VMware GSX Server 2.5.2

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Example: Installing Windows 2000 as a Guest Operating System

You can install Windows 2000 Professional, Server or Advanced Server in a virtual machine using the corresponding Windows 2000 distribution CD.

Note: Some Microsoft Windows 2000 OEM disks included with new computers are customized for those computers and include device drivers and other utilities specific to the hardware system. Even if you can install this Windows 2000 operating system on your actual computer, you may not be able to install it in a GSX Server virtual machine. You may need to purchase a new copy of Windows to install in a virtual machine.

Windows 2000 Installation Steps

Follow these steps to install Windows 2000 as a guest operating system:

Use the Configuration Editor to verify the virtual machine's devices are set up as you expect. For example, if you would like networking software to be installed during the Windows 2000 installation, be sure the virtual machine's Ethernet adapter is configured and enabled. VMware also recommends that you disable the screen saver on the host system before starting the installation process.
Insert the Windows 2000 CD in the CD-ROM drive on the server host.
Power on the virtual machine to start installing Windows 2000.
If you enabled the virtual machine's Ethernet adapter, an AMD PCNET Family Ethernet Adapter is detected and set up automatically.
Follow the installation steps as you would for a physical computer.

After installing your guest operating system, you are ready to install VMware Tools as described in Installing VMware Tools. After you install VMware Tools, you need to change your Windows 2000 screen area to be greater than 640x480 pixels; if you do not change it, Windows 2000 uses the standard VGA driver, and your performance will suffer.

For more information about Windows 2000 guest operating systems — like enabling networking or sound in the virtual machine, see Windows 2000 Installation Guidelines.

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