> Use the full format NTFS. Why did you choose an 8GB hard drive and not
> the default 16? If you use a dynamically expanding vhd then the space
> used on your physical hard drive is only the space needed for the data on
> the vhd and not the max 16GB.
>
> In essence just treat the virtual machine like you would a physical
> computer. Install the OS exactly the way you would on any other computer.
> There is no need to fool around with Ghosting. Just capture the XP cd
> with the virtual cd drive and restart the virtual machine.
>
> One caveat, don't use the same copy of XP that is installed on the host
> computer. You must have a separate license for each OS you install under
> VPC. If you have a host computer and a virtual computer and want XP on
> each, then you need two copies of XP or two licenses for on copy of XP
> (licenses may be purchased from Microsoft, but the cost is nearly as much
> as for XP itself.
>
> --
> Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
> (Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
> "Frank Barger" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
> news:(email address - cut out)...
>> My initial project with VS is to simulate a Small Business Server and
>> several
>> Win XP Pro clients. This before purchasing hardware to implement the
>> real
>> thing. My host is a 1.7 GHz P4, 768 MB RAM, Win XP Pro SP2. Have
>> studied
>> Administrator's Guide re options for installing the first Virtual Machine
>> OS.
>> They speak of doing it from a CD, but aren't as specific as I'd like
>> regarding the kind of CD. I chose to do it directly from a Microsoft
>> original Win XP CD. Set up a Virtual Hard Disk of 8GB. Windows Setup
>> ran as
>> expected. Got to the point where it wanted to format the 8 GB disk, so I
>> chose Quick Format NTSC. The first 20% was fast, but it's been grinding
>> away
>> for 16 hours & hasn't progressed any farther. Is this the way to do it?
>> An
>> alternative I've consider is to install the OS on a computer in native
>> mode,
>> run Sysprep, create a bootable image with Drive Image (now Ghost) on a
>> CD,
>> and install from that on the Virtual Machine. I'd assumed, though, that
>> the
>> HAL of the actual hardware computer and the virtual one are different, so
>> that wouldn't work. I'd value your comments & suggestions. Perhaps an
>> alternative I hadn't considered.
>
>

> My initial project with VS is to simulate a Small Business Server and
> several
> Win XP Pro clients. This before purchasing hardware to implement the real
> thing. My host is a 1.7 GHz P4, 768 MB RAM, Win XP Pro SP2. Have studied
> Administrator's Guide re options for installing the first Virtual Machine
> OS.
> They speak of doing it from a CD, but aren't as specific as I'd like
> regarding the kind of CD. I chose to do it directly from a Microsoft
> original Win XP CD. Set up a Virtual Hard Disk of 8GB. Windows Setup ran
> as
> expected. Got to the point where it wanted to format the 8 GB disk, so I
> chose Quick Format NTSC. The first 20% was fast, but it's been grinding
> away
> for 16 hours & hasn't progressed any farther. Is this the way to do it?
> An
> alternative I've consider is to install the OS on a computer in native
> mode,
> run Sysprep, create a bootable image with Drive Image (now Ghost) on a CD,
> and install from that on the Virtual Machine. I'd assumed, though, that
> the
> HAL of the actual hardware computer and the virtual one are different, so
> that wouldn't work. I'd value your comments & suggestions. Perhaps an
> alternative I hadn't considered.

> Thanks for your reply, Colin. I was trying to use the same XP license as
> is the host OS. Not entirely a cheapskate, but I hoped to see how it
> works before I laid out more money than necessary. That may indeed be the
> source of the problem with formatting. I did try the full format NTFS on
> the default 16 GB, but experienced the same problem. Decided to go at it
> again with the job shortened on both counts.
>
> I do have another XP license that isn't installed elsewhere, which I can
> use on VM. Since I want to have 2 or 3 XP clients on my SBS network, I
> suppose I technically need an XP license for each client. That would make
> it rather pricey, considering that the simulation is nothing but a
> throw-away experiment. What's your advice?
>
> Again, I appreciate your assistance very much.
>
> Frank
>
>
> "Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(nojunk)@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:(email address - cut out)...
>> Use the full format NTFS. Why did you choose an 8GB hard drive and not
>> the default 16? If you use a dynamically expanding vhd then the space
>> used on your physical hard drive is only the space needed for the data on
>> the vhd and not the max 16GB.
>>
>> In essence just treat the virtual machine like you would a physical
>> computer. Install the OS exactly the way you would on any other
>> computer. There is no need to fool around with Ghosting. Just capture
>> the XP cd with the virtual cd drive and restart the virtual machine.
>>
>> One caveat, don't use the same copy of XP that is installed on the host
>> computer. You must have a separate license for each OS you install under
>> VPC. If you have a host computer and a virtual computer and want XP on
>> each, then you need two copies of XP or two licenses for on copy of XP
>> (licenses may be purchased from Microsoft, but the cost is nearly as much
>> as for XP itself.
>>
>> --
>> Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]
>> (Reply to the group only unless otherwise requested)
>> "Frank Barger" <(email address - cut out)> wrote in message
>> news:(email address - cut out)...
>>> My initial project with VS is to simulate a Small Business Server and
>>> several
>>> Win XP Pro clients. This before purchasing hardware to implement the
>>> real
>>> thing. My host is a 1.7 GHz P4, 768 MB RAM, Win XP Pro SP2. Have
>>> studied
>>> Administrator's Guide re options for installing the first Virtual
>>> Machine OS.
>>> They speak of doing it from a CD, but aren't as specific as I'd like
>>> regarding the kind of CD. I chose to do it directly from a Microsoft
>>> original Win XP CD. Set up a Virtual Hard Disk of 8GB. Windows Setup
>>> ran as
>>> expected. Got to the point where it wanted to format the 8 GB disk, so
>>> I
>>> chose Quick Format NTSC. The first 20% was fast, but it's been grinding
>>> away
>>> for 16 hours & hasn't progressed any farther. Is this the way to do it?
>>> An
>>> alternative I've consider is to install the OS on a computer in native
>>> mode,
>>> run Sysprep, create a bootable image with Drive Image (now Ghost) on a
>>> CD,
>>> and install from that on the Virtual Machine. I'd assumed, though, that
>>> the
>>> HAL of the actual hardware computer and the virtual one are different,
>>> so
>>> that wouldn't work. I'd value your comments & suggestions. Perhaps an
>>> alternative I hadn't considered.
>>
>>
>
>

> I was trying to use the same XP license as is the host OS. Not entirely a
> cheapskate, but I hoped to see how it works before I laid out more money
> than necessary.