windows installer can't find drives

[virtualbarrett]

I'm trying to create a virtual machine (winxp) on a NFS mount. I added the storage to the physical machine via the VirtualCenter GUI successfully. I'm also using a winxp iso for the install that is off the same nfs mount. When the VM boots, the windows installer works (so it is finding the nfs mount) but right after I click the F8 to continue, Windows fails to find any drives to continue the install. It's the classic Windows doesn't have the driver for that raid controller issue, but this time I'm using NFS for the drives so I don't understand what the issue might be.

[VMmatty]

If I understand correctly, you created an NFS datastore to store your virtual machine disk files. Is that correct? If so, that shouldn't affect how the virtual machine sees the virtual disk that is presented to it.

For Windows XP, you should change the SCSI controller on the virtual machine to BusLogic (instead of LSI). You can also download a floppy disk image file that includes SCSI drivers for Windows XP. Just hit F6 during the Windows install, present this virtual floppy to the VM and that should give you the drivers that you need. Here is the link: http://www.vmware.com/download/ws/drivers_tools.html

[virtualbarrett]

Yes, I created an NFS datastore to store my virtual machine disk files. Seems these are not being presented to the Windows installer in a manner that allows it to find them. Right now the SCSI bus is the default...buglogic. I can change it to LSI and supply a floppy image if you think that will help.

[VMmatty · Accepted solution]

Leave it at BusLogic and just present that virtual floppy that I linked in the previous post during installation. The location where the virtual machine disk file is stored (NFS, SAN, internal storage) shouldn't matter in your case.

[Troy_Clavell]

as VMmatty pointed out the XP CD/ISO does not contain the proper SCSI drivers for the HDD of a VM. You will have to mount the .flp file after you hit f6 to install 3rd party drivers.

BusLogic or LSI will work. YOu can fillow his link to get the BusLogic Driver, and I have attached the LSI driver that we use for our XP depoloyments.

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[virtualbarrett]

Thanks to both of you I just wasn't thinking I had to look at local scsi stuff for an NFS mounted drive. I guess it makes sense now. It's working.

[Troy_Clavell]

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