Help with installing my first Guest OS [SOLVED]

[F-Zero_Sam]

I got a fresh OS ready in VM Virtual Box Manager for Windows XP. I started it, then put in the retail installation disk for Windows XP, but, as you can see in the attached image, the "Install Windows XP" option is grayed out. Why? How do I enable it?

[loukingjr]

perhaps you have to run the system compatibility check before the installer will let you install it?

[FrodoHobbits]

Did this window open in your new guest or on your hosts desktop ?

[F-Zero_Sam]

Did this window open in your new guest or on your hosts desktop ?

Guest host. No doubt. It appeared in the same window that appeared when I started my VM from the VM VirtualBox Manager (I just didn't include the entire VM window to avoid stretching the forum tables).

Why do you ask?

[F-Zero_Sam]

XP_compatibility.PNG (48.17 KiB) Viewed 2606 times

perhaps you have to run the system compatibility check before the installer will let you install it?

Uh oh. The system compatibility is grayed out too. And the compatibility website doesn't work either. Microsoft stopped supporting Windows XP in March this year. Will this make it impossible for me to use the product key that came with the disc as well?

Microsoft should never abandon Windows XP

[FrodoHobbits]

Why do you ask?

I've never had this menu appear on a new XP install, only the Welcome to Setup screen as below.
I've only ever seen it after you have installed XP and then for some reason stick the CD back in the drive.

[mpack]

Moved to "Windows Guests".

Please give me the exact label off the setup CD. Look in particular for the word "Upgrade" or similar.

And, provide a VM log file: Minimum information needed for assistance.

And incidentally, the guest and the host are two different things, there is no such thing as a "guest host". I'm taking it as confirmed that you see this display in the guest window.

[FrodoHobbits]

I'm taking it as confirmed that you see this display in the guest window.

I'm assuming that it appears on the Host. Just read the OP again

I started it, then put in the retail installation disk for Windows XP

You need to point to the CD through the Guests Storage Settings. Read the manual.

[mpack]

Actually, it seemed clear enough when I read it the first time.

It appeared in the same window that appeared when I started my VM from the VM VirtualBox Manager (I just didn't include the entire VM window to avoid stretching the forum tables).

I find it hard to see how that could mean the host. Still, the OP could settle any ambiguity by including part of the VM window caption/menu area.

You need to point to the CD through the Guests Storage Settings.

You might be forgetting the first run wizard, which prompts the user to insert the setup CD without him explicitly having to visit the Storage settings.

[socratis]

@mpack
Yes, you're right. But my guess is that F-Zero_Sam is not a native-English speaker and there was something lost in the translation. There is no way that you can get this window if you had followed a proper installation sequence. In fact, he would only get this window if he had a Windows host > XP and autorun was enabled. If all he did was to insert the XP CD, he wouldn't even see the wizard. Or he may just inserted the CD when prompted and didn't capture it and part of the VBox wizard was covered by the autorun program.

@F-Zero_Sam
Read Chapter 1 of the user manual and especially Chapter 1.8.1 Starting a new VM for the first time. You'll save a lot of time and will understand how things work in the virtualization world.

Edit: Oops, in the original post I mixed up "F-Zero_Sam" with "FrodoHobbits". Fixed now.

[scottgus1]

I tried mounting an XP iso in my Windows 7 host and windows 7 guest, and got the light-blue Welcome to XP window like F-Zero_Sam got, with the install and compatibility-check options grayed out. I mounted the iso on an XP guest and got the Welcome to XP window, but the grayed-out options were active. I have only ever gotten the dark-blue DOS screen like FrodoHobbits posted, on a install-from-cd onto a hard disk with no OS on it already (I have installed XP dozens of times). I have never gotten F-zero_Sam's screen installing XP on a fresh, no-OS disk. I have only ever gotten that screen when inserting the disc on a computer that was already running an installed Windows OS.

My conclusion, F-Zero_Sam, is that you...
1. did not successfully attach the host CD drive to your guest before inserting the XP install disc, and thus got the Welcome to XP window on your host instead of your guest

or

2. your guest already has an OS in it, which might be consistent with the order of items you posted, as quoted here:

I got a fresh OS ready in VM Virtual Box Manager for Windows XP. I started it, then put in the retail installation disk for Windows XP

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if one starts a guest with no OS in it, then inserts the CD, the guest wouldn't see the cd and would generate a No Bootable Medium error, right? If it already had an OS, such as if one got a guest (likely a Windows OS) from someone else, then the guest could start, and show the Welcome to XP when the CD starts running.

It may be useful to post a screenshot of the entire host screen, with the guest window and this Welcome to XP window showing. And maybe a guest log file, too.

[mpack]

Host autorun grabbing the inserted CD is certainly a possibility, but surely it would be obvious when that had happened? Also, autorun is disabled by default on Win7 hosts isn't it? If yes the who would expose themselves to malware by re-enabling it?

The potential for the host OS to grab ownership of the CD is the main reason I prefer to always use ISO images for OS installs.

[F-Zero_Sam]

The potential for the host OS to grab ownership of the CD is the main reason I prefer to always use ISO images for OS installs.

Holy crap! That works fast. It was right under my nose for 2 weeks. I only wish it was easy for Mac OS X installations in VB.

[ChipMcK]

I only wish it was easy for Mac OS X installations in VB.

It is easy

[Perryg]

Be warned though, Mac OS X is only to be installed on Mac hardware.