Macbook Air Installing VMware + Windows XP Pro (ISO) Issue

[brmcguire]

I am in the process of installing VMware for the first time. I have a Macbook Air (without the external CD/DVD Drive). I have created a Windows XP Pro ISO file and have that loaded onto my MBA. When I run the installation of vmware fusion I can't seem to be able to select the ISO file (WinXP.dmg). It appears grayed out in the disk image browser window. I however can select the file fine from the Parallels installation. Any ideas?

Thanks

[WoodyZ]

I am in the process of installing VMware for the first time. I have a Macbook Air (without the external CD/DVD Drive). I have created a Windows XP Pro ISO file and have that loaded onto my MBA. When I run the installation of vmware fusion I can't seem to be able to select the ISO file (WinXP.dmg). It appears grayed out in the disk image browser window. I however can select the file fine from the Parallels installation. Any ideas?

Even without an external CD/DVD you still need to add a CD/DVD to the Virtual Machine in order to assign an ISO Image to it.

When using Disk Utility in order to have a bootable ISO Image you should select CD/DVD Master with no encryption in which case by default it will have a .cdr file extension and in version 1.1 of Fusion and later does not need to be changed to .iso although one can if one chooses to. A default .dmg image is compressed and is not bootable although an uncompressed .dmg will boot if changed to .iso and of course the source CD/DVD must be bootable in the first place.

To create an ISO Image using Disk Utility...

1. Insert the CD or DVD disc in your computer's optical drive.

2. Open Disk Utility (/Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility).

3. Select the CD or DVD disc in the list of disks and volumes.

4. Choose File > New > "Disk Image from (Name of Disc)."

5. Type a name for the disk image.

6. Choose "DVD/CD master" from the Image Format pop-up menu.

7. Choose "none" from the Encryption pop-up menu.

8. Click Save.

Edit: Note: After the initial install of the OS...

From the information posted in this Forum since the MacBook Air became available it is safe to say that there is an issue, and by now be considered a known issue, with the MacBook Air and the External CD/DVD Drive in that if the Drive is not present then one must either set the Virtual Machine's CD/DVD to Disabled, or to and ISO Image or remove the CD/DVD form the Virtual Machine's Settings sheet and in doing so the Virtual Machine should be able to start without crashing!

[brmcguire]

Thanks. That worked as described.

[brmcguire]

I removed the CD/DVD device from my settings form which fixed the issue you mentioned in your replyed post. It looks like I might need to add it back to install the vmware tools to enable Unity. How would you suggest I add it back. I tried to use the "+" to add a device, but the CD/DVD is grayed out. Any help would be appreciated.

Edit* I seem to have vmware tools installed on the Windows XP vm. Would this be the only vmware tools? or am i to install the tools within OSX as well?

Thanks

[admin]

I removed the CD/DVD device from my settings form which fixed the issue you mentioned in your replyed post. It looks like I might need to add it back to install the vmware tools to enable Unity. How would you suggest I add it back. I tried to use the "+" to add a device, but the CD/DVD is grayed out. Any help would be appreciated.

Is the virtual machine shut down (suspended doesn't count)?

Edit* I seem to have vmware tools installed on the Windows XP vm. Would this be the only vmware tools? or am i to install the tools within OSX as well?

Tools are only for the guest, so you wouldn't install them in OS X.

[brmcguire]

How would I know if my VM is shutdown. I have the XP desktop active with applications open when I try to enable Unity.

[bochito]

Easiest way to it with out superdrive.

How come I can’t install Windows to a MacBook Air using the borrowed network CD drive?

The CD/DVD sharing features does not support the necessary requirements needed to install Windows over the network. You need to create a CD/DVD image of your Windows installation media to install Windows on your MacBook Air. To create a CD/DVD image of Windows installation media, do the following:

Launch the Apple’s Disk Utility by going to Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility on your Mac.

Insert the Windows installation CD/DVD, select the CD/DVD disk and click New Image.

In the Image Format pop-up menu, choose DVD/CD Master, In the Encryption pop-up menu, choose None.

Save the Windows installation CD/DVD image to the MacBook Air or to a network location available to the MacBook Air.