ver 1.5.6. PIIX3-PIIX4 in windows guests

[MarvinFS]

is it possible to change PIIX3 to PIIX4 in advanced settings for windows guests with new 1.5.6 version? When i change it windows guest OS is unable to boot telling me stop 7b (inaccessible boot device) i guess it doesn't have corresponding drivers and window's ones are no match. i wonder if the disk performance will be better with PIIX4....

[frank]

The setting is not meant for improving the disk performance but for improving the compatibility with Windows guests which were installed with VMware. Note that Windows shows a bluescreen if the storage controller of the medium where the OS is installed changes. Therefore we added this setting. Leave the setting on PIIX3 and Windows will be fine. Or set it to PIIX4 prior to a reinstallation. But this will give you Zero performance improvement.

[MarvinFS]

thanx for the answer!

[naju]

Just like that, I was playing around with a Windows 95 guest and the IDE controller used for the VM prior to 1.5.6 was recognized as "Intel 82371SB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller", which I assume is the same as the one called "PIIX3" in 1.5.6. Problem is, this controller makes win95 bluescreen on boot and you have to disable it in safe mode before being able to boot normally.

However, the "PIIX4" IDE controller is recognized as just "Standard Dual PCI IDE Controller" by Windows 95, and it works out of the box. So I guess this new device is not only useful for old Vmware VMs :) Might wanna put that in the user FAQ or something.