Before I refund/Bad review..

[😒]

I just bought and the program fails to launch I get an error on desktop "unable to connect to virtual desktop service", but in the vive I just get booted to the grey "room".

Any fix?

[ggodin]

This is usually caused by an anti-virus that prevents proper service installation. The solution is to go into Control Panel, Programs and Features, find “Virtual Desktop Service” and select modify, then repair. Let me know if this resolves your issue.

[😒]

"Modify" is greyed out. There is no modify option in "uninstall programs".
Why does no other app or program do this?

[ggodin]

Just uninstall it and re-launch Virtual Desktop, which will automatically install the service. If you get a UAC prompt, make sure to say yes.
I have no idea why it doesn’t get installed properly like everyone else on first launch (haven’t been able to identify the issue). The app isn’t a typical game, it needs to install a service so that specific OS APIs can be used to capture the desktop if that’s what you were wondering.

[😒]

A reinstall got it working thank you.

[WildFandango]

I'm having the same issue, but uninstalling/reinstalling is no longer remedying the issue. I've used this application since I bought my Rift last April, but started having issues with this error in the past month or so. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[ggodin]

You can try to right-click “Virtual Desktop Service” in Programs and Features, then click repair.

[gbart001]

I am getting the same message. All worked two days ago, but this error just started. I've tried all the above with no success (e.g., reboot, reinstall, etc.). I've got the latest NVIDIA driver and the latest Oculus software. I have both the Steam version of this program as well as the one on Oculus.

[ggodin]

Originally posted by gbart001:

I am getting the same message. All worked two days ago, but this error just started. I've tried all the above with no success (e.g., reboot, reinstall, etc.). I've got the latest NVIDIA driver and the latest Oculus software. I have both the Steam version of this program as well as the one on Oculus.

Try to manually uninstall the “Virtual Desktop Service” in Control Panel, Programs and Features. Then launch Virtual Desktop.

[gbart001]

Have windows 10. Under Apps & Features, I see Virtual Desktop. Is that what you suggest that I uninstall. Please confirm.

[ggodin]

Start menu, type Control Panel. Once in it, click Programs and Features, scroll down to “Virtual Desktop Service” (not Virtual Desktop) and select uninstall. If it doesn’t appear it means it didn’t get installed; Go to the installation folder and double click VirtualDesktop.Service.msi

[Kreator]

I started having this problem come up the last few days. The solution I found was to close Steam and Oculus Home completely, then re-open and it worked. In one instance, I had to fully reboot the computer before it would work again. Curious that so many people are now running into this situation all at the same time. Could it relate to the Windows 10 "Fall Creator's Update" slowly rolling out to users? I just got it a week or two ago.

[gbart001]

Thank you for the step by step instructions. "Virtual Desktop Service" was not in the list so I installed "VirtualDesktop.Service.msi". It works again now. Many, many thanks.

[ggodin]

I don’t know what’s causing this all of a sudden. Sometimes it’s anti-viruses flagging my app for no reason and preventing the installer from working. It’s not an issue for most users. Do you guys run Kaspersky, Avast or anything like that?

[gbart001]

I have Norton 360.

[Kreator]

I have Avast (free version) but have been running it for at least 6 months and only recently had the Virtual Desktop Service message. But my antivirus has never flagged or popped up any notifications about any apps or processes it thinks are bad. Thankfully in my case, simply restarting Steam and Oculus worked. I've been using Virtual Desktop all day today (I actually spent several hours in it each day hosting online training webinars for my business. I love it!)