No bootable disk found

EssendonEssendon Member Posts: 4,546 ■■■■■■■■■■
I get this error when I fire up a new Vista (experimental) virtual machine. I have ensured that:

1. Connect at power on is selected.
2. Have browsed to the location of the .iso file I am using as an image of the Vista Ultimate copy I have got.
3. CDROM is selected as the first boot device in the VM's bios.

The VM always goes straight to network boot, doesnt do anything else at all. I have thoroughly scoured the BIOS for an option to disable network boot, to no avail. It tries to do a network boot, which of course fails and it then says -- No bootable CD, floppy or hard disk was detected. To install an operating system, insert a bootable CD or floppy and restart the virtual machine by clicking the Reset button.

I made iso images using Nero (a co-worker did it for me), imgBurn and PowerISO but get this No Bootable Disk error with each image. This is driving me nuts.

By the way, I am using the free VMware server and if I create a new XP/2003 VM, they all boot up fine and I am able to install a new OS. Is there something wrong with this free VMware version or does it not support Vista, or am I doing something incorrectly?

Help's greatly appreciated.
NSX, NSX, more NSX..

Blog >> http://virtual10.com
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Comments

  • jibbajabbajibbajabba Member Posts: 4,317 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Never really used vmware server, but it appears to be working fine

    How to Install Windows Vista Under VMware Server

    If your iso is simply not recognised, try to use the client device instead ? Basically putting a working DVD into your local drive and use that instead .. not as quick as an iso, but maybe the iso just doesn't work ..

    You said you made the iso .. do you mean you made it out of a folder structure or did you copy a DVD and created an iso ?
    My own knowledge base made public: http://open902.com :p
  • jibbajabbajibbajabba Member Posts: 4,317 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Never really used vmware server, but it appears to be working fine

    How to Install Windows Vista Under VMware Server

    If your iso is simply not recognised, try to use the client device instead ? Basically putting a working DVD into your local drive and use that instead .. not as quick as an iso, but maybe the iso just doesn't work ..

    You said you made the iso .. do you mean you made it out of a folder structure or did you copy a DVD and created an iso ?
    My own knowledge base made public: http://open902.com :p
  • EssendonEssendon Member Posts: 4,546 ■■■■■■■■■■
    Yeah, I copied the DVD and created the iso. Doing the exact same steps as on the link you posted, I have been using VMware for about a year so I know my way around a fair bit. I will use the physical disk to see if I can install Vista that way. Any other suggestions?
    NSX, NSX, more NSX..

    Blog >> http://virtual10.com
  • jibbajabbajibbajabba Member Posts: 4,317 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Essendon wrote: »
    Yeah, I copied the DVD and created the iso. Doing the exact same steps as on the link you posted, I have been using VMware for about a year so I know my way around a fair bit. I will use the physical disk to see if I can install Vista that way. Any other suggestions?

    Apart from using a physical disk, no.
    When you open the iso with for example magiciso, or other, does it actually say that the iso is bootable ?
    My own knowledge base made public: http://open902.com :p
  • undomielundomiel Member Posts: 2,818
    I'll second Gomjaba here, give the physical media a try. It is sounding like the vm has certain objections to the isos.
    Jumping on the IT blogging band wagon -- http://www.jefferyland.com/
  • blargoeblargoe Member Posts: 4,174 ■■■■■■■■■□
    I normally don't get stuck working with it I've had problems with the latest versions of VMWare Server in general. However I'm pretty sure I didn't have any problem with Vista/2008.
    IT guy since 12/00

    Recent: 11/2019 - RHCSA (RHEL 7); 2/2019 - Updated VCP to 6.5 (just a few days before VMware discontinued the re-cert policy...)
    Working on: RHCE/Ansible
    Future: Probably continued Red Hat Immersion, Possibly VCAP Design, or maybe a completely different path. Depends on job demands...
  • apena7apena7 Member Posts: 351
    From what I remember about copying installation disks of Windows, the disks are not bootable. Unless things have changed (I'm not too familiar with the current processes) or there are some workarounds available, I would stick to the original cd/dvd.

