Can't install Windows XP Home on MacBook Pro with VM Ware Fusion - Help!

[stevejoyce]

Hi Viewers,

I am desperate in that I have spent about $200 on VM Ware Fusion and Windows XP Home Edition for my MacBook Pro running OS 10.4.11 and cannot get Windows to load no matter what I try. I have tried both VM Fusion's "Easy Install" and "Manual Install" of Windows with the Windows CD (which never gets recognized) and nothing happens. I have also tried both ways to install windows with a Windows Disk Image rather than with the CD with still no results. I can't believe that VM Fusion gets such good reviews with virtually no technical support (even for successful installation), and with this much difficulty trying to use it to load Windows. If I ever get it loaded, who knows what difficulties I will have trying to run Windows on my Mac if installation is this difficult. Bottom line is that I would greatly appreciate any help that you can offer, or anyone else that you can refer me to so that I can finally get this software up and running. I get as far as a black Windows XP screen, but Windows never loads:

I got the following message (author's name removed) from the VM Ware Store after describing my problem, but when I told them I still was unable to install Windows using VM Ware Fusion, they never responded. HELP!:

A new message was posted in the thread "Temporary Maintenance - VMware Store?":

http://communities.vmware.com/message/816890

Message:

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Are you still seeing issues with VMware Store? Please be specific about what problems you see and when, and then I will have the Store team take a look.

Apparently they never took a look because I never got a response.

Steve

[rcardona2k]

The OS installation process is usually not complicated that's why it works for others. Where did you say you got Windows XP Home edition from? Is this a retail copy (in a green box)? Or copy from another PC, or an online retailer/auction?

Have you checked to see if this version is bootable on another physical PC?

[stevejoyce]

Hi,

Thanks for your response. My version of XP came from an online retailer, but

it was sealed new in a green box with a new authorization code sticker on

it. It does say, "for distribution only with a new PC". How would this be

different from one bought in a regular computer store? Since my computer is

new, I assumed from my end that this was what I needed, although the

retailer did not mention in his ad this "restriction" on the software. I

don't have another PC to see if this is bootable on it and I can't imagine a

friend allowing me to install a new operating system on their PC or even

boot from one. Thanks.

Steve

[stevejoyce]

Hi again,

After some fiddling, I did get Windows to load with "Easy Install" using a

Disk Image of the Windows CD that I created on my Mac desktop. Since I know

nothing about Windows (I just want to be able to run some Windows programs

that I have), my new challenge is how to get Windows to recognize my Mac

Airport wireless internet system (coming to Airport through a cable modem)

so I can get on the Internet when in Windows, as well as how to get Windows

to recognize my Mac CD/DVD drive so I can run Windows CDs and DVDs. Sorry to

bother you, but if you have any help with these issues, it would be

appreciated. Thanks.

Steve

[rcardona2k]

Glad you got over installing the OS. (btw, a boot up check on another PC would not damage that PC, anyway...)

As for the internet connection, make sure Virtual Machine > Network is set to NAT and the virtual machine can use whatever connection your Mac has. If end up changing the mode from bridged to NAT, in Windows you get acquire a new address by using Start > Run > press OK, then in the window that appears type:

ipconfig /release <return-key>, then

ipconfig /renew <return-key>

The final address that appears should not be 0.0.0.0 or start with 169.x.x.x

To borrow your Mac's CD/DVD disk again from the Virtual Machine menu choose: CD/DVD > Use Physical Disk Drive followed by CD/DVD > Connect CD/DVD. After this, when you insert a CD/DVD it will appear in Windows as the (likely) the D:\ drive. If your CD/DVD was mounted in OS X, it will "disappear" off the Desktop because only one OS can control the CD/DVD drive at time. To give control of the CD/DVD drive back to OS X, choose CD/DVD > Disconnect.

Good luck.

[rcardona2k]

Just another tip: many of these introductory topics are covered in a search help file under Help > VMware Fusion help. You can type network or cd/dvd and get acquainted with many day-to-day activities.

Thanks!

[admin]

my new challenge is how to get Windows to recognize my Mac

Airport wireless internet system (coming to Airport through a cable modem)

so I can get on the Internet when in Windows

Note that we always present a wired interface to the guest, so don't get diverted with wireless settings. Have you actually tried this and run into problems, or is this more a forward-looking question?

[stevejoyce]

Thanks much! Very helpful for a novice like me.

Steve

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[stevejoyce]

It is more a forward looking question, but I presume there is a way to use

Windows on my Mac laptop with my current wireless home network without

having to run an ethernet cable to my Mac whenever I want to use Windows. Am

I missing something? I did try to get on the Internet while on Windows

(probably not knowing what I am doing) and could not make a connection. Do I

have to enter ISP codes somewhere in Windows? As you can see, I know nothing

about Windows, having been a Mac person since 1984 when they were first

introduced. Thanks.

Steve

[stevejoyce]

Everything now works! Thanks very much for your help.

Steve

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