Installing Windows NT into a Virtual Machine

Windows NT 4.0 can be installed in a virtual machine using the standard Windows NT CD.

Note: Some Microsoft Windows NT 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 NT operating system on your actual computer, you may not be able to install it in a virtual machine. You may need to purchase a new copy of Windows to install in a virtual machine.

Note: If you are going to run a Windows NT virtual machine with IDE virtual disks on a multiprocessor host computer, you may notice slower than expected disk input/output performance. For more information, see Disk Performance in Windows NT Guests on Multiprocessor Hosts on page 361.

Before installing the operating system, be sure that you have already created a new virtual machine and configured it using the VMware ESX Server Virtual Machine Wizard.

Windows NT Installation Steps

Note: Windows NT 4.0 virtual machines must have Service Pack 4 or higher installed. If your initial installation is from an installation disc that has a lower service pack level, you must first create the virtual machine with less than 3.5GB of RAM. After applying Service Pack 4 or higher, you may use the VMware Management Interface to increase the memory setting to as much as 3.6GB.

To install Windows NT into a virtual machine:

Use the VMware Management Interface to verify the virtual machine’s devices are set up as you expect before starting the installation. For example, if you would like networking software to be installed during the Windows NT installation, be sure the virtual machine’s Ethernet adapter is configured and enabled.
If you plan to install the guest operating system from a physical CD-ROM disc, be sure the CD-ROM drive is connected to the virtual machine.
Insert the Windows NT CD in the CD-ROM drive on your VMware ESX Server host.
Power on the virtual machine to start installing Windows NT.
If you have enabled the virtual machine’s Ethernet Adapter, a VMware PCI Ethernet Adapter is detected and set up automatically. The default settings should work fine and do not need to be changed.
Finish the Windows NT installation.

VMware Tools

Be sure to install VMware Tools in your in your guest operating system.

Setting up a Windows NT 4.0 Guest with Multiple Disks

To set up a virtual machine running Windows NT 4.0 and using multiple disks, you must first create a virtual machine with only one disk. Install Windows NT on that disk. Then use the Configuration Editor (Settings > Configuration Editor) to add the additional disks.

In addition, note that if you have a Windows NT 4.0 guest with a SCSI virtual disk, you cannot add both an additional SCSI disk and an IDE disk to the configuration.

Enabling Sound After Installing Windows NT

The VMware ESX Server sound device is disabled by default and must be enabled with the Configuration Editor (Settings > Configuration Editor) after the operating system has been installed.

Enabling Networking After Installing Windows NT

If networking was disabled at the time you installed Windows NT, you can enable it after the operating system has been installed.

Shut down Windows NT and power off the virtual machine.
Enable networking for the virtual machine.
Power on the virtual machine.
While Windows NT is booting, insert the Windows NT 4.0 CD in the CD-ROM drive on your VMware ESX Server host.
Log in to Windows NT and open the Network properties page by double-clicking the Network icon in the Control Panel.
Change to the Network Adapters screen by clicking the Adapters tab.
Click the Add button and select AMD PCNET Family Ethernet Adapter from the list.
A message pops up prompting you to enter a path for the Windows NT files. Specify the \I386 directory on the CD in the path you enter (for example, type D:\i386 if the CD is in drive D) and click Continue.
Windows NT setup prompts you for the Windows NT files again. Click Continue.
Use the default adapter settings; they do not need to be changed. Windows NT setup prompts you again for a path to the Windows NT files. Click Continue to finish installing the driver.

Known Issues

On a Linux host with an XFree86 3.x X server, it is best not to run a screen saver in the guest operating system. Guest screen savers that demand a lot of processing power can cause the X server on the host to freeze.