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Upgrading on a Linux Host

You may upgrade from version 3 to version 4 using the VMware Workstation 4 upgrade product. To upgrade from version 2 to version 4, you must have the full VMware Workstation 4 product.

The Tar Upgrade Process

If you used the tar installer to install version 2 or 3 and you plan to use the tar installer for version 4, you do not need to take any special steps to uninstall the older version. Just follow the installation instructions Installing VMware Workstation 4 on a Linux Host.

Note: When you are upgrading with the upgrade product, the installer checks for the presence of a version 3 license on the computer. If it finds no version 3 license, it prompts you to enter your version 3 serial number.

The RPM Upgrade Process

If you used the RPM installer to install version 2 or 3, take the following steps to upgrade to version 4. If you are currently using version 3.0, you need to uninstall the prebuilt modules RPM package that was installed with 3.0 before you uninstall the 3.0 software. You do not need to take this step if you are currently using version 2.0 or 3.1.

  1. If you are running version 2, uninstall it as root by running
    rpm -e VMware

    If you are running version 3.0, uninstall the prebuilt modules as root, then uninstall VMware Workstation by running
    rpm -e VMwareWorkstationKernelModules
    rpm -e VMwareWorkstation

    If you are running version 3.1 or 3.2, uninstall it as root by running
    rpm -e VMwareWorkstation

  2. Install version 4 following the instructions in Installing VMware Workstation 4 on a Linux Host.

    Note: When you are upgrading with the upgrade product, the installer checks for the presence of a version 3 license on the computer. If it finds no version 3 license, it prompts you to enter your version 3 serial number.

Using Virtual Machines Created with Version 3 under Version 4

There are, broadly speaking, three approaches you can take to setting up virtual machines under VMware Workstation 4. Choose one of these approaches.

If you are using a virtual machine created under VMware Workstation 3, the first time you power on the virtual machine under VMware Workstation 4, it updates the CMOS. You then need to install the new version of VMware Tools. If you have decided to upgrade the virtual hardware, do that after you finish installing VMware Tools.

If you upgrade the virtual hardware, you may then need to take several steps to be sure the new virtual hardware is recognized properly by the guest operating system. If your guest operating system is listed below, the instructions for that guest operating system provide examples of the steps you may need to take to perform these updates.

Windows XP Guest

The following steps provide examples of what you may see as your guest operating system recognizes the new virtual hardware. The specific steps may vary, depending on the configuration of the virtual machine.

  1. Power on the virtual machine and let it update the CMOS.
  2. Install the new version of VMware Tools. For details, see Installing VMware Tools.
  3. Shut down Windows and power off the virtual machine.
  4. Choose File > Upgrade Virtual Hardware.
  5. A dialog box cautions you that the operation is irreversible and recommends that you back up the virtual disks before proceeding. If you are ready to proceed, click Yes.
  6. A dialog box displays a message describing what is about to happen. Click OK to continue.
  7. Power on the virtual machine.
  8. Windows detects the VMware SVGA adapter. Select Install the software automatically and follow the on-screen instructions.
  9. A dialog box asks you to insert a disk. Navigate to
    C:\Program Files\VMware\drivers to install the VMware SVGA II adapter.
  10. If you have serial ports configured in the virtual machine, go to the Windows Device Manager and uninstall all the COM ports listed there.
  11. Restart the virtual machine.
  12. Windows detects the COM ports and installs them properly.

Windows Me Guest

The following steps provide examples of what you may see as your guest operating system recognizes the new virtual hardware. The specific steps may vary, depending on the configuration of the virtual machine.

  1. Power on the virtual machine and let it update the CMOS.
  2. Plug and Play detects an Intel 82371 EB Power Management controller. Select Automatic search and click Next. Windows finds and installs the driver automatically.
  3. Plug and Play detects an Intel 82443 BX Pentium II Processor to PCI bridge. Select Automatic search and click Next. Windows finds and installs the driver automatically.
  4. Restart the guest operating system.
  5. Plug and Play detects an Intel 82371 AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE controller. Select Automatic search and click Next Windows finds and install the driver automatically.
  6. Install the new version of VMware Tools. For details, see Installing VMware Tools.
  7. Shut down Windows and power off the virtual machine.
  8. Choose File > Upgrade Virtual Hardware.
  9. A dialog box cautions you that the operation is irreversible and recommends that you back up the virtual disks before proceeding. If you are ready to proceed, click Yes.
  10. A dialog box displays a message describing what is about to happen. Click OK to continue.
  11. Power on the virtual machine.
  12. Windows detects the PCI Multimedia Audio device and installs the driver for the Creative Audio PCI.
  13. Windows detects an AMD PCNet adapter. Select Automatic search and click Next. Windows automatically installs the driver for the adapter.
  14. Click Finish to restart the virtual machine.
  15. Windows detects a Creative game port device and installs the driver automatically.
  16. Windows detects a game port joystick and installs the driver automatically.
  17. Windows detects the PCI SVGA adapter, then it detects the VMware SVGA II adapter and installs the driver automatically.
  18. Click Yes to restart the virtual machine
  19. If you have serial ports configured in the virtual machine, go to the Windows Device Manager and uninstall all the COM ports listed there.
  20. Restart the virtual machine.
  21. Windows detects the COM ports and installs them properly.

