Installing ESXi 4.1 inside vmware server 2.0.2

I have tried several times running ESXi 4.1 inside vmware server 2.0 installed on Win7-64 bit. The problem is that the installation is stuck on welcome screen asking to press enter to continue (or Esc or R to repair). Nothing seems to let it proceed. I have followed all the suggestion illustrated. Any other idea? Thanks a lot.

From serverfault Dadone

• What's the processor, have you got the VX bit enabled?

  Dadone : Yes, VT is enabled and the vmx config file has been modified as stated here (http://serverfault.com/questions/28399/how-to-run-vmware-esx-or-esxi-in-a-virtual-machine/163376#163376) Processor il Core 2 duo P8700. Thanks
  From Chopper3

• I know it's a long time since you posted this issue, but I had the same issue myself.

  It seems that a lot of people are having keyboard problems with ESXi 4.1, but the main resolution has been to plug in a different kind of keyboard - not very useful if you're trying to install ESXi on top of VMWare Server.

  Anyway, taking a slightly different approach, I experimented with the kernel boot parameters and I found that adding acpi=off to the command line allowed the installation to continue.

  So to do this, at the VMVisor (ESXi) boot menu, press Tab. Change the command line to read:

  mboot.c32 vmkboot.gz acpi=off --- vmkernel.gz --- sys.vgz --- cim.vgz --- ienviron.vgz --- install.vgz

  You should now be able to press Enter at the appropriate point and continue your installation.

  After installation, you'll find the keyboard doesn't work again. This is okay as you can do everything from the VSphere Client anyway. But if you want the keyboard to work at the console, then first install the VSphere client.

  Then connect to your ESXi machine and click the Configuration tab. Under Software you should find an Advanced Settings option (scroll down if you can't see it). Select this option then click VMkernel. Now uncheck the box that says VMkernel.Boot.ACPI. And click OK.

  When you Reboot your ESXi machine (you can do this from the VSphere Client), you should now be able to use the keyboard at the console.

  Dadone : Thanks a lot, it worked!

  misterjaytee : I'm glad someone else benefited from my hard work! If that's worked, could you tick the answer. Thanks.
  From misterjaytee

• Thanks a lot MisterJaytee, your solution worked for me !

  From

• Thanks MisterJaytee. Worked, at least in so much as resolving the keyboard issue - then came "F11" time - simply received (in summary format): "vmware esxi 4.1 installation: Installation operation failed!

  The installation operation has encountered a fatal error:

  Unable to find system image to install. This is due to the image not being mounted correctly or the CD-ROM not being supported operation .... record info ... before rebooting ... supermicro, x7dcl, 0123456789, phoenix technologies ltd... reboot". Found sites that talked a lot about corrupt ESXi4.1 installer downloads - not my case? Don't need to use 'IDE emulation' with the DVD drive as the DVD rom is IDE, not SATA. Had ESXi v4 working fine on that Very machine - just never used it, so thought that a "fresh" start with ESXi4.1 would be a better grounding/starting point.

  Switched to a USB DVD-rom, ESXi4.1 doesnt even load from it. Its late at night - so no spare SATA DVD drives "to-be-run-in-IDE-emulation-mode" to be had, as one 'web-user' put it, "VMWare may not work with older model DVD drives, so switch it out for a newer one".

  All new models seem to be SATA only now-a-day? why would VMware not work with IDE, but then be forced to work with a SATA drive within IDE_emulation mode?? :) Some time one has to simply laugh I.T off. Will have to start playing tomorrow with other alternatives - silly old me went and deleted the ESXi v4 ISO image weeks ago for the sake of storage??

  From Ian Stockdale