Windows Virtual PC 2007: Installing OS

John_Mc

Hi,

I'm trying to use Virtual PC 2007 to install Windows server 2003. I have Virtual PC installed and I'm able to create a virtual machine. However, every website and tutorial I've looked at talks about selecting the Operating system. I am not given this option at all.

When I load the virtual machine it opens in boot mode and gives the client MAC address, GUID and then stops on the DHCP. There are a series of ... and each dot rotates as a - if that makes any sense.

I have loaded the Windows 2003 Server ISO into the DVD drive and as an ISO file but it doesn't boot into it.

Any suggestions as to how I can get it installed?

I am running Windows 7 64 bit with plenty of HD and RAM. Hardware virtualisation is supported and enabled in BIOS.

Thanks,
John

noshankus

Hmmm, seems like your virtual machine is trying to find a DHCP server to get an address from. This usually wouldn't be required unless there is an OS already in place or it's trying to boot over the network. Unfortunately I do not have any experience with this virtualization platform. Is there an option to set where to boot from?

---> I have loaded the Windows 2003 Server ISO into the DVD drive and as an ISO file but it doesn't boot into it.

You sure you have it burned as an image and not just as an ISO file as data on a disk?

If you can't get any further help, I could suggest an alternative which I find to be very good and easy to set up:
http://www.virtualbox.org/

John_Mc

noshankus wrote: »

Hmmm, seems like your virtual machine is trying to find a DHCP server to get an address from. This usually wouldn't be required unless there is an OS already in place or it's trying to boot over the network. Unfortunately I do not have any experience with this virtualization platform. Is there an option to set where to boot from?

---> I have loaded the Windows 2003 Server ISO into the DVD drive and as an ISO file but it doesn't boot into it.

You sure you have it burned as an image and not just as an ISO file as data on a disk?

If you can't get any further help, I could suggest an alternative which I find to be very good and easy to set up:
http://www.virtualbox.org/

Thanks for your reply. The DHCP thing is happening within the PXE boot but I dont think its meant to get that far.

If I press DEL really fast then I can get into the Bios. I've tried adjusting the boot devices order but no change.

I'll try Virtual Box and see how I get on. Thanks once again for your reply

noshankus

Yes, a PXE boot is a network boot.

Most likely you have burned the ISO as data and not as an image. If you have time for test, burn a live cd of knoppix and test that. It should boot directly from the DVD without installing (so you don't modify anything).
Check this link:
http://www.wikihow.com/Burn-ISO-Files-to-DVD

When you open the DVD in your current computer, do you see a .iso file?

Note: If this is the case, you'll have the exact same issue with virtualbox. But with virtualbox, you don't need to burn it, you can just point it to the ISO file directly.

John_Mc

noshankus wrote: »

Yes, a PXE boot is a network boot.

Most likely you have burned the ISO as data and not as an image. If you have time for test, burn a live cd of knoppix and test that. It should boot directly from the DVD without installing (so you don't modify anything).
Check this link:
http://www.wikihow.com/Burn-ISO-Files-to-DVD

When you open the DVD in your current computer, do you see a .iso file?

Note: If this is the case, you'll have the exact same issue with virtualbox. But with virtualbox, you don't need to burn it, you can just point it to the ISO file directly.

I created the ISO myself which was a rip from the CD (a legitimate copy provided to me through work). With both Virtual PC 2007 and VirtualBox, I tried using a virtual device pointing at the ISO file (with Daemon Tools) and pointing at the ISO itself. Neither work for me.

In Virtual Box it's saying "FATAL: Could not read from the boot medium! System halted.".

When I mount the ISO with daemon tools, autoload prompts me to launch setup so I believe that part of things is correct.

Very strange stuff

kippy

John_Mc wrote: »

I created the ISO myself which was a rip from the CD (a legitimate copy provided to me through work). With both Virtual PC 2007 and VirtualBox, I tried using a virtual device pointing at the ISO file (with Daemon Tools) and pointing at the ISO itself. Neither work for me.

In Virtual Box it's saying "FATAL: Could not read from the boot medium! System halted.".

When I mount the ISO with daemon tools, autoload prompts me to launch setup so I believe that part of things is correct.

Very strange stuff

Not that strange really, it is explainable.

It does look like there is an issue with the ISO file itself.
Either it is not bootable or it is corrupt or possible the extra software you are using with it is causing the issue.

You dont need Daemon Tools or anything like that for use with the ISO - .

See the instructions here:
http://www.petri.co.il/virtual_install_new_os_on_microsoft_virtual_pc.htm
Especially steps 3 and 4.

Kippy

John_Mc

kippy wrote: »

Not that strange really, it is explainable.

It does look like there is an issue with the ISO file itself.
Either it is not bootable or it is corrupt or possible the extra software you are using with it is causing the issue.

You dont need Daemon Tools or anything like that for use with the ISO - .

See the instructions here:
http://www.petri.co.il/virtual_install_new_os_on_microsoft_virtual_pc.htm
Especially steps 3 and 4.

Kippy

Hi Kippy,

Thanks for your reply. Yes I was following those steps in Virtual Pc 2007 but had no luck. Getting similar problems in VirtualBox as well so I think it's the ISO I made.

I downloaded the OS from my employers software website and extracted it. I then used folder2iso to create an Iso. When I mount this ISO using Daemon tools, autoload prompts me to install. When I double click on the drive in My Computer, I am prompted to install. This would lead me to assume that it is a boot CD?

ronkmonster

If you created the iso from a folder it won't be bootable.
It will autostart for you in windows, but the boot data is missing.
You need to make an iso of the cd itself


http://www.windowsitpro.com/content/content/46202/Windows2003StdCDBootSector.zip
Boot sector you need to intergrate with the disc

http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/installation2/how-can-i-create-a-windows-server-2003-bootable-cd-rom-that-has-service-pack-1-sp1-slipstreamed-into-it-.aspx

skip down to near end of that. it will explain with nero

John_Mc

Thanks for all your help. I downloaded a different copy of the OS from the MSDN and it now works as it should.