Testing XPCD with VMware?

[jchoft]

Hi,

I've used nLite to slipstream SP3 into my original XP cd and tested the unattended installation with VMware, using VMX Builder to create the vmx machine (the free alternative from the unattended guide). Also added IE7 and cumulative updates.

From the default new VM in VMX builder i removed floppy, added a CD/DVD, network (with NAT) and a HD. So far so good. Three test runs and I have the installation working without any intervention on my part.

Now I want to test the installation on a VM with SATA hard drives only, but I don't understand how to setup the HD as sata in VMX builder.

Q1: How do I do this? Setting up the sata only system. The motherboard I'm testing the installation for is an Asus P5Q.

Q2: This may be a stupid question; Will adding sata drivers to the xpcd do anything if I try to use the xpcd for installation on an IDE only system (which would be my old laptop, in desperate need of a clean install).

best regards

[johnhc]

jchoft, I also run VMware Server but have not used VMX. I suspect you cannot emulate SATA drives, but could be wrong. Your chances of finding an answer here, I suspect, are low. I would suggest you post in the VMware forums.

Q2: This may be a stupid question; Will adding sata drivers to the xpcd do anything if I try to use the xpcd for installation on an IDE only system (which would be my old laptop, in desperate need of a clean install).

Windows does not install drivers for hardware that is not present. You can place any knind of drivers into nLite and they will end up in the Windows\NLDRV folder but not installed unless Windows detects the HW. Good luck, John.

EDIT: I should have pointed out that the text mode drivers are different. The last one loaded when Setup first starts, is the one that gets used. This needs to be the correct one for your hardware. John.

Edited April 15, 2009 by johnhc