Virtualization/KVM issue

[strange_cathect]

Hello,

I'm following the advice I found here and here to set up a virtual Windows XP on my system. Everything works fine until I actually begin the installation of the virtual XP.

As my attached screenshot indicates, I am getting a persistent message that "Setup cannot read the CD you inserted."

This is a genuine copy that I used before I converted to Ubuntu. I've searched high and low but cannot find anyone describing this problem or a workaround.

Any ideas?

[strange_cathect]

Please?

[strange_cathect]

Ok, I found something. This is a bug in the GUI for Qemu. A bug description may be found here. However, there is a command-line workaround described there to fix the problem:

qemu -no-kqemu -no-acpi -m 512 -cdrom /dev/cdrom -boot d XP.img

However, I can't seem to get it to work. Qemu tells me it "could not open disk image Xp.img.

Is this because I need to tell it where the image lives on my machine? It resides at /home/XP/Xp.img.

Can someone help me with the command-line?

[bodhi.zazen]

qemu -no-kqemu -no-acpi -m 512 -cdrom /dev/cdrom -boot d /home/XP/XP.img &

qemu will be slow, can you try KVM ?

kvm -no-acpi -m 512 -cdrom /dev/cdrom -boot d /home/XP/XP.img &

Also see this link :

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/KVM

The wiki page is a bit of a mess, but there is a section on running kvm from the command line and a script for networking.

Also use the man pages.

man qemu

The man page is well written and one of the best sources of information for options and fixes. Most qemu commands work for KVM.

[strange_cathect]

Hi thanks for your reply.

I tried the following command:

qemu -no-kqemu -no-acpi -m 512 -cdrom /dev/cdrom -boot d

And now I have a set-up screen for Windows XP. My question: based on this command, where is this going to be installed? Should I continue?

How will I access the XP machine later?

Thanks for your help.

[bodhi.zazen]

With the command you listed it will not be installed anywhere as there is no hard drive.

If you include a physical partition or the Windows XP.img it would be installed there.

KVM can boot / install to physical partitions or if you use the XP.img a file.

[strange_cathect]

Ok, so I used the Virtual Machine manager to create an image called XP.img that is in a folder called XP within my home folder. But then, of course, the bug prevents the install. So I need to use the terminal.

Basically, what is the appropriate command line command to start the installation to that image file?

I tried:

kvm -no-acpi -m 384 -cdrom /dev/cdrom -boot d XP.img

But I get:

qemu: could not open disk image XP.img

I guess I need to tell qemu where the image is? I tried to add the following:

kvm -no-acpi -m 384 -cdrom /dev/cdrom -boot d /home/username/XP/Xp.img

but it didn't work either.


Sorry for all the questions!

[bodhi.zazen]

No, that command will not create the XP.img file

You create the XP.img file with qemu-img

qemu-img create XP.img 10G

[strange_cathect]

Please note that I edited my prior remarks. And thanks for your help thusfar!

I was finally able to get the command to work. I had accidentally capitalized something.

kvm -no-acpi -m 384 -cdrom /dev/cdrom -boot d /home/alan/XP/xp.img

The installation began but it again gets hung up by not recognizing my CD Rom. Screenshot attached.

[bodhi.zazen]

I do not know about that one. I suggest you try :

1. Running the command as root

sudo kvm ....

It may be you need to be root to access your physical CDROM

2. Google search qemu install windows XP.