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Installing Windows NT into a Virtual Machine

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

Before installing the operating system, be sure that you have already created a new virtual machine and configured it.

Windows NT Installation Steps

Use the VMware Workstation Configuration Editor 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. VMware also recommends that you disable the screen saver on the host system before starting the installation process.

To install Windows NT into a virtual machine:

  1. Insert the Windows NT CD in the CD-ROM drive.
  2. Power on the virtual machine to start installing Windows NT.
  3. If you have enabled the virtual machine's Ethernet adapter, an AMD PCNET Family Ethernet Adapter is detected and set up automatically. The default settings should work fine and do not need to be changed.
  4. Finish the Windows NT installation.
  5. You can enable the virtual disk to support DMA transfers for better performance.

    The feature can be enabled after Windows NT has been successfully installed. You need the NT Service Pack 3 or 4 CD to enable this option. Once the virtual machine is running Windows NT, insert the SP3 or SP4 CD in the drive, navigate to the \SUPPORT\UTILS\I386 directory and double-click DMACHECK.EXE. When the program runs, click the Enabled option for the IDE controller/channel that is configured with the virtual disk (typically channel 0 only, unless you have the virtual machine configured with multiple virtual disks). DMA should not be enabled for any IDE channel that has a CD-ROM drive configured for it. Doing so causes an error.

    Note: DMA is always enabled on SCSI virtual disks.

    Note: If you have a virtual disk and a CD-ROM attached as master and slave to the primary IDE controller (channel 0) and you want to enable DMA, power off the virtual machine and use the Configuration Editor to move the CD-ROM to the secondary IDE controller (channel 1) at IDE 1:0. Then boot the virtual machine with Windows NT, run the DMACHECK.EXE program as described above and enable DMA for channel 0 only.

  6. Install VMware Tools in your guest operating system.
  7. If networking was disabled at the time you installed Windows NT, you can enable it after the operating system has been installed. To set up networking for a virtual machine with Windows NT:
    1. Shut down Windows NT and power off the virtual machine.
    2. Enable networking for the virtual machine.
    3. Power on the virtual machine.
    4. While Windows NT is booting, insert the Windows NT 4.0 CD in the CD-ROM drive.
    5. Log in to Windows NT and open the Network properties page by double-clicking the Network icon in the Control Panel.
    6. Change to the Network Adapters screen by clicking the Adapters tab.
    7. Click the Add button and select AMD PCNET Family Ethernet Adapter from the list.
    8. 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.
    9. Windows NT setup prompts you for the Windows NT files again. Click Continue.
    10. 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.

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