the VM is set to allow drag and drop and copy and paste from the VM Machine Settings/Guest Isolation menu.