Windows 2000 Guest

The following steps provide examples of what you may see as your guest operating system recognizes the new virtual hardware. The specific steps may vary, depending on the configuration of the virtual machine.

  1. Power on the virtual machine and let it update the CMOS.
  2. Windows automatically installs the software for any devices it detects.
  3. Install the new version of VMware Tools. For details, see Installing VMware Tools.
  4. Shut down Windows and power off the virtual machine.
  5. Choose File > Upgrade Virtual Hardware.
  6. A dialog box cautions you that the operation is irreversible and recommends that you back up the virtual disks before proceeding. If you are ready to proceed, click Yes.
  7. A dialog box displays a message describing what is about to happen. Click OK to continue.
  8. Power on the virtual machine.
  9. Windows detects the PCI SVGA adapter, then it detects the VMware SVGA II adapter. Click Yes to continue installation.
  10. A dialog box asks you to insert a disk. Navigate to
    C:\Program Files\VMware\drivers to install the VMware SVGA II adapter.
  11. If you have serial ports configured in the virtual machine, go to the Windows Device Manager and uninstall all the COM ports listed there.
  12. Restart the virtual machine.
  13. Windows detects the COM ports and installs them properly.

Windows NT 4.0 Guest

  1. Power on the virtual machine and let it update the CMOS.
  2. Windows displays a message about the video driver in the guest operating system. Click OK.
  3. Install the new version of VMware Tools. For details, see Installing VMware Tools.
  4. Restart Windows and confirm that it is operating correctly.
  5. Shut down Windows and power off the virtual machine.
  6. Choose File > Upgrade Virtual Hardware.
  7. A dialog box cautions you that the operation is irreversible and recommends that you back up the virtual disks before proceeding. If you are ready to proceed, click Yes.
  8. A dialog box displays a message describing what is about to happen. Click OK to continue.
  9. You can now power on the virtual machine and use the new configuration. Windows NT does not have a Plug and Play process, so no additional steps are required.

Windows 98 Guest

The following steps provide examples of what you may see as your guest operating system recognizes the new virtual hardware. The specific steps may vary, depending on the configuration of the virtual machine.

  1. Power on the virtual machine and let it update the CMOS.
  2. Windows detects an Intel 82371EB Power Management Controller. Go to C:\Windows\System for the necessary file.
  3. Windows detects lpt.vxd. Go to C:\Windows\System for the necessary file.
  4. Windows detects an Intel 82443BX Pentium Processor to PCI bridge. Go to C:\Windows\System for the necessary file.
  5. Windows detects an Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE controller. Go to C:\Windows\System for the necessary file.
  6. Windows detects an Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal host controller. Go to C:\Windows\System for the necessary file.
  7. Windows detects an AMD PCNET Family Ethernet Adapter. Go to C:\Windows\System for the necessary file.
  8. Windows asks for the file uhcd.sys. Enter the location C:\Windows\System32\drivers, then click OK.
  9. Windows asks for the file inetmib1.dll. Enter the location C:\Windows, then click OK.
  10. Windows asks for the file locproxy.exe. Enter the location C:\Windows\System, then click OK.
  11. Windows asks for the file ndishlp.sys. Enter the location C:\Windows, then click OK.
  12. Windows asks for the file wsock.vxd. Enter the location C:\Windows\System, then click OK.
  13. When you finish installing the AMD Family Ethernet Adapter, restart Windows 98.
  14. Plug and Play detects multiple devices and restarts Windows 98.
  15. After the virtual machine restarts, install the new version of VMware Tools. For details, see Installing VMware Tools.
  16. Shut down Windows and power off the virtual machine.
  17. Choose File > Upgrade Virtual Hardware.
  18. A dialog box cautions you that the operation is irreversible and recommends that you back up the virtual disks before proceeding. If you are ready to proceed, click Yes.
  19. A dialog box displays a message describing what is about to happen. Click OK to continue.
  20. Power on the virtual machine. When Windows boots, it detects the PCI SVGA adapter. Later, it detects the Vmware SVGA II adapter and installs the driver for it automatically.
  21. Windows detects PCI Multimedia Audio and offers to install a driver for it. Click Cancel.
  22. Windows detects an AMD PCNET Family Ethernet adapter. Click Next.
  23. Select Search for the best driver and click Next.
  24. Select Specify a location, enter C:\Windows\System and click Next.
  25. Select The updated driver (Recommended) AMD PCNET Family Ethernet Adapter (PCI-ISA). Click Next.
  26. Windows finds the .inf file for the adapter. Click Next.
  27. Windows asks for the file dhcpsvc.dll. Enter the location C:\Windows\System, then click OK.
  28. Windows asks for the file inetmib1.dll. Enter the location C:\Windows, then click OK.
  29. Windows asks for the file locproxy.exe. Enter the location C:\Windows\System, then click OK.
  30. Windows asks for the file ndishlp.sys. Enter the location C:\Windows, then click OK.
  31. Windows asks for the file wshtcp.vxd. Enter the location C:\Windows\System, then click OK.
  32. A dialog box indicates Windows has finished installing the software. Click Finish.
  33. To install the sound adapter, follow the directions in Installing Sound Drivers in Windows 9x and Windows NT Guest Operating Systems.
  34. If you have serial ports configured in the virtual machine, go to the Windows Device Manager and uninstall all the COM ports listed there.
  35. Restart the virtual machine.
  36. Windows detects the COM ports and installs them properly.

