Installing Windows Vista under VMware

We were quite anxious to try the new Windows Vista. We wanted to see the new features and check whether it had high system requirements. Although we do want to test it, we do not want it so bad so as to install t as the main Operating System. So we have installed it on a Vmware virtual machine. We had doubts about Vista being able to sun on a virtual machine.

Well, the first thing we did on Vmware was to create a new virtual machine assigning 2gb to it. We did not want to have memory troubles when executing Vista. In this case, we have tested Windows Vistax64 bits.

We run the virtual machine from the DVD and we get a window indicating the start of the installation process:

It seems like the installation on the virtual machine is going to work, but let’s not get too happy yet. We wait for a while, and a new window pops up:

This is new! It is asking us to choose the language, time format y keyboard. Of course, the wallpaper and the keys are nicer. Then we get the screens where you introduce the serial number, i our case we have nor enteres a serial number so we are asked to choose the Windows Vista version we acquired. We hace 30 days to enter the serial number before Windows Vista stops running:

We have chosen the Ultimate version, which is, of course, the most complete one . If you don’t know the difference among the different Vista versions, you can check that on this document: Windows Vista: 7 flavours.

As we are installing Windows Vista from scratch, we choose the customized installation type:

Now we choose the partition where we want to install Windows Vista. You can see you can format, eliminate or extend partitions. In this case, we have installed it on the only partition of the hard disk:

Just to be curious, we have checked the memory used while the virtual machine is being executed. For this, we’ve used Everest. We can see the 2gb reserved for the virtual machine are being used.

After these steps, we get to the installation process which takes quite a long time:

A few minutes after….

At last, it looks like windows Vista is about to start:

We are almost there and we will be able to check whether Windows Vista works under Vmware.

Finally, a window appears to choose a user to start the session. We can see the icon and windows are better than in previous versions.

When choosing the computer name you can also choose the wallpaper you want. In this case, we have kept the default one, which is not bad at all.

Windows is still worried about security, at least that is what it looks like when we see the next window asking what is the level of automatic updates we want.

Now it’s time to set the time. Of course, with a better clock and calendar than on earlier versions.

How do you connect to the Internet?

Look how nice Vista is, it thanks all the time.

Before initiating, Vista recognizes our machine for improvements.

Now it’s time to enter the password and see what happens.

Before entering the password, we check the bottom left incon on the login screen. We click on it and see that there are accessibility options. Interesting.

Now, we enter the key and wait to see what’s behind so much nice graphics. Emotion, intrigue…tummy ache!

And we finally get there, and see the welcome panel (very nice!). We see that it is already downloading updates, and it was just released to the market.

Well, it looks like everything’s gone fine. This whole virtualization stuff is great. We can now try Windows Vista without repartition or updates.

Now we only have to improve the virtual machine’s performance using the Vmware Tools. So we go ahead and install them.

And we realize Windows keeps asking lots of questions.

Now it’s the windows’ firewall turn to ask whether we want to execute the program… ains, so slow!

Installing the Vmware Tools.

And… well! Everything’s fine, er already have Windows Vista running under Vmware, with a pretty decent performance.

The only problem is that we have not been able to install the sound yet, even following the steps indicatedon the Vmware webpage. Anyway. It’s not that bad, the important thing is that everything has gone quite well.

We will continue to try Windows Vista and that’s why we’ll continue to update the news.

Virtualization rocks! ; )