Installing a downloaded version of windows vista

[Dusica]

hey all,

im really having trouble with my mac recognizing the downloaded version of windows vista. its not recognizing the files of vista i downloaded from the windows web site AT ALL. im totally clueless as to what to do. PLEASE HELP ME!

[Dave_Mishchenko]

Did you download an ISO file? If so, did you edit the settings of the VM to use the ISO file and to be connected at power on?

[Dusica]

whats an ISO and where can i download it? thank u so much for responding, youre a life saver you have no idea. im so clueless on all of this

[RDPetruska]

>whats an ISO and where can i download it?

Umm... well WHAT exactly DID you download from MS's site?

[admin]

What is the file called that you downloaded, and what URL did you get it from?

[Andreas_Masur]

Well...what files did you download and from where?

Ciao, Andreas

[Dusica]

i downloaded the three really large files that took hours to download of microsoft windows. it was broken up in 3 parts. thats all they gave me to download and now im trying to open it in the vmware fusion program and its not recognizing it...

[Andreas_Masur]

i downloaded the three really large files that took

hours to download of microsoft windows. it was broken

up in 3 parts. thats all they gave me to download and

now im trying to open it in the vmware fusion program

and its not recognizing it...

Okay....how are these files called?

Ciao, Andreas

[RDPetruska]

... and what are the names of those files? What URL did you download them from? I'm assuming that they are not MSDN or TechNet Plus copies of the Vista install DVDs here.

[Dusica]

i bought windows vista and downloaded it straight from their official site. the files end in .wim .msi .dmg and .exe

[Andreas_Masur]

i bought windows vista and downloaded it straight

from their official site. the files end in .wim .msi

.dmg and .exe

I still don't understand....where did you buy it and where did yo download it....please provide the specific website.

Ciao, Andreas

[admin]

...and the full names of the files. We'd like to help, but we have no idea[/b] what you're talking about. If the URL is a bunch of random-ish characters, then you need to tell us how you got there (e.g. I went to microsoft.com, clicked on the "Download Vista in a .dmg", and filled out the registration).

[Dusica]

i bought it from the official windows marketplace website. its from windows. the site www.windowsmarketplace.com

[Dusica]

the files are install.wim boot.wim and x13-49116.exe

thank you all for helping. i appreciate it more than you could know

[erichtn]

According to the instructions on http://windowsmarketplace.com/content.aspx?ctId=395&tabid=1: There are three files that will be downloaded: install.wim, boot.wim, and a file with the extension ".exe".

The idea seems to be that you run the .exe from within a previous version of Windows to do an in-place upgrade.

Apparently you can burn a DVD (and use that to set up the VM in Fusion), but the Windowsmarketplace instructions are incoherent, namely:

"Can I burn a copy of the upgrade version of Windows Vista I have purchased?

Yes, you can burn a DVD of the downloaded files, but you will need to copy files locally on your machines before running the downloaded files. You are also eligible to receive software fulfillment—a DVD or 5 CDs--from Microsoft (you pay only shipping and handling)."

Maybe this info will help someone sort it out.

[Dusica]

thank you! that helps immensly. i guess they never took into consideration if youre downloading it on a mac. do you think there is any way to open these files in vmfusion to be installed?

[Andreas_Masur]

Well...this is an upgrade version....thus you can only install it on a running Windows system. In other words, you first need to install a virtual machine running e.g. Windows XP. Once this machine is running, copy the files over and then start the installation inside the virtual machine.

Ciao, Andreas

[admin]

Quoting the link: "We currently offer only upgrade editions of Windows Vista for download. Windows Vista full package products are available to buy and ship.", so yeah, it expects you to have an existing Windows install.

[erichtn]

My guess is no, unless you have another Windows VM that you can use to run the .exe. Beyond that, I don't know. There are some smart people on this forum, though; maybe they have some ideas.

I also think that you may have purchased an upgrade edition, which means that you (probably) have to have a valid license for an earlier version of Windows (XP, Windows 2000, etc.) to use it.

At any rate, it looks like you can get a "backup" DVD from here for a nominal fee: http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/content.aspx?ctId=404&tabid=1

You should be able to use that DVD to create a VM in Fusion, if[/i] the license key you were provided with your purchase does not require a previous version of Windows.

[admin]

That's also if[/i] they ship you a bootable DVD, and not just one with the files you downloaded on it. Given how vague the website is, it wouldn't surprise me if it was just a backup of the files.