Windows 95 Guest

The following steps provide examples of what you may see as your guest operating system recognizes the new virtual hardware. The specific steps may vary, depending on the configuration of the virtual machine.

  1. Power on the virtual machine and let it update the CMOS.
  2. Windows detects new devices and automatically installs the drivers. Restart the guest operating system after this process is complete.
  3. When Windows restarts, it detects more new devices.
  4. Windows asks for the file lpt.vxd. Enter the location C:\Windows\System, then clock OK.
  5. Windows detects a PCI standard host bridge and other devices. Click OK to dismiss these dialog boxes. You do not need to install these drivers.
  6. Click Finish.
  7. Install the new version of VMware Tools. For details, see Installing VMware Tools.
  8. Shut down Windows and power off the virtual machine.
  9. Choose File > Upgrade Virtual Hardware.
  10. A dialog box cautions you that the operation is irreversible and recommends that you back up the virtual disks before proceeding. If you are ready to proceed, click Yes.
  11. A dialog box displays a message describing what is about to happen. Click OK to continue.
  12. Windows detects a PCI Multimedia Audio device. Click Cancel.
  13. Windows detects a PCI Ethernet adapter, then the AMD Ethernet adapter. Windows automatically installs the driver.
  14. To install the sound adapter, follow the directions in Installing Sound Drivers in Windows 9x and Windows NT Guest Operating Systems.
  15. If you have serial ports configured in the virtual machine, go to the Windows Device Manager and uninstall all the COM ports listed there.
  16. Restart the virtual machine.
  17. Windows detects the COM ports and installs them properly.

Red Hat Linux Guest

  1. Power on the virtual machine and let it update the CMOS.
  2. When Kudzu appears, follow the instructions to detect new hardware and install the proper drivers.
  3. Shut down Linux and power off the virtual machine.
  4. Choose File > Upgrade Virtual Hardware.
  5. A dialog box cautions you that the operation is irreversible and recommends that you back up the virtual disks before proceeding. If you are ready to proceed, click Yes.
  6. A dialog box displays a message describing what is about to happen. Click OK to continue.
  7. Power on the virtual machine.
  8. When Kudzu runs, it detects an Ensoniq:ES1371 [AudioPCI-97] sound device.
  9. Click Configure.

Mandrake Linux Guest

  1. Power on the virtual machine and let it update the CMOS.
  2. When Kudzu appears, follow the instructions to detect new hardware and install the proper drivers.
  3. Shut down Linux and power off the virtual machine.
  4. Choose File > Upgrade Virtual Hardware.
  5. A dialog box cautions you that the operation is irreversible and recommends that you back up the virtual disks before proceeding. If you are ready to proceed, click Yes.
  6. A dialog box displays a message describing what is about to happen. Click OK to continue.
  7. Power on the virtual machine.
  8. When Kudzu runs, it detects an Ensoniq:ES1371 [AudioPCI-97] sound device.
  9. Click Configure.

    Note: When using Kudzu, do not migrate the existing network configuration. If you try to do so, you will get a blank screen. Instead, click No when asked if you want to migrate the existing network configuration.

Upgrading the Virtual Hardware in an Existing Virtual Machine

On the File menu, choose Upgrade Virtual Hardware. A dialog box appears, warning that the upgrade process cannot be reversed. Click Yes to continue, then follow the directions.

