Windows 11 Graphics Issues in Qubes 4.3

User Support
1

Hello,

I upgraded to 4.3 and really like the new preloaded disposables and other UX changes. However, I tried the new Qubes Windows Tools in Windows 11 and unfortunately :worried: I noticed a few different graphical issues which make it hard to use. These issues are in seamless and non-seamless modes and were not in Qubes 4.2. I believe the same also happens in Windows 10, but I didn’t test it much.

Some examples in non-seamless mode:

  1. Doesn’t erase old positions of windows when moved by the mouse
    example_1
    example_11467×789 143 KB
  2. Doesn’t fully redraw when things change, such as while typing in the search bar (shows floating text)
    example_2
    example_2836×822 89.7 KB
  3. Blue highlight doesn’t go away after you hover over things
    example_5
    example_5740×656 46.2 KB

Examples in seamless mode:

  1. Moving windows over eachother with leaves artifacts
    example_6
    example_61505×1064 99.4 KB
  2. Click + dragging selection boxes leaves artifacts
    example_7
    example_71170×594 53.8 KB
  3. Browser box within Autodesk Fusion 360 is properly overlayed by Windows file explorer, but the red border added by Qubes isn’t
    example_1
    example_11920×1200 120 KB
  4. Same box from Autodesk Fusion 360 always overlays the Q menu
    example_2
    example_21920×1200 113 KB
  5. Same box from Autodesk Fusion 360 persists in every workspace and overlays other applications
    example_4
    example_41920×1200 106 KB

Another issue is I can’t see the mouse cursor (but it still moves around) when I use non-seamless mode, GPU passthrough, and USB passthrough to use Windows only on the external monitor. I disable seamless mode, connect an external monitor to the GPU’s HDMI port on my laptop, and in Windows settings choose “Show only on 2” in display settings. Then I connect a mouse and keyboard with USB passthrough. The visual artifacts I mentioned earlier are gone but then the mouse cursor is invisible but can still move and click.

The mouse cursor problem and the non-seamless mode problems are fixed by running $ qvm-features (qube name) gui-emulated 1 and $ qvm-features (qube name) gui '' in dom0 and restarting Windows, which apparently reverts to an old graphics driver. But this now disables seamless mode support. It is explained here.

I wanted to make a forum post about this to ask if anyone else also experiences similar issue with the new graphics driver. I would be happy to make a GitHub issue but I want to properly document the problems and ask if anyone else can reproduce it first. Thanks!