How to install ESXi 4.1 on a Dell Precision 670

[JimInLaFayette]

I have ESXi 4.1 loading from CD successfully (I did get around the CPUID limit issue).

When it gets to the installation step, it fails with "unable to find a supported device to write the image" message.

System specs:

Dell 670

Two Xeon 3.2ghz Irwindale 64b processors

2 gb memory

One 72 gb SCSI hard drive (currently formatted NTFS if is even a factor)

BIOS is A07

Any help would be appreciated.

[DSTAVERT]

I would install ESXi to a USB stick. It is a supported install option. 1GB or larger. Check the Hardware Compatibility List for supported disk controllers. http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php

You may try zeroing out the drive with a Linux rescue disk or wipe disk.

[AndreTheGiant · Accepted solution]

As written in the previous post try to install on a USB stick.

But VMs must run from a HD connected to a supported adapter.

If SCSI does not work, try with IDE disks.

See also in whitebox configurations:

http://www.vm-help.com

http://ultimatewhitebox.com

PS: 2 GB are a very small amount of memory to virtualize VMs...

Andre

[JimInLaFayette]

Installing an IDE drive was the answer. Apparently, the DELL SCSI adapter and disk are not compatible with ESXi 4.1.

Thanks allot for your help. All I need to do now is figure out how to edit the config file permanently for the nocheckCPULimit paremeter, and I should be good to go.

I realized the 2gb of memory could be an issue, but this is only a test server I am setting up at home. Thanks for the heads up though.