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22,961 Views 10 Replies Last post: Feb 16, 2009 10:36 AM by ArbitraryY RSS
alexbohner Novice
alexbohner
4 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
Currently Being Moderated

Oct 10, 2007 9:57 AM

Getting into boot menu with 6.01

Hi All,

 

I just upgraded 2 machines from VMware workstation 6.0.0 to 6.01, but can no longer reach the bios setup screen or the boot menu from either machine. I have always been able to press ESC at startup to reach the boot menu, but now the vm now boots straight into Windows, regardless of how quickly I press ESC.  Am I missing something, or has something changed with this release?

 

Thanks,

Alex

Tags: boot, guest, 6.01, menu
Aldebaran Hot Shot
Aldebaran
188 posts since
Apr 16, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
1. Oct 10, 2007 10:06 AM in response to: alexbohner
Re: Getting into boot menu with 6.01

 

Can you click in the window and try either the Re: Getting into boot menu with 6.01 or Re: Getting into boot menu with 6.01 key?

 

 

Jeff

 

 

alexbohner Novice
alexbohner
4 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
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2. Oct 10, 2007 10:36 AM in response to: Aldebaran
Re: Getting into boot menu with 6.01

 

No, it all happens too quickly.  After pressing Start and waiting for a second or so, the guest screen turns black for a split second (and I do mean split second), the VMware screen then flashes for a split second, then Windows starts booting.  With previous versions the bios boot screen would sit there for a couple of seconds giving me time to do something, but not any longer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

alexbohner Novice
alexbohner
4 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
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3. Oct 10, 2007 10:42 AM in response to: alexbohner
Re: Getting into boot menu with 6.01

Update:  After playing my favorite game of "Press start in VMware then hit ESC as fast as you can" about 50 times, I finally saw the boot menu...but I was pressing ESC so fast that the extra key presses canceled out the menu.  Haven't been able to reproduce my only success. 

rsa911 Virtuoso
rsa911
1,877 posts since
Aug 3, 2007
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4. Oct 10, 2007 10:43 AM in response to: alexbohner
Re: Getting into boot menu with 6.01

 

Alex,

 

 

you can update your .vmx file and add :

 

bios.bootDelay = "5000"

this adds a 5000 ms (5 seconds) delay at boot time,

 

 

or add:

 

bios.forceSetupOnce = "TRUE"

 

to force VM to enter the BIOS setup at next boot.

 

 

alexbohner Novice
alexbohner
4 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
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5. Oct 10, 2007 10:50 AM in response to: rsa911
Re: Getting into boot menu with 6.01

That did the trick!  I have never seen that option before, guess I never needed it before.  Thanks for the quick help!

 

Alex

rsa911 Virtuoso
rsa911
1,877 posts since
Aug 3, 2007
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6. Oct 10, 2007 10:54 AM in response to: alexbohner
Re: Getting into boot menu with 6.01

 

> have never seen that option before

 

 

no wonder, it's new with W/S 6.01

 

 

I'm eagerly waiting for vmware to add it to Server and ESX !

 

 

I myself already spent a ridiculuous amount of time trying to enter in the bios of a vm or obtaining the boot menu !

 

 

oreeh Guru
oreeh
10,046 posts since
Nov 30, 2005
Currently Being Moderated
7. Oct 10, 2007 11:04 AM in response to: alexbohner
Re: Getting into boot menu with 6.01

Add

bios.bootDelay = "5000"

to the VMX file - this will delay the boot by 5 seconds.

Gribling Novice
Gribling
4 posts since
Mar 24, 2004
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8. Jun 12, 2008 3:13 AM in response to: rsa911
Re: Getting into boot menu with 6.01

 

Dear reader,

 

 

 

 

 

thanks for the good tip. I had the same problem in Vmware workstation  6.04 build 93057 and was getting mad about it.

 

 

Especially the bios.forceSetupOnce at the and works great.

 

 

Schnibulla Lurker
Schnibulla
1 posts since
Dec 21, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
9. Dec 28, 2008 4:10 AM in response to: rsa911
Re: Getting into boot menu with 6.01

hi,

 

I have the same problem with the Freeware VMWare Server 1.0.8. build 126538.  I can't fix it with the discribed tricks.

 

 

sorry, it's too simple    . I forgot to get a click into the virtual  window to give the focus.

ArbitraryY Novice
ArbitraryY
4 posts since
Feb 16, 2009
Currently Being Moderated
10. Feb 16, 2009 10:36 AM in response to: alexbohner
Re: Getting into boot menu with 6.01

the 50 times pressing is the issue.  Press once and you will be good to go.  The first "ESC" gets you into the menu, and the second time you press it takes you out of it.

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