Using "WMWare Workstation" and Win ME Problem

Da Mail Man

Da Mail Man

Active Member
greetings all,

I have VMWare Workstation and Win ME and what i am trying to do is load "me" as a virtual drive/os. The computer is a dell desktop with plenty of ram, hd space, processor speed,floppy drive, etc. running win xp.

I've made the ME OS disc into an iso and have followed directions as outlined in the links below. What is scaring me is the f-disc part of this. When (in the links) it says to create a partition and f-disk it with a fat partition (format c), this is where i cringe!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aowzVEDc8Wg
http://www.vmware.com/support/ws3/doc/ws32_newguest10.html

(this one is for win 98se but, should be the same) =
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evASg-2aOzw&feature=related

Now, i understand that i have created a virtual drive but, is not "c" drive still the "main" drive that, if i format c that i wipe everything out?........Has anyone here USING VMWARE, ever done this?
 
When you are in the VM, it's the same as being in a different physical machine within your machine. The VM has it's own C: drive and if you have a DVD/CD Drive, it will become the VM's D: drive. In the case of the DVD/CD drive, it's a shared resource where both the "Host" (your real machine) and the "Guest" (Virtual Machine) share it. In the case of the C: drive, the "Host" uses the main hdd while the "Guest" uses a VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) which is an emulated disk that is actually a file on the "Host". The VHD C: drive can be fdisked, partitioned, formatted, etc... to your heart's content without affecting the "Host's" C: drive.
 
THANKS FOR THE REPLY

When you are in the VM, it's the same as being in a different physical machine within your machine.
yes, i know that.

The VM has it's own C: drive and if you have a DVD/CD Drive, it will become the VM's D: drive. In the case of the DVD/CD drive, it's a shared resource where both the "Host" (your real machine) and the "Guest" (Virtual Machine) share it. In the case of the C: drive, the "Host" uses the main hdd while the "Guest" uses a VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) which is an emulated disk that is actually a file on the "Host". The VHD C: drive can be fdisked, partitioned, formatted, etc... to your heart's content without affecting the "Host's" C: drive.
i panicked when i saw the format c info.....well, while waiting for this reply, i decided to simply do it and put up with the consequences....win ME is installing now and my next concern is if i will have driver issues...i am attempting to go this route instead of trying to partition an "XP" hd and getting error messages such as but, not limited to "the os you are attempting to install is older the one that is existing, etc".. the reason i am attempting this is i have a disabled vet brother whom likes to play a video game but, that will only work on 98-ME.....i will report back with my results.
 
You don't need to worry about driver issues. Once Me has installed, you need to install VMware Tools on Windows Me.
 
THANKS FOR THE REPLY

You don't need to worry about driver issues.
i hope not.

Once Me has installed, you need to install VMware Tools on Windows Me.
i just glanced at that and haven't gotten that far yet:) - exactly what is VMWare tools?
 
THANKS FOR THE REPLY.

......did the "tools" download and it straightened out the video problems, etc.......:cool::cool:

.....NOW -

.....what about installing a virtual cd rom drive into this virtual hd?....can THAT be done in this WinME Virtual HD?...this way the game disc does not have to be inserted into the cd rom drive for use.....(after that, i am done!)...
 
You can just simply mount ISO files and they will be read by Windows Me/the VM as a CD-ROM drive. No need to install anything.
 
Regarding drivers in a VM, the VM doesn't use the same hardware hence the same drivers that your Host system uses because all of the hardware in the VM is emulated in software. You might have the best, high end video card in your host system that doesn't have drivers available for Win ME but it doesn't matter because the VM only emulates a very generic video card which is aimed at being compatible with most software.

As vistakid10 pointed out, you don't need to install virtual CD ROM drive software into VMWare since it is a built-in feature. For an OS like ME, where some software may still have come on floppy disks, you can also mount images of the floppy disks.
 
strollin said:
Regarding drivers in a VM, the VM doesn't use the same hardware hence the same drivers that your Host system uses because all of the hardware in the VM is emulated in software. You might have the best, high end video card in your host system that doesn't have drivers available for Win ME but it doesn't matter because the VM only emulates a very generic video card which is aimed at being compatible with most software.

As vistakid10 pointed out, you don't need to install virtual CD ROM drive software into VMWare since it is a built-in feature. For an OS like ME, where some software may still have come on floppy disks, you can also mount images of the floppy disks.
Click to expand...

*********************************

THANKS FOR THE REPLY....

I don't have the software disc (game) here and am not into any gaming whatsoever so, not sure i can dry-run this before i head out to my relatives'.....A very long time ago, i was able to mount a virtual cd rom drive with a game on it (i think) but, that involve some sort of a program i have "floating" arond here.....I am unaware that VMWare has the capability to do this.
 
