XenApp shared desktop on Windows Server 2016 launched from HP thin client - screen mostly grey after monitor power down/up
Our current XenApp shared desktop (on XenApp 7.13) is running on Windows Server 2008 R2. Our HP T5565 thin clients create a desktop session, then when the user leaves their desk for 10 mins, the 'Turn off the display after 10 mins' setting on the HP device kicks in, and the screen powers down as normal. Then when they return and move the mouse, the screen wakes up. Great.
Now, I've recently built a Windows Server 2016 shared desktop (on XenApp 7.15), and we connect using the same thin client devices. When the users leaves the desk, the screen powers down as normal, however when they return and move their mouse, it's as if not all of the screen wakes up. Sometimes they get a solid screen of only grey (where you can still see the outline of the password box). This happens almost every time, but when it does, the grey is sometimes on the whole display and sometimes in patches. After entering the password to unlock the screen, sometimes it'll have half or a corner of the screen still grey, and you have to make an Explorer window full screen on top of the greyness to get rid of it.
Please see screenshot for an example of what I mean. In this example, they've just unlocked the screen and found their desktop looking like this.
If I remove the 'Turn off the display after 10 mins' setting then the problem will go away. However this is not an option for us due to the extra power drain.
Besides, it's not just a screen power down that causes this though. If an user does a Ctrl-Alt-End to minimise the whole session (say if an admin wants to modify something in the HP Control Panel) then when you re-maximise the session, it can sometimes go grey as well.
Do you know how I can begin to troubleshoot? The Windows Server 2008 R2 image was running with Legacy Graphics mode, but I've been told that I don't need this for Windows Server 2016.
I realise that these thin clients are getting old now, but replacing them is not an option for us. This is stopping my Windows Server 2016 rollout so any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Now, I've recently built a Windows Server 2016 shared desktop (on XenApp 7.15), and we connect using the same thin client devices. When the users leaves the desk, the screen powers down as normal, however when they return and move their mouse, it's as if not all of the screen wakes up. Sometimes they get a solid screen of only grey (where you can still see the outline of the password box). This happens almost every time, but when it does, the grey is sometimes on the whole display and sometimes in patches. After entering the password to unlock the screen, sometimes it'll have half or a corner of the screen still grey, and you have to make an Explorer window full screen on top of the greyness to get rid of it.
Please see screenshot for an example of what I mean. In this example, they've just unlocked the screen and found their desktop looking like this.
If I remove the 'Turn off the display after 10 mins' setting then the problem will go away. However this is not an option for us due to the extra power drain.
Besides, it's not just a screen power down that causes this though. If an user does a Ctrl-Alt-End to minimise the whole session (say if an admin wants to modify something in the HP Control Panel) then when you re-maximise the session, it can sometimes go grey as well.
Do you know how I can begin to troubleshoot? The Windows Server 2008 R2 image was running with Legacy Graphics mode, but I've been told that I don't need this for Windows Server 2016.
I realise that these thin clients are getting old now, but replacing them is not an option for us. This is stopping my Windows Server 2016 rollout so any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.
ASKER
Hi Michael, thanks for your post.
Yes it's always fine from a Windows machine.
There is no newer firmware/image for the T5565 than what I have. There is a new Citrix Receiver, but when I install that it's even worse - the screen is always 100% grey all of the time, immediately after launching the session at the beginning.
Sorry my mistake - the version of my XenApp VDA is 7.16 (not 7.15). I also have the ServerVDACoreWX64_7_16_001
Yes it's always fine from a Windows machine.
There is no newer firmware/image for the T5565 than what I have. There is a new Citrix Receiver, but when I install that it's even worse - the screen is always 100% grey all of the time, immediately after launching the session at the beginning.
Sorry my mistake - the version of my XenApp VDA is 7.16 (not 7.15). I also have the ServerVDACoreWX64_7_16_001
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Install the current receiver on a Windows machine. is it ok now?
Make sure you're running the latest service pack on your 7.15, should be CU2.