Windows Vista Enterprise (official release) install issues on ESX 3.0.1

[jrr001]

Anyone got any helpful hints with getting this running or when official support with VMware (32-bit) version is available.

It it not seeing the disk drive for the install (LSI) is my problem right now. Have the disk at 16GB.

The betas worked okay for me.

[jftwp · Accepted solution]

I don't believe VMware ever indicated that ESX would support any flavor of Vista (32bit, 64bit, beta, RTM, or otherwise).

Vista is only supported for use on certain versions of Workstation, GSX, Server, and ACE.

Refer to the Guest OS guide for details of what is and isn't supported, either experimental or official.

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/GuestOS_guide.pdf

No idea when VMware plans to support Vista on ESX 3.x... probably 'soon'.

[RDPetruska]

Gee, you might want to give the developers more than 3 days after Vista went RTM before asking about support!

[jrr001]

Somebody has to go first...I guess.

[ErMaC1]

Alternatively you can install a totally blank WinXP and install Vista as an upgrade - this does a pretty good job of re-using older drivers in a compatability mode.

[helloguys]

Microsoft changed the driver from RC2. You'll not able to install Vista RC2 or release version with the ISO image.

The workaround is: map the VM's CD drive to a Client's CD device and make sure you choose EIDE passthrough.

The interesting thing is: it doesn't matter if the client's CD device is a physical device or a 'virtual CD drive'.

[jrr001]

Leaving this open..for more comments

[Gabrie1]

In very early beta's I had the same problem. So I connected the disk I wanted to use, to an existing WinXP VM. Formatted and then connected the disk to the Vista VM.

Not sure if I changed the partition to Active or not.

Gabrie

[jrr001]

After the tip from "Helloguys" I was able to get the released version of Windows Vista Enterprise by mounting the DVD iso with daemon tools locally, editing the config on vm for ESX 3.0.1 for the CDrom to Passthrough IDE AND checking the Connect exclusively box, booting the vm and immediately connect the my local clients drive letter for daemon tools.

Without this I would get a cd not found error which would not allow the install.

[pgidds99]

I have a flp image file with drivers that worked for me for installing vista final enterprise. email me if you want a copy. paulg@graycon.com.

Cheers!

[pgidds99]

Lots o' discussion on how to get this to work and a lot of people have asked for the flp file. (keep asking btw, no problem!).

Here's a quick summary:

\- download the IMG file from microsoft site (if you have open or volume licensing).

\- connect the IMG file to the vista VM (you don't need to change this to ISO format!).

\- make sure you have 'connect at power on' for CD/DVD on the Vista VM

\- power on the VM (you may need to change boot order with the 'F2' at startup, to start from CD/DVD

\- Vista install starts and then stops at a point where it can't find the cd/dvd driver. A pop-up with "Load Driver" as the title appears indicating that a required device driver blah blah blah...

\- at this point (or before, doesn't matter really), connect the floppy drive image (and ensure 'connected' is selected!!!). After ESX has attached the floppy drive, click on "Rescan". Note: if you had previously not closed the "Load Driver" pop-up, close it now and then press rescan.

\- The driver should appear in the window and you can now proceed.

\- IF YOU STILL do not have the driver and are receiving the "Load Driver" pop-up window, verify you have connected the floppy drive! If you had reset the VM and did not have the "connect at power on" selected, but only had "connect", the floppy would have disconnected, so verify this first.

Good luck! hope this helps!

[pgidds99]

File seems to be working for 99% of people ...

One person I have given the file to is still receiving:

"The \[CD-ROM Drive (A:\cdrom.inf)] device driver could not be installed. Contact your vendor for an updated driver."

He indicated he has reset the VM, that his ESX is 3.0.1 and that he has the latest release of Vista. Anyone else have this issue?

Going for 100% success ... cheers!

[alexluch]

I got this message when I tried cdrom driver from RC2. I worked around it by putting Vista CD into my desktop, opening console to target VM and specifying client for cd-rom device, without emulation. Then it started installation and found CD drive just fine. At the license input screen I switched cd-rom from client to ISO image on a datastore.

[jftwp]

PaulVCP's steps/drivers worked for me... it's just that I have the code as an ISO, not IMG. But made no difference... mounted as CD in datastore. Booted fine (after changing boot order of course). Browsed Paul's floppy image and that installed required driver fine.

Used machine type of 'Microsoft Windows Vista' when building it. 20GB vmdk.

Question: How to 'sysprep' Vista using VirtualCenter? Doesn't appear that you can (at least with the version of sysprep that supports Win2k3 and XP). I'm not about to upgrade the version of sysprep running on my VC server either... will wait. Else, perhaps I can just 'clone' without customizing/sysprep, then generating a new SID by other means.

[stephen_hall]

Great floppy, Paul.

I actually used it to install Vista RTM into a VM running on ESX 2.5.4-32233 and Vista doesn't gripe about it during install or afterwards. Works perfectly.

Thanks!

[PatrickWE]

Can you please send me the img file or post it somewhere..

Thanks \!!!

[Han]

He Paul,

Posting it somewhere for download would be a good idea.

I installed patch ESX-1410076 that fixes install issues for certain 64 bit OSes. But it doesn't fix this issue.

Han.

I have a flp image file with drivers that worked for

me for installing vista final enterprise. email me if

you want a copy. paulg@graycon.com.

Cheers!

[daniel_uk]

I can get to boot from CD etc BUT cant install the OS, when it is uncompressing and installing components it freezes on random percentages.

[pgidds99]

To simplify for everyone, here is a link where you can download the file:

http://www.drivehq.com/file/ShowFolder.aspx?G=1&shareID=752687

Link seems to work ok. I don't have an ftp site of my own, so i signed up for this today. No guarantees on this file or the site, but from a couple tests, everything seems ok. Give 'er a go and if it works ok, please post to this forum.

Cheers!

[pgidds99]

File is "GrayconDriver.flp" by the way.