I'm on windows XP 32 bit

I'm not using win2003 server

!SOLVED !

Ok, ok there are really some troubles considering vcredist and local security policy as you people mentioned before.

I tried some vcredist packages from microsoft. Install of vcredist was successfull, but VMware Server install error stays the same.

So what I have done at the end of all this is:

1. I started install and live it to fail, but iI did not press cancel or ok for stop installing.

2. Now i browsed to C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12} which was

created during install. And I manually started vcredist_x86.exe. Error message appeared. "The system administrator has policies to prevent this instalation".

This message is not correct. I already have some other vcredist installatiion on my system (from microsoft.com)

Now I have manually started VMWare Server.msi, which was unpacked under the same directory. Success!

Since you could not say that this is Microsoft or VMware issue but local company issue, it would be nice, to include a nice warning message

on how to adjust security policies. It will be a very usefull time saving notice.

But ... the major catch is that I do not have any policies turned on!

Anyway, now I'm successfully running rc1 ).

Below is my installation log (first run) ... where in the future -  should also be a nice little notice

that something with security policy is not ok - and what else can I try.

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 Begin Logging

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue Command Line     =

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue Admin            = TRUE

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue OS Major Version = 5

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue OS Minor Version = 1

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue OS Build Number  = 2600

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue OS Bitness       = 32-bit

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue OS Platform      = NT

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue OS Service Pack  = 3

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue running from --> C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\VMware-server-2.0.0-101586.exe

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue lpName = SKIPADMINCHECK NOT FOUND

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue lpName = MINORUPGRADE NOT FOUND

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue lpName = OPERATION, lpBuf = INSTALLUPD

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue lpName = PRODUCTNAME, lpBuf = VMware Server

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue lpName = PRODUCTCODE, lpBuf = {AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue lpName = LANGUAGES NOT FOUND

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue lpName = VM_DATABASE, lpBuf = VMware Server.msi

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue lpName = SFXINSERT, lpBuf = 1822720

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue lpName = VMIOPTION, lpBuf =

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue lpName = MINIMUM_9X_MSI, lpBuf = 200

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue lpName = MINIMUM_NT_MSI, lpBuf = 300

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue lpName = INSTMSIW, lpBuf = instmsiw.exe

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue lpName = PROPERTIES NOT FOUND

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue lpName = OLDCODES, lpBuf = {5B9605EF-01FA-4429-8174-5A1039B0A7A5};{FEE84D71-7FF0-46C1-AED4-1BD821D53A9F}

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue lpName = HELPER_UI NOT FOUND

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue UI thread started successfully

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue Total unpacked size will be 558342304

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue Extracting setup files to "C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup\"

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 Loaded library kernel32.dll(2088763392)

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 C:\ has 3272691712 free

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 Freeing library: 2088763392

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue FreeBytes: 3272691712 Needed Bytes: 1127170368

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02   --> instmsiw.exe SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:02   --> VMware Server.msi SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:28   --> readme.txt SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:28   --> vcredist_x64.exe SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:28   --> vcredist_x86.exe SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:28 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue No upgrade is necessary. System version meets minimum requirements

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:28 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue Windows Installer is already correct version

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:28 Found "C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup\vcredist_x86.exe"

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:28 Attempting to launch "C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup\vcredist_x86.exe /Q /C:"msiexec -i vcredist.msi -qn -leom+ C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS~1\Temp\vm_vc8SP1.log ARPSYSTEMCOMPONENT=1""

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:29 Child exited with code 1625

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:29 Process returned 1625

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:26:29 Launching VC8 dll installer failed with 1625.

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 Deleting C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup
instmsiw.exe

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 Found "C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup
instmsiw.exe"

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 Deleted file C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup
instmsiw.exe

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 Deleting C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup
readme.txt

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 Found "C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup
readme.txt"

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 Deleted file C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup
readme.txt

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 Deleting C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup
vcredist_x64.exe

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 Found "C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup
vcredist_x64.exe"

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 Deleted file C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup
vcredist_x64.exe

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 Deleting C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup
vcredist_x86.exe

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 Found "C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup
vcredist_x86.exe"

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 Deleted file C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup
vcredist_x86.exe

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 Deleting C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup
VMware Server.msi

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 Found "C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup
VMware Server.msi"

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 Deleted file C:\DOCUME_1\ADMINI1\LOCALS_{1\Temp\{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}}setup
VMware Server.msi

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 SOLVED: VMware Server 2 rc1 install issue Setup exit code is 1603

BootStrapper: 07/07/08 08:27:01 End Logging