Surgient Success

Recently I had an issue installing Windows XP.  Here are the step you must take to have a successful install of Windows XP. This may change due to the version of XP being Installed. I ran into the problem with Windows XP SP2.

1. When creating a windows XP image verify the following folder on the ESX Host has an flp file for the scsi drivers:
   /usr/lib/vmware/floppies/vmscsi-*.flp
2. Create an Empty Configuration
3. Set the BusConfiguration within the Server Configuration to use BusLogic instead of Default
4. Attach the Windows XP Volume-license iso media and floppy file to the server configuration
5. Startup the Application Configuration
6. Within the VI client attach the flp file found in your local folder. Select "Use existing floppy in datastore" and enter the following:
   [] /vmimages/floppies/vmscsi-1.2.0.4.flp
   
   

   Insure power is on and connect for the floppy. 
   
7. Restart the machine while Consoled into the box
8. Select ESC on startup and Select CD-ROM Device on the Boot Menu
9. During the OS install select F6 in order to use of a 3rd party VMware scsi driver found on the A: Drive (floppy drive).
   This will allow the OS to see the Hard drive for installation.
10. Push "S" to select "S=Specify Additional Device"
11. Push "Enter" to select "VMware SCSI Controller"
12. Install OS

Thanks for posting the detailed steps Dan!

Just curious, is there a reason why you suggest using BusLogic in the image as opposed to using the LSI drivers?

Great steps by the way.  Very useful.

While the LSILogic drivers are superior in performance to BusLogic, if your OS media doesn't have LSILogic drivers and you don't have a pre-made LSILogic virtual flp OEM disk handy, the VMware SCSI floppy in /usr/vmware/lib//floppies will get you started. Once the OS is installed, it's easy enough to add a secondary LSILogic adapter and use Plug-n-Play (PnP) to add LSILogic driver support. This way your image becomes dual-bootable on both BusLogic and LSILogic virtual scsi adapters!

Does this affect any other OS's?

With some Operating Systems, LSI is the default.  Older OSes default to BusLogic.  However, LSI is the faster controller.  As Richard said, the safest bet and probably the best bet is to install both drivers into the image.  That way, if someone copies the base image and uses it but doesn't know which controller to assign in the configuration file, both will work.  It sure beats a blue screen!