Running .iso Files in VMWare Player

Intro: Running .iso Files in VMWare Player

VMPlayer can be very useful, especially for trying out Linux distributions, but while there are lots of the different distros. on the VMWare website available for download I already had a few iso files of Linux hanging out in my documents, but VM Player cannot open straight .iso files, it's run through a .vmx file which executes the .iso file, so you need this vmx file to boot up the .iso file....

Software:
VM-Player (free)
--downloadable from here
Notepad(or other basic text editor)/Kate
Any *.iso file
A .vmx file (there is one available to download here ("resul.vmx"))

STEP 1: Editing the .vmx File

I downloaded DSL (Damn Small Linux) from the VM-Ware website just to try the player out when I noticed that all it was was a plain *.iso file with the *.vmx file, double click the *.vmx file starts up VM-Player and then boots the *.iso .

A lot of files can be edited with notepad (or similar program) including this vmx file...

-Right click on the *.vmx file and choose "open with">"notepad".

(Second Pic.)

The ninth line is the only line of text that needs editing, this tells the player what *.iso file to open for booting....

Now put the *.iso file you want to boot into the same location as the *.vmx file, mine are all on Desktop. Select the *.iso file you want to boot (in my case Fedora Linux) then press F2>Ctrl+C which copies the files name. ;-) then you can just un-select the file. (Picture five)

Now go back to Notepad and select the File name, Do not select the quotations too >Refer to image four. Then press Ctrl+V which will paste the file name you copied earlier.

STEP 2: Save.

Next step is the save the file, Notepad, File>Save As, make sure you save the file type as "All files" and the file name has .vmx on the end. Also make sure it is saved in the same directory as the .iso file you want to boot

STEP 3: The Proof of the Pudding Is in the Eating.

Next thing is to test it see if it'll work.....

Double click (default on windowz) the edited *.vmx file which *should* then start-up VM-Player....

-If you have any problems in doing this, or following this Instructable, Please comment saying what's wrong. =)

Comments

[taronson]

I am using it with Fedora iso. I get "No DEFAULT or UI direcftive configuration found".

[hoyusnd]

thx so much~! it was really easy following your instruction :-) now i'm installing fedora 10! i found this instruction is compatible with Fedora 10 on VMware Player 2.5.2! good luck!

[raty2071]

i tried to install xp-service pack 3.after sometime it said "did not find any hard disks drives installed in your computer... set up cannot continue" any suggestion .... please email me at [e-mail] thanking u for any help....... bye

[UbuntuNinja]

I tried to download the "resul.vmx" file but it doesn't work. It comes up with a download window but it wants to download this .tmp thing and not the vmx file.

[ll.13]

You will need to rename the extension to ".vmx" , it's to do with something how the Instructables file manager works.

[UbuntuNinja]

does the ISO need to be in the same directory as the .vmx file?

[ll.13]

Yes, or the .vmx file needs to link to the directory the ISO file is in. I don't know about installing to a vmware disk, I never got that involved with vmware. :)

[UbuntuNinja]

ok. thanks. can you boot the ISO and then install it to a vmware disk?

[LinuxH4x0r]

Yeah Linux!!! But really get rid of that windows in the background. I like it! The box said vista or BETTER, so I installed LINUX!!!!!

[UbuntuNinja]

Nice. "Vista or better". Yep. Linux is definitely better.

[funyson]

Hi al
I'm new with VMWare stuff. But i did folowing u people instruction. However, i still can't make it run on VMWare player

The screen of my VMWare player said "
Network boot from AMD Am79c97oa
Copyright (c) 2003-2005 VMWare, Inc.
copyright (c) 1997-2000 Intel Corporation

Client Mac ADDR: 00 0c 29 86 ab f9 GUID: 564dc93d-93b2-daoe-51db-3e5fe786abf9
PXE-E53: No boot filename received

PXE-M0F: Exiting Intel PXE ROM.
Operation System not found


That's all i got, Are u have any solution help me to solve this problem ---------------- thanks inadvance

u can email me @ [e-mail]

[billducky]

I was able to overcome this by switching the physical CD-Rom and ISO "cd-rom" in the master/slave settings. For instance, in the cdrom setup area of your vmx file, switch the IDE1:0 of the physical cd with the IDE1:1 of the virtual cd. Worked like a charm!

[ll.13]

Are you sure you have it linked to the .iso file name correctly?

[funyson]

Yes! It's work for me as long as installation progess start ---then i cna't install it! do u have any ideal about this? please help me!

[gizmondo]

Good to see some more Linux users! I have to agree with LinuxH4x0r get rid of Windows!