When using a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) session to access vSphere Client, the virtual machine console window is black and POST and the boot options prompts do not display.

Option 1
From the RDP client (mstsc.exe):

- Select Options
- Select the Display tab
- Select High Color (16 bit)
- Click Connect

Option 2
Use the vCenter Web Access:

- Navigate to https://<vCenter>
- Click Log in to Web Access
- Select to the virtual machine
- Select the Console tab
- Click Install Plug-in
- Click Run
- Click Run
- Click Install
- Click Next to close Internet Explorer
- Click Finish

- Navigate to https://<vCenter>
- Click Log in to Web Access
- Select to the virtual machine
- Select the Console tab
- Click in the console pane to launch the console

vSphere Client console screen is blank during an RDP session
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1023109

vCenter Client Virtual Machine Console tab is black when running through remote desktop (RDP)
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1017633