Unable to format to install WinXP?

[MGreywolf]

Recently, a friend of mine introduced me to VMware.

He stated I could make a VM by somehow making a copy of my current machine to be put on the virtual one. Now, I couldn't seem to find a way to do that (maybe I got the wrong VM program?, shrug) so I just went to create a new VM and install an Windows on it. However, when I try to install Windows XP on my VMW, the Windows Setup states that 'Setup was unable to format the partition' ... Why would it not be able to format the virtual drive?

Now, granted, I'm brand new to using VMW, so I by no means know 100% what I'm doing, but I'm also no slouch when it comes to most/all things geek/PC/tech/etc. I've had to reinstall Windows more times than I can keep track of, and I've never run into this problem (using this very CD). But, the fact that when I searched for people having this problem (here on this forums, on this website, and also on the internet at large) and found seemingly no one else experiencing it, it leads me to believe that either A) I (somehow) goofed something when setting this up, or B) This is a known issue, but (maybe?) people don't really install XP anymore so its not 'talked about' anymore.

Attached is a screenshot of my VMW setup and a captured video of the install and Setup's response.

If anyone can shed some light on what I did, did not, or need to do to fix this, it would be greatly appreciated. :smileygrin:

[continuum]

Thats strange indeed - the screenshot says disk is 5.6 Gb - video says it is 8000 MB.

Start over with a new VM

[magic-man]

Very wierd... Have not seen that except when I went to install to a virtual SCSI disk... re-created it as IDE and all was fine... I concur that you may want to simply re-create the virtual disk.

Also, you CAN attach the disk to another VM, format it, then copy it back to the new VM directory... That is how I copy my base vm's. Also, I have found that I get better performance with the following:

Set up the VM with 1 pre allocated persistant hard drive and install XP to it. After Windoze is installed, shut down the VM. Add another hard drive, 1 Gig persistant growable. Restart the XP VM and format the drive. shut down the VM and change the new drive to NON PERSISTANT. Restart the VM and change the swap file to the new drive. Each time you shut down the VM it throws away the swap file and saves space and time and prevents a lot of fragmentation to the main VM drive.

[MGreywolf]

Thats strange indeed - the screenshot says disk is 5.6 Gb - video says it is 8000 MB.

actually I think thats cus I have redone it several times deleting and recreating the partitions.. one time was 8gigs (for the movie) one was for 5.6 (the screenshot) sorry for the confusion.. forgot I did that..

continuum wrote: Start over with a new VM

unfortunately I have tried that many times.. same result :_|

tried deleted and recreating the virtual drive too..

Hmm.. sounds like it would be worthwhile to try that.. but one problem.. I cannot seem to actually MAKE any VM's since I cant format the HDD during the OS install (and I currently only have the Win XP to try to install)...

Or are you meaning set it up on an ACTUAL HDD (like swap out my current #2 in my PC for my #1 then install onto it) then map THAT as a virtual drive in a VM? not sure if that's what you mean.. ?:|

I was hoping it was just something (simple) I did in error because of my newness to the program.. very frustrating atm to have heard about this and thought of all the things/program I could test BEFORE i commit to installing them (and possibly not being ABLE to completely uninstall them again (like IE 7.. etc)) then not be able to even get a VM up and running Tho, I guess one of the other reasons I thought to try this was to borrow a friend Vista and try it out FIRST, before letting it (possibly) mangle my PC for life :p.. So maybe THAT OS install will go better.. =\

[magic-man]

Something that is missing in your original post, but is VERY relevant: When you are creating the VM are you creating a disk FILE or using a physical partition??????

If you are using a physical disk (not reccomended) then you should use admin tools in the host (computer management) to mark the partition as active and format it if no data on it. Personally, I NEVER use the physical disk, I like VMWare to create a VMDK in the directory of my choice... Makes backing up super easy and performance rocks.

[MGreywolf]

Something that is missing in your original post, but is VERY relevant: When you are creating the VM are you creating a disk FILE or using a physical partition??????

If you are using a physical disk (not reccomended) then you should use admin tools in the host (computer management) to mark the partition as active and format it if no data on it. Personally, I NEVER use the physical disk, I like VMWare to create a VMDK in the directory of my choice... Makes backing up super easy and performance rocks.

No, no, no, heh, even if I wasn't brand new to this whole thing, I dont have the free space or partitions to use a physical one.. its a disk file..

I'm just stumped as to why it's doing this (as it now sounds like its NOT a common occurance?)