    Are you able to boot from the disc on your workstation (not VMWare)?
    Usus magister est optimus
  • tierstentiersten Member Posts: 4,505
    How did you create the ISO? It won't be bootable if you just copied all the visible files off one DVD. El Torito CDs need to have a small boot image as well which you need special tools to extract and then insert into your new ISO.
  • EssendonEssendon Member Posts: 4,546 ■■■■■■■■■■
    Well folks, I tried booting off the physical disk, still says Operating System not found. I can boot off the physical disk on a physical machine. I also removed the ethernet adapter to remove the network boot option.

    tiersten, I currently have the iso created by imgBurn, didnt have to choose select any files specifically, it just did it for me.
    NSX, NSX, more NSX..

    Blog >> http://virtual10.com
  • kalebkspkalebksp Member Posts: 1,033 ■■■■■□□□□□
    Do you have the cd drive set to be connected at power on?

    EDIT: I didn't see that you said you did in your first post. Hmm, that's a weird one. Have you tried any other ISOs to see if they work?
  • EssendonEssendon Member Posts: 4,546 ■■■■■■■■■■
    This is indeed weird. Other ISOs work, other VM's can be created and OS's installed without problems. Something to do with Vista apparently. The VM doesnt even boot off the physical disk and like I said a physical machine boots up fine with the physical disk.
    NSX, NSX, more NSX..

    Blog >> http://virtual10.com
  • kalebkspkalebksp Member Posts: 1,033 ■■■■■□□□□□
    When you use imgburn to create your image, you're using "Create image file from disk" (Read mode), not "Create image file from files/folders" (Build mode), correct?
  • EssendonEssendon Member Posts: 4,546 ■■■■■■■■■■
    Correct.
    NSX, NSX, more NSX..

    Blog >> http://virtual10.com
  • hectorjhrdzhectorjhrdz Member Posts: 127
    i think it should be a problem with the iso but the vmware server software.

    try to build up another iso from vista DVD.

    Is it possble to burn a Vista DVD? Aren't they copy-protected?
  • EssendonEssendon Member Posts: 4,546 ■■■■■■■■■■
    Just built another iso, same result.
    You could be right about Vista being copy protected which might be why the iso is not bootable. Any way around it? BTW, even if the iso doesnt work, the actual physical disk should atleast boot up the VM, shouldn't it? It's a legal copy too. This leads me to believe something being wrong with the VM/VMware server and not the iso(Vista).
    NSX, NSX, more NSX..

    Blog >> http://virtual10.com
  • blargoeblargoe Member Posts: 4,174 ■■■■■■■■■□
    You sure the physical drive you're using will read the kind of DVD onto which you burned Vista, maybe one is only DVD-R and the other is only DVD+R?
    IT guy since 12/00

    Recent: 11/2019 - RHCSA (RHEL 7); 2/2019 - Updated VCP to 6.5 (just a few days before VMware discontinued the re-cert policy...)
    Working on: RHCE/Ansible
    Future: Probably continued Red Hat Immersion, Possibly VCAP Design, or maybe a completely different path. Depends on job demands...
  • EssendonEssendon Member Posts: 4,546 ■■■■■■■■■■
    Yeah, I dont see that being a problem, blargoe.
    NSX, NSX, more NSX..

    Blog >> http://virtual10.com
  • tierstentiersten Member Posts: 4,505
    Is it possble to burn a Vista DVD? Aren't they copy-protected?
    No. Windows discs don't have copy protection on them.
  • hectorjhrdzhectorjhrdz Member Posts: 127
    actual disk should work


    what VM server version are you using?
  • blargoeblargoe Member Posts: 4,174 ■■■■■■■■■□
    Maybe CD is disabled in the VM BIOS? Maybe the virtual hd had something installed on it before that's making the vm try to boot from it?

    Tried creating a completely new VM with different vmdk and everything?
    IT guy since 12/00

    Recent: 11/2019 - RHCSA (RHEL 7); 2/2019 - Updated VCP to 6.5 (just a few days before VMware discontinued the re-cert policy...)
    Working on: RHCE/Ansible
    Future: Probably continued Red Hat Immersion, Possibly VCAP Design, or maybe a completely different path. Depends on job demands...
  • dynamikdynamik Banned Posts: 12,312 ■■■■■■■■■□
    Have you tried simply scrapping the VM and creating a new one? I've had a couple that were quirky for unknown reasons before.

