[Virtualacorn-list] Comparison of VRPC on Mac or Windows 7

[David Pitt]

Alan Adams <alan at adamshome.org.uk> wrote:

> In message <mpro.lhfbas00002g200dr.pittdj at pittdj.co.uk>
>           David Pitt <pittdj at pittdj.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> <snip>
> > Rather more serious is the terminal "failure to create primary surface"
> > error also caused by a Windows event, it may be that this is associated
> > with using VRPC in a Windows window. Other than that VRPC on Windows is
> > stable, or put another way I have only crashed it once!
> 
> Interestingly, I've used VRPC for about 5 years on two laptops, and the
> only time I have seen this message was when I tried to start two copies at
> once. I normally run full-screen, and hibernate with VRPC running. That
> does sometinmes result in the black screen, requiring two alt-enters to
> recover - a minor problem for me at least.

I have seen the primary screen failure on three Windows 7 machines so far,
it is somewhat sporadic. The best way to try to reproduce it is to require a
password on return from screen saver with VRPC in a Windows window. If it
can happen then it can also happen at other inconvenient moments I have
found. I do require my laptop to be fully password protected. Full screen
mode does (completely?) evade the problem and the much lesser problem of
requiring two alt-enters is rare.

Oddly using HDMI on the Sony Media PC always required two alt-enters on wake
up whereas VGA does not. I have done away with the HDMI connection which is
a minor shame as the HDMI was noticeably crisper than VGA.

I only recently became aware of the two alt-enters work around, and not
knowing that made it a bigger issue. 

Anyway full screen is the one to use.

No such bother previously with XP!!


-- 
David Pitt