I mean.. the physical HDD itself has no errors.. (I have used that space before, actually had to clear files/room to set it up)... I've tried deleting the files from the HDD and the virtual hdd from without VMW.. deleting the whole VM itself and starting over... only thing I haven't tried is reinstalling VMW itself.. and the CD I'm using is even a genuine, store-bought, holographic etched CD too (in case anyone thought it was a defective install CD 'image' :smileysilly:), a CD I have installed Windows with plenty of times (for real) without a hitch.. but trying to do it virtually.. I'm stumped as to why it cant format this virtual disk file... ?:|

Thank you, btw for you attempts to help/advise me..

[magic-man]

While I don't have an answer as to why Windows won't format the virtual drive (perhaps reinstall VMW?), I want to see you get up and running.... Are you using WS 6.0 and are you creating a growable disk? If yes to both, e-mail me at ...Emailed already... and I will email you a pre-formatted vmdk in the size you need (growable) WITHOUT the OS installed (blank disk). You should then be able to attach it during the setup in VMWare WS as the main drive and Windows will install to it when you boot to your CD in WS.

Message was edited by: magic-man

[MGreywolf]

While I don't have an answer as to why Windows won't format the virtual drive (perhaps reinstall VMW?), I want to see you get up and running.... Are you using WS 6.0 and are you creating a growable disk? If yes to both, e-mail me and I will email you a pre-formatted vmdk in the size you need (growable) WITHOUT the OS installed (blank disk). You should then be able to attach it during the setup in VMWare WS as the main drive and Windows will install to it when you boot to your CD in WS.

Yes, I'm using WS 6.0.1 (Build 55017 if that matters?).... not really sure what a 'growable' disk is? o_O I'm not seeing an option anywhere for it? or do you just mean you make a virtual disk file at one (small) size.. then just later go into the settings and increase the size?

if that's what you mean, ya I can do that.. and if I can get one that was formatted that would be awesome cus I would actually BE able to install an OS on it That and I could just keep it stored in a template folder to copy anytime i needed another HDD for this (or a new) VM :D.. So I'm not sure if what yer talking about is what I have or can use, but ill email you and try it atleast.. not like it can make it NOT work any more at this point :smileysilly:

[MGreywolf]

So, magic-man sent me a preformatted vmdk file to hopfully get past that part of the install, but.., ya.. I think VMW hates me :_|.

I tried various things, to integrate this 'new drive' into my VM.. very quickly I realized the best way to do it was to just delete and recreate one from scratch (which I did) but selected the 'Use an existing virtual disk' option.. Viola, yes? Should work, yes? :smileygrin:

no... :smileyangry:

Now I get THIS error, before i even start my lil VM (see attached screeny)... um.. anyone got a guess? I gotta be doing something wrong... don't I??

Since when cant Win XP drives be bigger than 2gigs? maybe if they are FAT.. but it's not.. i can even map/mount the drive PERFECTLY in my ACTUAL Windows..

Anyone that's got any other ideas I can try, lemmie know =\

[magic-man]

Lets try this:

Lie to VMWare and Windows.

In the VM settings, General, OS Tell it you are running Windows XP PRO. This should turn off VMWare's size lockout.

Also, you ARE running VMWare on NTFS (host), right? If not, then we need to break up the VMDK into 2 Gig pieces.

[MGreywolf]

Also, you ARE running VMWare on NTFS (host), right? If not, then we need to break up the VMDK into 2 Gig pieces.

omg, I am an idiot.. :smileyblush:

My drives are all FAT32 so,(ofcourse!) while it doesnt have a 2gig filesize limit, it should (most certainly) have a 4 gig filesize limit.. I guess I didn't think about it because while the file's limit may be larger than 4gigs its 'current' size is so small that, I didnt even THINK about that being a problem.. but either way.. ya.. i'm gonna guess I need it in smaller chunks,... smacks head on brick wall

[magic-man · Accepted solution]

Also, you ARE running VMWare on NTFS (host), right? If not, then we need to break up the VMDK into 2 Gig pieces.

omg, I am an idiot.. :smileyblush:

My drives are all FAT32 so,(ofcourse!) while it doesnt have a 2gig filesize limit, it should (most certainly) have a 4 gig filesize limit.. I guess I didn't think about it because while the file's limit may be larger than 4gigs its 'current' size is so small that, I didnt even THINK about that being a problem.. but either way.. ya.. i'm gonna guess I need it in smaller chunks,... smacks head on brick wall

Hahahaha... You should be able to create and install now.... Just in case, I left a blank formatted virtual drive (in 2 gig chunks) in your e-mail box.

:smileycool:

[MGreywolf]

Hahahaha... You should be able to create and install now.... Just in case, I left a blank formatted virtual drive (in 2 gig chunks) in your e-mail box.

:smileycool:

Ya, this worked, installing Win XP as I type, sorry it took me a while to reply, work's been keeping me busy all the sudden 😐

Tho, I still would have liked to know WHY the damn thing couldn't format the virtual HDD diskfile.. since I will eventually be trying to install Vista shudders :smileysilly: