Windows not installing from iso in NFS datastore

[nh2013]

Hello All,

I searched this forum for a few days and have tried suggestions from various posts without success. I have recently installed ESXi 5.1 Update 1. I setup an NFS datastore on the same machine using a USB external hard drive. I was able to install RHEL6 using an iso from the NFS datastore. The problem is I am unable to install Windows using a Windows 7 iso. Every time the VM is started, it attempts to do TFTP boot and hangs. No iso is detected. I have tried the following:

1. Ensured both "Connected" and "Connect at Power On" options for CD/DVD are checked. However, I have noticed that when the VM starts up, the "Connected" option for Windows becomes unchecked. That is not the case for the Linux VM.

2. Changed the boot order from BIOS to first boot from CD/DVD.

3. Unchecked "Connect at power on" for network adapters.

Even after these changes, VM tries to do TFTP and network boot.

The next thing I did:

4. Removed the network adapters from BIOS (by modifying config).

At the moment, VM does not attempt network boot but complains that Operating System was not detected.

Few details about the NFS datastore:

1. 1 TB USB external drive with 2 ext4 partitions setup as an NFS share from RHEL6 server on same machines.

2. NFS configured correctly because I can install from an RHEL6 iso just fine.

Am I missing something? Nothing wrong with the Windows iso. I have used it elsewhere. Also tried a different Windows iso without success. Please help. Thank you in advance for your time.

Regards.

[weinstein5]

Welcome to the Community - Are you sure the ISO image is bootable?

[nkrishnan]

Make sure your using the latest Virtual hardware. Another option is connect through vSphere client  Connect/Disconnect CD Rom option.

[nh2013]

Hi,

The ISO image is bootable. I have used it to install other systems. I will try to use another Windows iso today just in case.

[nh2013]

Hi All,

Thank you for your suggestions. I did upgrade the hardware and got hold of other ISO images of Windows to play with. My original Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit ISO still does not work but I am able to create VMs from Windows 7 Professional 64-bit ISO. I will conclude that something is wrong with the ISO although I used the same one to deploy a VM in VMWare Fusion on my desktop weeks ago. I do need a Windows 7 Ultimate VM. Hopefully I can get hold of a different ISO image for it. Thanks again!

[MarVista · Accepted solution]

Since Operating system ISO files are big and take a considerable amount of clusters on the hdd sometimes doing a check desk ( or a disk scan ) can fix up a corrupted ISO file . and to make sure that your ISO is not corrupted try to open it via Winrar and extract one file from it .

Yours,
Mar Vista

[vlho]

Hi,

have you on NFS server in /etc/exports option: no_root_squash ?

[nh2013]

Hi vlho. I do have /etc/exports setup with that option.

Hi MarVista, I will try to copy the Iso again and create a VM from it (just in case the ISO got corrupted). Will update you with the results

[OscarDavey]

Hello, Have you checked booting from another bootable ISO?? You can also try to fix it(ISO) or extract it to be sure, that it is OK. Hope will help.