So, the scene is that I install XP within Virtual PC/server and all is fine.

I can see the outside world, the drivers are working but I need to install the VM additions pack to wrest control of the mouse from the caffeine addled monster that currently does as it pleases with it.

It goes ahead without problems and reboots. As soon as I’m back at the logon screen, something is very wrong. Checking out the graphics I’m apparently locked into 800 x 600 and 4 bit graphics.

Wha?!

VM additions is meant to fix this, not cause it! The solution that worked for me? Install SP 3.

Once I did that, the screen went back to normal! If you’ve had this problem too, I’d love to know so I can get an idea of any commonality.

To help out, here’s the model number of the physical host machine I was using:

HP Proliant DL360 G5, packing an ATI ES1000 integrated graphics.

OS: 32bit Windows server 2003 standard R2 with sp2 installed and all windows updates up to this date in time.