Installing XP using MAC host with no CD drive

[Roseyboy]

Hi,
I've successfully created a VM on my MacBook using a WinXP disc and it works well.

I now want to do the same thing on my Mac Min but this has no Optical Drive ( When running OSX I can use remote Disk function that allows me to use the MacBook Optical Drive but this does not work when in VM mode)

I've tried using another PC to copy the required files from WinXP disk to USB stick and then copy these to a location within the VM that will allow XP to boot and install but either this method won't work or I'm putting files in wrong location as it fails to find any bootable medium - if this method should work which location should I use?

I did try creating an iso image of the xp files from the disk but wasn't really sure how to do this so not confident I have done it correctly - If I could do this correctly would this be the way to go?

I'm happy to purchase a new Windows 8 version of OS but will have the same problem of how to install as I would have to use the MAC Mini to download and then move to a location that the VM could boot from

Thanks

Dave

[noteirak]

The ISO would be the best way to go. You should use a tool like ImgBurn, selecting CD to ISO, this will take care of all the boot info and create a proper ISO file .
You can then link the ISO to the CV/DVD drive of your VM and boot the VM.

[ChipMcK]

Use Disk Utility to create an ISO file

• File --> New Image From ...
  Image Format: DVD/CD master
  Encryption: None

Change the file extension from cdr to iso if you wish
Transfer the image to the other Mac: USB stick/flash drive is good snail mail vehicle.

[Roseyboy]

Thanks for quick reply. I've used ImgBurn and hopefully created a good ISO image

Just unsure how to link the ISO to the CV/DVD drive of the VM

I used a Win7 laptop to create the ISO image - also has no Optical drive

The Host machine (Mini Mac) where I want to run the XP VM has no optical drive and although I can access an optical drive on a MacBook when running OSX I don't think I can use this in VM Mode??

Plan was to copy ISO image to USB stick and either boot directly (if possible) or copy image to a destination that VM can recognise but if you can advise how I can link the ISO image to a drive that the VM can access I can try that?

Thanks

Dave

[rpmurray]

1) Shut down the VM if it is running.
2) Select Settings, and then Storage.
3) See little CD icon under IDE Controller (says Empty on mine, YMMV). Click CD icon.
4) On Attributes on the right click little CD icon to the right of the CD/DVD Drive.
5) Choose "Choose a virtual CD/DVD disk file ..."
6) Navigate to your ISO and select it.
7) In System settings make sure CD/DVD-ROM is set as the first item in the boot order.
Start up the VM.

[Roseyboy]

Wow, feel we are getting close.

I've followed great instructions and all seems to fall into place except when you reboot and it fails to find a bootable medium.

Settings show Boot order as CD/DVD and under storage the IDE Secondary Master shows: [CD/DVD] XP.iso (512.98MB)

Is there any way to check if I've created a valid ISO image? Should I be able to use my Win7 Laptop to check?

Thanks

[rpmurray]

An ISO should mount on your desktop in OS X just like a DMG file if you double-click it, If it doesn't or throws an error then you don't have a valid image.

[Roseyboy]

In which case I think it's valid. If I mount it on OSX desktop and double click it creates a new device in Finder. If you then click on the 'New Device' you can see all the XP install files.

So assuming I have a valid ISO image and the Boot order is correct is there anything else I can try.

Thanks so far as learning a lot here

[noteirak]

Did you create a BOOT ISO using ImgBurn? Most likely you have to set some option to make it copy the boot sector also.

[Roseyboy]

Thanks to everyone for assistance - I now have XP running successfully on VM ( I hadn't gone to Advanced menu to select Bootable option with ImgBurn )

Just need to install SP now!!! but managed that with other machine so hopefully will be OK from now on

Thanks again