HOWTO: Install Windows Vista Beta 2 (With Vmware without burning ISO file) On Dapper

[aktiwers]

Edit : THIS GUIDE IS PRETTY OUTDATED AND THE DOWNLOADS ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANYMORE.
HOWEVER, YOU COULD USE THE GUIDE IF YOU ALREADY HAVE THE ISO, OR AN ISO FROM ANOTHER OS.

Good Luck!

Hi All !

This is my first HOWTO, so I hope it will be useful to some.

This Howto will explain how you Download (3GB+ Download!), install and get free licensens to Windows Vista Beta 2 (that expires June 2007).

THIS IS NOT FOR DUAL BOOTING! YOU WILL BE RUNNING WINDOWS VISTA TRHOUGH VMWARE (a window) ON TOP OF UBUNTU.

I have only tested this on my PC with Dapper 6.06.
I will be using some stuff from this guide made by Peturrr.
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=183209
Okey, lets get started

1) First we need to use some stuff from Peturrr's HOWTO:

First we need to install a few dependencies:

In a terminal type

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r` build-essential xinetd

This will install all needed dependencies (atleast I hope so )

This somehow didnt work for me, but I got it installed successfully anyway. So if this makes some kind of error, you could try to go on.

2)
Again, Follow this from Peturrr's guide:

We are now ready to download VMWare Server.

• Go to http://www.vmware.com/products/server/
• On the menu on the right click: Download VMWare Server
• Click on the appropriate Download Now button.
• Register as new user, do give a valid email adres, since you will be receiving the registration key by email.
• Select the VMWare Server beta (for Linux)
• Accept the EULA
• Download VMware Server for Linux. (first mentioned, binary (.tar.gz) )

The Installation

• Open the downloaded file with the archive manager.
• Extract it to somewhere, I will use /tmp here.
• Startup the terminal and go to the extracted files
  
  

  cd /tmp  replace with your download directory
  cd vmware-server-distrib
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• Execute the installation script
  
  

  sudo ./vmware-install.pl

• You can accept all defaults, only thing you might want to alter is the directory where the Virtual Machines are stored. I have mine set to /home/username/vmware . But offcourse, just accept the settings you want to.
• You will be prompted for your key during the installation. You will find the key in your email inbox
• If everything went allright, the installation will finish without any problems

We can now test if it worked by starting the VMWare server console

• Via the menu Applications => System Tools => Vmware Server Console
• If everything is allright, the server console program will show up.
• If it didn't, start the terminal and execute
  

  vmware

3) Okey if thats working, lets move on to getting Vista downloaded. This is a big file(3gb + )

First go here and download either 32bit or 64bit version. ( I only Tested it with 32bit).


Download Page
http://download.windowsvista.com/preview/beta2/en/x86/download.htm?

As a lot of people want to try this "new" OS, I found that its almost impossible to get access to the downloads. So while I was there, I graped the direct links.

(the board for some reason shortens the link. If you use wget, it should be the full link address) (Using wget will work even though microsoft says "We are currently experiencing a high level of demand bla bla bla")
32Bit Version
http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/en/x86/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x86fre_client-LB2CFRE_EN_DVD.iso

wget http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/...FRE_EN_DVD.iso 

64Bit Version
http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/preview/beta2/en/x64/iso/vista_5384.4.060518-1455_winmain_beta2_x64fre_client-LB2CxFRE_EN_DVD.iso

wget http://download.windowsvista.com/dl/...FRE_EN_DVD.iso 

4)
Okey, this might take some time for must users. While waiting go signup for your product Key. Its Free and lasts until June 2007!
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvist...y/preview.mspx

Now when you got your CD-Key, save the image on your PC for later use.

5)

Now open Vmware by typing into the terminal:

vmware

6)
Select 'Create a new virtual machine'

• => Next => Next => Select Windows Vista (Experimental)
• => Next => Enter a name and select a location for the Virtual Machine File (It contains the virtual harddisk, so it needs to be atleast 16GB)
• => Next => Select Network type. I use " Brigde: Connected Directly to the physical Network". Pick what suits you best.
• => Next => Choose the size for the Virtual Disk and set other preferences
• => Next => Finish

7)

Now when its done, Clik on the tap of your virtual machine, and Pick:
"Edit Virtual Machine settings."

Click on the CD-Rom Drive and pick Use ISO.
Below that, type in the path to your ISO file from Microsoft, remember at this time it has to be done downloading.

/path/to/your/windows/download/windowsvista.iso

and hit OK.

Hit "Power on This Vitual Machine" and follow the installation!

Remember to have your CD-Key Image ready.

And done!

8 )

Now when you are logged in and see your desktop, click CTRL+ALT
(this will take your mouse out of Vista, and back on Ubuntu)


Click on VM and pick "Intall Vmware Tools..." Now inside Windows Vista, the installation will start. Install it, and it will reboot.

This should give a good bust to the performance!

Thats it, done!

Im afraid Im a Noob myself, so sadly I wont be at much help if anyone has any errors. But post them below anyways, maybe others knows how to fix it.

Oh yeah, sorry for any typo's!

Also Please read Paturrr's guide, its real good, and you will get the basic idea.
Im sure I forgot something, let me know.

EDIT:
Added number 8!
Some Screenshots attatched below.