Virtual hardware upgrade is irreversible: The process of upgrading the virtual hardware is irreversible and makes the virtual machine incompatible with VMware Workstation 2 or 3. You should make backup copies of your virtual machine directory and any other files used by the virtual machine before starting the upgrade.

Using Virtual Machines Created with Version 2 under Version 4

If you use an existing VMware Workstation 2 virtual machine under VMware Workstation 4, the virtual hardware is upgraded automatically. This gives you access to new features, but the process is one-way - you cannot reverse it.

Start by using an existing configuration file (.vmx) and virtual disk (.dsk if you do not convert to new filenames when you install VMware Workstation or .vmdk if you do convert).

The first time you power on the virtual machine under Workstation 4, a dialog box appears, offering the choice of upgrading the virtual hardware or powering off. If you want to make a backup copy of the virtual machine before upgrading the virtual hardware, power off and make the backup. Otherwise, allow Workstation to upgrade the virtual hardware.

Upgrade VMware Tools to the new version following the instructions for your guest operating system in Installing VMware Tools. You should not remove the older version of VMware Tools before installing the new version.

After upgrading the virtual hardware, you may need to take several steps to be sure the new virtual hardware is recognized properly by the guest operating system. If you are using a Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me virtual machine created under VMware Workstation 2, take the steps listed under the name of your guest operating system.

With other guest operating systems, these special steps are not needed. Plug and Play should recognize the new virtual hardware and install any needed drivers smoothly.

Windows Me Guest

  1. Power on the virtual machine.
  2. Allow Workstation to upgrade the virtual hardware.
  3. Click OK to dismiss the message "A legacy SVGA driver has been detected."
  4. Several Plug and Play messages appear. You can safely ignore them.
  5. Log on to Windows Me. More Plug and Play messages appear. One refers to the VMware SVGA driver.

    Click Yes to restart your computer.

  6. Log on to Windows Me. The SVGA driver is not working properly.
  7. From the Windows Start menu, choose Settings > Control Panel > System > Device Manager > Display Adapters.

    Manually remove the two SVGA drivers.

  8. Restart Windows Me.

    A VMware SVGA II adapter is detected and Windows installs it.

    Windows notifies you to restart your computer.

    Click Yes.

  9. The SVGA driver should be working correctly.
  10. Install the new version of VMware Tools. See Installing VMware Tools for details.

Windows 98 Guest

  1. Power on the virtual machine.
  2. Allow Workstation to upgrade the virtual hardware.
  3. Click OK to dismiss the message "A legacy SVGA driver has been detected."
  4. Log on to Windows 98. You see a number of Plug and Play messages. You may need to insert your Windows 98 installation CD.
  5. A blue screen appears. Press any key to dismiss the blue screen.
  6. Click Reset to restart the virtual machine (because it is not responding).
  7. Click OK to dismiss the message "A legacy SVGA driver has been detected."

    Again, you see a number of Plug and Play messages.

    Windows notifies you to restart Windows.

    Click Yes.

  8. Log on to Windows 98. The SVGA driver is not working properly.
  9. From the Windows Start menu, choose Settings > Control Panel > System > Device Manager > Display Adapters.

    Manually remove the two conflicting SVGA drivers.

  10. Restart Windows 98.

    A VMware SVGA II adapter is detected and Windows installs it.

  11. Restart Windows 98.
  12. The SVGA driver should be working correctly.
  13. Install the new version of VMware Tools. See Installing VMware Tools for details.

Windows 95 Guest

  1. Power on the virtual machine.
  2. Allow Workstation to upgrade the virtual hardware.
  3. Click OK to dismiss the message "A legacy SVGA driver has been detected."
  4. Log on to Windows 95.

    You see a number of Plug and Play messages. Click Cancel for those listing the following devices: Standard host CPU bridge, PCI bridge and PCI Universal bus.

  5. The SVGA driver is not working properly.
  6. From the Windows Start menu, choose Settings > Control Panel > System > Device Manager > Display Adapters.

    Manually remove the SVGA driver.

  7. Restart Windows 95.
  8. Again, you see a number of Plug and Play messages. Click Cancel for those listing the following devices: Standard host CPU bridge, PCI bridge and PCI Universal bus.
  9. A VMware SVGA II adapter is detected and Windows installs it.
  10. Restart Windows 95.
  11. Once again, you see a number of Plug and Play messages. Again, click Cancel for those listing the following devices: Standard host CPU bridge, PCI bridge and PCI Universal bus.
  12. The SVGA driver should be working correctly.
  13. Install the new version of VMware Tools. See Installing VMware Tools for details.

Check Guest Operating System Selection

If your guest operating system is Windows 2000, update the setting in the Virtual Machine Control Panel (Edit > Virtual Machine Settings > Options) to reflect the specific version of Windows 2000 you are running.

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