virtualbox.org

Hello everyone.

I'm trying to install a Windows XP guest on my computer which is running Windows XP from the same CD.

vbox loads up the XP installation setup but when I press 'ENTER' and then 'F8' to agree to the terms it then returns with an error saying the valid windows xp cd cannot be found.
I don't understand how this error can occur when the setup cannot load without using the windows xp cd in the first place.

any help?

Please post the exact settings you are using in the guest and the amount of RAM that you have in the Host.

I have 3.3gb of ram on the host

and here are the guest settings:

It sounds like you have an OEM cd that is looking for specifics of the machine that the manufacture put in it. If this is an OEM CD it will not work and you should not use it anyway because of licensing restrictions.

My computer is completely custom built so that couldn't be it
I don't think I've ever gotten an OEM cd

Ok then try setting the guest memory at 512 Meg to see if it will install. If this and the other things you have tried do not work then it might be a problem with the CD or the drive. I just got finished installing XP in the new version of VBox and it went through smoothly. Just one more thing. This should not effect you but others have turned on passthrough on their CD/DVD (usually something a MAC needs), maybe that will help you.?.

I set it to 512 and enabled passthrough and it still didn't work.

Although I just used another XP cd which funnily enough... is an OEM cd... and it worked. strange.