Cannot boot/install VMs from ISO images

[JayKulsh]

In this new VMWare 5.1 host server, I have created 2 VMs -- one for Win 2008-R2 and one for 2003-R2. Neither of VM guest OS can be installed. The VMs cannot see the DVD drive. I have modified/verified Boot options, so that CD-ROM has priority over hard disk. Normally, I would see the message - "Press any key to boot from CD-ROM" but on this host, that option has not shown up for any VMs. The delay is 2000 ms.

ISO images are located in datastore and DVD-drive is set to Connect on power on.

The server is HP ProLiant DL360 G6, and in BIOS, "Local Bus IDE adapter" is set to Both. Thanks for any help.

[a_p_]

I never experienced issues on such hosts with booting from CD/ISO. Please attach the VM's latest vmware.log file to see whether this contains some hints. Can you further confirm that the ISO images you have are bootable, i.e. not service pack CDs (MS unfortunately names these ISO images similar)?

André

[julienvarela]

Hi,

Can you try to press Escape when the VM is starting and then select CD ROM device.

Regards,

Julien

[JayKulsh]

I have mounted the ISO images in Win8 and they have same content as the DVD of the two OS.

I am enclosing the latest vmware.log files of the two VMs. Thanks for all your help.

[JayKulsh]

I tried doing that but it made no difference.

[ScreamingSilenc]

Can you try steps mentioned in the KB http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=100906...

[julienvarela · Accepted solution]

Everything is fine on the log, Iso is correctly mount to the VM.

     Connecting ide1:0 to '/vmfs/volumes/51e31a01-f16017de-38a1-f4ce46b6bd72/BIN/Win2003R2-64 ISO/Win2003R2-64.ISO'. img=1 raw=0 remote=0

I suspect a non-bootable ISO. Can you test with a live CD for exemple to exclude somes issue with VMs?

Regards,

Julien.

[JayKulsh]

As I stated in the original question - "I have modified/verified Boot options, so that CD-ROM has priority over hard disk". I did that by going into BIOS with the procedure you mentioned. I also enabled rebooting every 10 sec. on one of the VMs. No difference. Thanks.

[JayKulsh]

The host machine does not have DVD drive. But I think I can use remote console of iLO to mount the DVD of the workstation from which I am connecting? Right?

Thanks.

JK

[julienvarela]

Oups,

No , don't do that ! ... Just download a linux live CD for example, upload it on your datastore and try to boot on this live CD from your both VMs.

Regards,

Julien.

[JayKulsh]

But it is working . I also pointed to same DVD drive in toolbar of the VM. Not sure which one helped, but installation of Win 2008-R2 is proceeding.

So the problem was with ISO? Thanks.

[julienvarela]

JayKulsh a écrit:

But it is working . I also pointed to same DVD drive in toolbar of the VM. Not sure which one helped, but installation of Win 2008-R2 is proceeding.

So the problem was with ISO? Thanks.

Yes, your iso is definitely not bootable .

Regards,

Julien.