    Edit: too slow icon_sad.gif
  • EssendonEssendon Member Posts: 4,546 ■■■■■■■■■■
    Folks, I have created new VM's with the same result, even on physically different hard disks, all with the same result. VM doesnt boot from the actual disk either and the CDROM is not disabled in the VM's BIOS, I scoured the BIOS and besides if it shows up in the boot order, it's not disabled.

    I am using the free version of VMware from their website.
    NSX, NSX, more NSX..

    Blog >> http://virtual10.com
  • HeroPsychoHeroPsycho Inactive Imported Users Posts: 1,940
    Is your copy of Vista have SP1 slipstreamed? If so, might want to ensure you got the latest version of VMware Server released 3/31, as it added official support for it. Doubt that's related, but...
    Good luck to all!
  • EssendonEssendon Member Posts: 4,546 ■■■■■■■■■■
    My copy isnt slipstreamed, HP. I was looking at the vendor's website and will download the latest version and give that a go. Even the darn event logs dont give me any hint at all as to what's wrong.

    The VCP at work is scratching his head too about this problem.
    NSX, NSX, more NSX..

    Blog >> http://virtual10.com
  • jibbajabbajibbajabba Member Posts: 4,317 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Can you upload the iso and I check it here locally ?
    You also haven't answered the question yet which vmware server version you are using.
    My own knowledge base made public: http://open902.com :p
  • EssendonEssendon Member Posts: 4,546 ■■■■■■■■■■
    Yeah, I think I answered that question in part only. I am using version 1.0.6. I dont think I can upload the file here, besides it is almost 3GB. Can I?
    NSX, NSX, more NSX..

    Blog >> http://virtual10.com
  • blargoeblargoe Member Posts: 4,174 ■■■■■■■■■□
    Vista support began in version 2 of VMWare Server...
    IT guy since 12/00

    Recent: 11/2019 - RHCSA (RHEL 7); 2/2019 - Updated VCP to 6.5 (just a few days before VMware discontinued the re-cert policy...)
    Working on: RHCE/Ansible
    Future: Probably continued Red Hat Immersion, Possibly VCAP Design, or maybe a completely different path. Depends on job demands...
  • EssendonEssendon Member Posts: 4,546 ■■■■■■■■■■
    But then why would they even give an option to create a Vista VM? Another forum petri.co.il walks you through the process of creating a Vista (experimental) VM...
    NSX, NSX, more NSX..

    Blog >> http://virtual10.com
  • jibbajabbajibbajabba Member Posts: 4,317 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Essendon wrote: »
    Yeah, I think I answered that question in part only. I am using version 1.0.6. I dont think I can upload the file here, besides it is almost 3GB. Can I?

    I rather meant onto one of my FTP so I can try this ISO myself (without giving me the key obviously)
    Essendon wrote: »
    But then why would they even give an option to create a Vista VM? Another forum petri.co.il walks you through the process of creating a Vista (experimental) VM...

    That is why it says "experimental" :)

    Let me know which Vista version you need to install, which architecture and what kind of license like OEM, RETAIL, VL (MSDN or SPLA) and I test it here and might just upload the installed virtual machine for you (if it works at all of course).
    My own knowledge base made public: http://open902.com :p
  • blargoeblargoe Member Posts: 4,174 ■■■■■■■■■□
    I double checked just to be sure... here's the vmware guest os guide

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

    It also looks like there are newer 1.x.x releases out there as well. Maybe you just need to update your VMWare Server to 1.0.9 or 2.x. It's free, no reason not to try it... be forewarned if you go to v2 the UI changed and you may not like it as much.
    IT guy since 12/00

    Recent: 11/2019 - RHCSA (RHEL 7); 2/2019 - Updated VCP to 6.5 (just a few days before VMware discontinued the re-cert policy...)
    Working on: RHCE/Ansible
    Future: Probably continued Red Hat Immersion, Possibly VCAP Design, or maybe a completely different path. Depends on job demands...
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