From the VMWare documentation:

Procedure
1 Select the virtual machine and select VM > Settings.
2 On the Hardware tab, click Add.
3 In the Add Hardware wizard, select DVD/CD Drive.
4 Select a physical drive or ISO image file to connect to the drive.
Option Description
Use physical drive The virtual machine uses a physical drive.
Use ISO image The drive connects to an ISO image file.
5 Configure the physical drive or ISO image file.
Option Description
Physical drive Select a specific drive, or select Auto detect to allow Workstation to autodetect
the drive to use.
ISO image file Type the path or browse to the location of the ISO image file.
6 To connect the drive or ISO image file to the virtual machine when the virtual machine powers on, select
Connect at power on.
7 Click Finish to add the drive to the virtual machine.
The drive initially appears as an IDE drive to the guest operating system.
8 (Optional) To change which SCSI or IDE device identifier to use for the drive, select the drive and click
Advanced.
9 Click OK to save your changes.
 
*UPDATES*

......well so far i think all is functioning ok but, wonder if the virtual ME drive is a bit slower then the actual one.

....I followed the directions as given and was unsuccessful (i think):confused:. I have a game program on cd disc i found and using an iso program in the HOST computer, made an iso of it and placed it in a folder.

...then. following the directions provided, found that the virtual win ME drive linked itself to the host CD/DVD optical drive. I am unaware as to HOW to introduce the game cd into the virtual win ME drive and further, to have it run without a "mechanical disc drive" associated with the HOST computer.

.......I thought that i could somehow place the game cd into the HOST cd drive and make an iso of it, then, migrate it into the virtual win ME drive, then, install whatever the game wants and, since i believe that the game wants a cd disc in the cd rom, mount that so i would not have to use the cd host drive at all.......(i believe that the game is installed into a computer then, in order to function, must be placed in the cd-rom to actually play) ....I think I will attempt to remove the created cd rom drive and start from scratch.....how/where did i screw up?
 
The ISO image should be in a folder on the HOST, then follow the steps in my post above to setup a virtual CD drive using the ISO image. Once you have the ISO created, you no longer need the mechanical CD drive.
 
.......THANKS FOR THE REPLY

The ISO image should be in a folder on the HOST,
.........it is

then follow the steps in my post above to setup a virtual CD drive using the ISO image.
i did step-by-step

Once you have the ISO created, you no longer need the mechanical CD drive.
........the iso was created. but, the game must be installed and then also run from the disc if i recall....this is where i think i have the problem...i do not want to install on the host but, only in the virtual. then, where the game requires the cd disc to run from the rom drive - this is where i need a virtual rom drive on the virtual side, not the host side.......i think maybe the problem is how do i install the game into the virtual and then run the disc in the virtual?.....i will re-attempt this in about an hour or so........THANKS FOR THE ASSISTANCE!
 
Could try copying the ISO into the VM of Windows Me (just literally drag it into the VM from your main OS) and then inside of the Win Me VM install some sort of virtual CD drive software such as MagicDisc (if it works with Me) to 'mount' the ISO.

Or just leave the ISO mounted in VMware.
 
vistakid10 said:
...
Or just leave the ISO mounted in VMware.
Click to expand...
Yes, mount the ISO in VMWare, might be drive E:, change to the E: drive and do the install, then when running the game, leave it mounted to run the game.

You are making this too hard, the virtual CD drive will act just the same as if you had an additional physical CD drive in your VM.
 
Sometimes games won't run if they detect an ISO of the original disc is being mounted to run the game. Though I doubt a game you'd be playing in Windows Me would kick up a fuss, mostly it's the newer games which do not like you mounting ISOs in order to run and play the games.
 
Could try copying the ISO into the VM of Windows Me (just literally drag it into the VM from your main OS)
I DID

and then inside of the Win Me VM install some sort of virtual CD drive software such as MagicDisc (if it works with Me) to 'mount' the ISO.
THAT I DIDN'T DO...YET

Or just leave the ISO mounted in VMware.
I DID DRAG THE ISO INTO THE VIRTUAL DRIVE - GONNA TRY IT AGAIN
 
Yes, mount the ISO in VMWare, might be drive E:,
I TRIED THAT ALTHOUGH, I COULD HAVE SCREWED SOMETHING UP BUT, I DON'T THINK SO.

change to the E: drive and do the install, then when running the game, leave it mounted to run the game.
I WILL TRY IT ALL AGAIN

You are making this too hard,
NOW ASK YOURSELF "WHY" WOULD I MAKE SOMETHING I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH "TO HARD"?....I AM DILIGENTLY TRYING TO LEARN AND ACCOMPLISH THIS AND AM NOT BY INTENT SABOTAGING IT FOR MYSELF!

the virtual CD drive will act just the same as if you had an additional physical CD drive in your VM.
LIKE I SAID, GOING TO TRY THIS AGAIN IN A FEW MINUTES
 
vistakid10 said:
sometimes games won't run if they detect an iso of the original disc is being mounted to run the game. Though i doubt a game you'd be playing in windows me would kick up a fuss, mostly it's the newer games which do not like you mounting isos in order to run and play the games.
Click to expand...

***************************
thanks for the reply, as i said, going to try this again......
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top