How to select a Boot-Device at startup of a VM

[ojwird60]

Hi all,

I'm rather new to VMware and like to have a little help.

I have installed an image of a running win2000prof system to a new VM.

At startup the VM crashes with Windows saying "INACCESSIBLE BOOTDEVICE"

Now I'd like to patch Windows, using a bootable CD.

The VM doen't let me boot from the CD.

I tried "F2" at startup of the VM, to get to the setup-menue of the (virtual) BIOS, and change the Boot-Order.

I hoped to change the order with the

Plus or Minus-Signs as indicated, but nothing happens...

Where am I wrong?

Any help appreciated! Thank you!

[cheeko]

You can reach the boot menu with ESX during VM boot.

Make sure the your vCDROM is connected in VM config.

[ojwird60]

Thanks for your answer, cheeko.

I still haven't got it:

I connected cdrom as Host device (/dev/cdrom)

checked "connect at power on"

when the VM has started an crashed, the box "connected" is checked.

So, the CDROM is ( or should be) available at boot time.

But still, virtual HD is the first boot device

and I don't have a n idea how to change that.

Tried the same with CDROM as Client device...

(single ESX 3.1 running , VI Client- console)

[admin]

Click the console Window to grab focus to the VM, then hit ESC during the BIOS splash screen to bring up the boot menu.

[ojwird60]

Thanks again,

unfortunately, this is not it.

I tried your suggestion using brings me to the (virtual) Phoenix BIOS

settings as described in my first posting.

So, still, I'm not able to make the CDROM my first boot device.

I feel like a child although I'm not quite new to computing.

Thanks for your help!

[esiebert7625 · Accepted solution]

What you're describing should work, it sounds like you are doing everything correctly. You do not need to change the boot order in the BIOS to make this work, you simply press ESC at the BIOS screen and select CD-ROM. Is it possible the CD-ROM you are using is not bootable? Or even though you select CD-ROM as the boot device there is sometimes a quick prompt that says "press any key to boot from cd"

[ojwird60]

thanks a lot, esiebert7625!!

along with your hint, i selected 3. CDROM in the boot menue,

and then i stroke the return-key 3 or 4 times ...

and then, there came up the question, if I wanted to boot from CD!!!!

Now it works!

Again, thanks to all!