VirtualBox: Installing Windows XP on SCSI Hard Disk

It’s something I had tried unsuccessfully in the past,and with the release of version 4.0 decided it was time to make it work. I am still not able to install Windows XP (SP3) on SATA hard disk, so here you will find all you need to install XP on virtual SCSI (Lsilogic) hard disk.

The driver(s) and the tools except Oracle VM VirtualBox is available at the following link:

http://cid-697fcc18fc1a3e61.office.live.com/browse.aspx/.Public/VBox 

You can also download the packages from their respective official sites (preferable).

1.First you need the SCSI driver for F6 install, I used Device Doctor to find the right one, you can download the driver from the previously mentioned link. Look for a file name starting with “LSI_SAS_MPT_Windows..”.

2. Now to create a virtual floppy disc get VFD at: http://sourceforge.net/projects/vfd . I have uploaded the floppy image I created to install 32-bit Windows XP SP3 ( xp_x86_lsi.vfd).

You will also find an appliance (XP_SP3.ova) without any attached hard drive to get you started quickly.

The trouble you have to go through to do this is the reason I prefer to use VMware Player but VirtualBox having a Open Source version is good enough reason to make things work and write this post. As far as the SATA installation is concerned I am not trying any time soon.

Device Doctor available at: www.devicedoctor.com

Use all this information and the files I have uploaded at your own risk, no liability.

DNS Configuration: Lookup and Testing

Here are a few websites you will find useful while looking for DNS information or testing your own DNS configuration.
1. http://dnssy.com
2. http://www.dnsstuff.com

VMware Tools for Windows Guests (8.4.4) ISO

VMware is yet make the updated vmware tools available in the package repository at http://packages.vmware.com/tools 

Use the following link to get the vmware tools tar package for windows,

http://softwareupdate.vmware.com/cds/vmw-desktop/ws/7.1.2/301548/windows/packages/tools-windows-8.4.4.exe.tar

7-zip is required for the method described here, get it at www.7-zip.org.( I am using the 9.17 beta release)

Use 7-zip to extract tools-windows-8.4.4.exe from tools-windows-8.4.4.exe.tar

Now open Windows Command Processor ( cmd ) , I have the above mentioned file on the D drive so I have to use the following command,

cd /d D:

( cd /d <drive having the tools-windows-8.4.4.exe file>: )

Change the working directory to the one holding the tools-windows-8.4.4.exe file using cd command.

create a folder named tools and at the command prompt type:

 tools-windows-8.4.4.exe /e <path to folder "tools">

Open the folder tools you created earlier, you will find a file named tools-windows.msi, right click on it and select 7-zip to extract the contents which includes the windows.iso file that you require to install the tools package in your windows guest(s). 

Update(8Nov2010): Visit or join http://communities.vmware.com to find answers  or post new questions regarding vmware products.

Update(3Aug2011): Visit: http://factsiknow.blogspot.com/2011/08/vmware-tools-manual-download-and.html

To find links for the tools download yourself  at least until VMware makes changes to the folder structure.

To get the ISO follow the instructions and look inside the Program Files to get them if you must!