Opening a virtual machine console fails with error: "Unable to get the window handle for the "AxQuickMksAxCTL' control"
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Opening a virtual machine console fails with error: "Unable to get the window handle for the "AxQuickMksAxCTL' control"

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Article ID: 309630

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Updated On:

Products

VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

  • You cannot open the console of any one of your virtual machines.
  • Attempting to open a virtual machine console fails.
  • When accessing the Open Console option from a virtual machine, you see the error:

    Unable to get the window handle for the "AxQuickMksAxCTL' control.

  • When accessing the Console tab, you see the error:

    Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation

Environment

  • VMware vCenter Server 4.0.x
  • VMware vCenter Server 4.1.x
  • VMware VirtualCenter 2.5.x

This issue is observed on:

  • Windows XP
  • Windows Server 2003
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows 7

Resolution

Set the system DEP policy to Always Off in the Windows operating system.

  1. Open a command prompt as the administrator:

    1. Click Start > All Programs > Accessories.
    2. Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run As Administrator.

  2. To disable Data Execution Prevention (DEP), run this command:

    bcdedit.exe /set nx AlwaysOff

  3. Uninstall the vCenter Server Client(s).
  4. Restart Windows.
  5. Re-install the vCenter Server Client(s).