Can't locate mass storage device when installing Windows XP Pro virtual machine

How do I copy the file to the ESX server (my linux is a bit rusty)?

I have ESX installed with all of the default setting, is there a certain location it must be in the data store, or just as
long as the VM Floppy is pointed to it?

Thanks for your help!

Peter

It can be anywhere in the datastore you like as long as its presented as the floppy of the VM (I usually put mine in a separate datatstore along with ISO files for ease of finding but there is no requirement to do so)

Easiest way to get the file onto the datastore is to use the VI Client, Inventory, Datastore, Double click on the datastore and you get a browser window that includes an icon to allow you to upload to the store from your PC

My Linux is non-existent so I use FastSCP as a windows application that gives me an Explorer style window onto the Linux box that I can use for file transfer if I need to get something onto the box rather than the datstore. Have a look at this link.

http://www.veeam.com/vmware-esx-fastscp.html

Andy

Thats the exact process that I'd already outlined !

I uploaded the file as I've seen ESX servers not have the vmimages/floppies folder for wahtever reason (different build numbers maybe?) and as its only a int file with copyright problems its better to put it on here and be safe rather than sorry

Certainly wasnt trying to sue you !

:-)

Thank you both for your responses!

When I enable the virtual floppy and tell it to 'connect at power up', the virtual machine tries to boot from the floppy instead of the WinXP CD-ROM.

Is there a way to change this, but still be able to get to the virtual floppy when required to load the additional drivers?

Thanks

Don't connect it at power up, simply don't connect it at all.
When you pressed "F6" and it asks you to insert the floppy, _THEN_ edit the virtual machine settings and check the "Connected"  checkbox of your virtual floppy drive. Leave the "connect at power up" option alone.

I just gave that a try and when I press enter on the vitual machine (for it to try and access the floppy), the screen flashes and goes right back to the same screen like it can't see the virtual floppy drive.

Any ideas?

Thanks

have you tried leaving it connected at power up and changing the boot order in BIOS as above?

I ended up having to have the floppy pointed to the vitual ESX folder, and also have the virtual floppy set to 'connect at power up', then I also had to edit the virtual BIOS setting and tell it to boot from the CD-ROM, then Hard Drive, then Floppy.

Thank you both for your help!

Glad to be of help !

Good news that you got it sorted

Thank you very much for your help!  It is much appreciated!