Installing Windows XP into a virtual machine

Windows XP Home Edition or Professional can be installed in a virtual machine using the corresponding Windows XP distribution CD. If you wish to use sound in the virtual machine, be sure to read Using Sound in a Windows XP Guest Operating System, below.

Note: If you have a virtual machine with a SCSI virtual disk and a Windows 9x, Windows Me, Windows NT or Windows 2000 guest operating system, you cannot upgrade your guest operating system to Windows XP. Windows XP does not support the BusLogic SCSI adapter that Workstation currently uses for its SCSI virtual disks. If you want to use Windows XP as a guest operating system, you should create a new IDE virtual disk. VMware is working on a resolution for SCSI support in Windows XP guest operating systems.

To install Windows XP into a virtual machine:

Note: If you want to run Windows XP Home Edition or Professional in a Workstation virtual machine, be sure you have a full installation CD for the operating system.

Before installing the operating system, be sure that you have already created a new virtual machine and configured it using the Workstation Configuration Wizard. Make sure you selected Windows XP as your guest operating system.

Follow these steps to install Windows XP into a virtual machine:

  1. Use the Configuration Editor to verify the virtual machine's devices are set up as you expect before starting the installation. For example, if you would like networking software to be installed during the Windows XP installation, be sure the virtual machine's Ethernet adapter is configured and enabled. VMware also recommends that you disable the screen saver on the host system before starting the installation process.

  2. Insert the installation CD in the CD-ROM drive.

  3. Power on the virtual machine to start installing the guest operating system.

  4. Follow the installation steps as you would for a physical machine, except as noted in the following steps.

  5. After the system reboots, a message balloon will ask if you want Windows to automatically correct your screen resolution and color depth setting. Do not make the change at this time. You will not be able to change resolution and color depth until you have installed the VMware SVGA driver - part of the VMware Tools package.

  6. Run the VMware Tools installer. For details, see Using VMware Tools.

  7. When the guest operating system reboots, allow it to change the screen resolution and color depth setting.

Using Sound in a Windows XP Guest Operating System

Note: Your sound card must be working in your host operating system in order to use sound in the virtual machine.

Windows XP does not automatically detect and install drivers for ISA sound cards, such as the Creative Sound Blaster emulated in a virtual machine. Follow these steps to configure sound in a Windows XP guest operating system:

  1. Click the Printers and Other Hardware link in the Windows XP Control Panel (Start > Settings > Control Panel).
  2. In the See Also pane, click Add Hardware, then click Next.
  3. Select "Yes, I have already connected the hardware," then click Next.
  4. In the Installed Hardware list, select "Add a new hardware device," then click Next.
  5. Select "Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced)," then click Next.
  6. Select "Sound, video and game controllers," then click Next.
  7. Select Creative Technology Ltd. in the Manufacturer list and Sound Blaster 16 or AWE32 or compatible (WDM) in the list of devices, then click Next.
  8. Click Next.
  9. Click Finish.

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