This article describes how to change Virtual Desktop Agent display adapters from XPDM to WDDM Drivers.

Background

Beginning in version 5.5 of the XenDesktop Virtual Desktop Agent (VDA) software, the pre-Vista legacy display driver (XPDM) was replaced by a newer post-Vista WDDM display driver. In some instances, Citrix Support engineers might request that you update the display driver to WDDM for troubleshooting purposes. This article gives you the procedure for updating the driver to the newest version.

Requirements

Virtual desktop with XenDesktop 5.5.100 or newer VDA software installed.

Access to a persistent desktop, such as a standard Virtual Machine, a master image (MCS), or vDisk set to private image mode (Provisioning Services 5.6) or a maintenance version (Provisioning Services 6.x).

Instructions

Complete the following procedure:

1. In Device Manager, open Display Adapters. Click the Citrix Systems Display Driver, then right-click and select Uninstall.

   

2. Click OK, then No when prompted to restart the computer.

   

   

3. Click Action, then Add legacy hardware:

   

4. The Add Hardware Wizard appears. Click Next.

   

5. Select Install the hardware that I manually select from a list and click Next.

    

6. Select Display adapters from the list and click Next.

   

7. Select Citrix Systems Inc. as the Manufacturer, then scroll down the list on the right and select Citrix Systems Inc. Display Mirror Driver, then click Next.

    

   Notes

   • The versions displayed in this step might differ depending on the version of VDA software installed. For version 5.6.200.9, the latest is version 6.3.200.8 [11/2/2012].

   • Some older versions might simply display Citrix Systems Inc. Display Mirror Driver with no version.

    

8. Click Next to install the driver.

    

   The driver starts the installation.

    

9. Click Finish to complete the Add Hardware Wizard.

    

10. When prompted to restart, click Restart Later.

     

11. Right-click Standard VDA Graphics Adapter and click Update Driver Software…:

     

12. The Update Driver Software window opens. Click Browse my computer for driver software:

     

13. On the next screen, choose Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer:

    

14. Choose Citrix Display Driver (Citrix Systems - WDDM)' and click Next:

    

    Note: Some older VDA software might display a version number, such as ‘6.2.0.476 [3/15/2011]’. If this is the case, choose the newest version available in the list.

     

    The driver software starts the installation. 

    

15. On the final screen, click Close.

     

16. Click Yes when prompted to restart the computer. The Virtual Machine restarts.

     

17. When the Virtual Machine is back up, open Device Manager, then Display Adapters. The only two adapters listed should be Citrix Display Driver (Citrix Systems - WDDM) and Citrix Systems Inc. Display Mirror Driver.

     

18. Connect to the Virtual Machine through XenDesktop and confirm that the display drivers show the same as in the preceding screen shot.

CTX137210 - How To Change VDA Display Adapters from WDDM to XPDM Drivers