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How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM] HOME VMWARE TOOLS HOT DEALS BOOKS FORUM SERVER LABS COOL LINKS VBEERS How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. July 12th, 2009 Kiwi Si There are a couple of methods to create a VMWare ESXi 3.5 or v 4.0 (vSphere) bootable USB key. Firstly though I should point out that at this stage you can only buy/create ESXi and not ESX (ie: the Service Console version) on a memory pen drive or card. A Choice of Methods UPDATE: VMware have now provided a much simpler method of installing ESXi onto a USB pen drive as outlined in method 3 below. For step-by-step instructions on how to do this check out my new post here. As with most things in the world of computers there are multiple ways of doing the same thing and creating a bootable ESXi 3.5 or 4.0 USB pen drive is no exception. The most popular approach to creating a bootable ESXi USB pen drive is to use WinImage so in this article I will be covering this method along with using an alternative Windows Command Line based method ( DD for Windows). However with the introduction of VMware ESXi 4.0 there is an option to select USB pen drive as a target during the installation process – this being the easiest method of all. I have used both methods successfully but others have reported some problems when using ‘DD for Windows’ under x64 Vista. The reason for showing the ‘DD for Windows’ method is that most postings you’ll come across only show examples of using WinImage to extract the relevant files from the ESXi ISO and to save the resultant image onto the USB key. I thought it good to show an alternative as I have experienced issues when using WinImage under Windows 7 beta (7000) & RC (7100) x64 – though others report that it has run ok for them. I found that WinImage installed just fine under Windows 7 though when I went to write an image to a USB key I was presented with a RED X with no description or hint as to what the problem may be. Also the capacity of my USB key went from 2GB to 4MB something a normal reformat could not fix ! To get your USB key back to its original capacity download the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool from here and run it against your USB key. I tried running WinImage as an administrator and also tried running it with an XP and Vista shim under Window 7’s compatibility mode – SUBSCRIBE TO OUR RSS FEED! FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER! ABOUT TECHHEAD My name is Simon Seagrave and I am a London (UK) based Senior Technology Consultant and vSpecialist working for EMC. I love my work and spend most of my time working with and exploring Virtualisation Technologies in particular VMware products. In my home IT lab I use VMware vSphere, HP Proliants and various storage products along with many of Microsoft's back office products. This blog was created for my own use and as a reference of useful articles, etc that I came across on my travels. Though as time has progressed it is good to see that other people are accessing it also. I hope you find it useful. :) The Disclaimer Bit: Although I work for EMC, my thoughts and views expressed in this blog are purely my own and are not those of EMC. I am not a VMWARE EMC HEWLETT PACKARD (HP) APPLE CLOUD GENERAL MICROSOFT INTERNET/WEB

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How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive.July 12th, 2009 Kiwi Si

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There are a couple of methods to create a VMWare ESXi 3.5 or v 4.0 (vSphere) bootable USB key. Firstly though I should point out that at this stage you can only buy/create ESXi and not ESX (ie: the Service Console version) on a memory pen drive or card.

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A Choice of MethodsUPDATE: VMware have now provided a much simpler method of installing ESXi onto a USB pen drive as outlined in method 3 below. For step-by-step instructions on how to do this check out my new post here. As with most things in the world of computers there are multiple ways of doing the same thing and creating a bootable ESXi 3.5 or 4.0 USB pen drive is no exception. The most popular approach to creating a bootable ESXi USB pen drive is to use WinImage so in this article I will be covering this method along with using an alternative Windows Command Line based method (DD for Windows). However with the introduction of VMware ESXi 4.0 there is an option to select USB pen drive as a target during the installation process this being the easiest method of all. I have used both methods successfully but others have reported some problems when using DD for Windows under x64 Vista. The reason for showing the DD for Windows method is that most postings youll come across only show examples of using WinImage to extract the relevant files from the ESXi ISO and to save the resultant image onto the USB key. I thought it good to show an alternative as I have experienced issues when using WinImage under Windows 7 beta (7000) & RC (7100) x64 though others report that it has run ok for them. I found that WinImage installed just fine under Windows 7 though when I went to write an image to a USB key I was presented with a RED X with no description or hint as to what the problem may be. Also the capacity of my USB key went from 2GB to 4MB something a normal reformat could not fix ! To get your USB key back to its original capacity download the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool from here and run it against your USB key. I tried running WinImage as an administrator and also tried running it with an XP and Vista shim under Window 7s compatibility mode ABOUT TECHHEAD My name is Simon Seagrave and I am a London (UK) based Senior Technology Consultant and vSpecialist working for EMC. I love my work and spend most of my time working with and exploring Virtualisation Technologies in particular VMware products. In my home IT lab I use VMware vSphere, HP Proliants and various storage products along with many of Microsoft's back office products. This blog was created for my own use and as a reference of useful articles, etc that I came across on my travels. Though as time has progressed it is good to see that other people are accessing it also. I hope you find it useful. :) The Disclaimer Bit: Although I work for EMC, my thoughts and views expressed in this blog are purely my own and are not those of EMC. I am not a

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How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk

still with no luck. Doh! So you may want to consider running WinImage under Windows XP or Vista.

blogger for EMC and write about topics and products which interest me, and hopefully you too. Twitter: Kiwi_Si VMware Community: KiwiSi Email: simon at techhead dot co dot uk

Why create a bootable VMware ESXi USB pen drive?I really like the idea of having a bootable ESXi USB key around as it is useful for quickly spinning up an ESXi install on one of my lab machines. For this project (and also because I didnt have any spare USB keys or sufficient capacity lying around) I went out yesterday and bought 2 x 2GB USB keys (for 9.99). In this article I will provide steps for both ESXi pen drive creation methods so you can take your pick.

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Two easy methods:1. DD for Windows (Command Line) 2. WinImage (GUI) 3. ESXi Install CD (ESXi 4.0 Only)

What youll need for todays project is:1 x USB key (>1GB in capacity). Im using a 2GB Dane-Elec USB key never heard of them to be honest but 2 for 9.99 I couldnt pass up that deal. I have heard from some that not all USB keys work though that said I have never come across one so far that hasnt. Maybe we could start a list of known USB keys (ie: Manufacturer/Model) that work/dont work at the bottom of this article in the Comments section. 1 x Copy of the dd for Windows utility which can be downloaded from here. At the time of writing this article the latest version is 0.5. After downloading install/extract it onto your PC and take note of the location. or 1 x Copy of WinImage, downloaded from here. 1 x VMware ESX(i) ISO image either on CD or in file format. Just a reminder that you can download VMware ESXi for free from here. 1 x Copy and install WinRar (Shareware). If you havent already got this installed then you should as its very useful. It can be downloaded from here. 1 x Roll of Cello tape 1 x Pair of Scissors 1 x Clothes Peg 1 x Squeegee Bottle Ok so ignore the last 4 items

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Location, Location, Location:There arent really any differences between creating a ESXi 3.5 or 4.0 bootable USB pen drive

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http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk posted in forum HP ML110 & ML115 by Centit on 7 March, 2011 at 10:36 pm

apart from the obvious difference between the actual image file names. Both of the dd image files that you need are located in the INSTALL.TGZ file when this file is abstracted you will find the required dd image file in the directories outline below: VMware ESXi 3.5 (U4)

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VMware ESXi 4.0

Now onto the first method

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Method #1 DD for Windows:Firstly we want to extract the relevant dd file from the VMware ESXi ISO image so that we can then apply it to the USB key. For the purposes of this exercise I am going to build a bootable ESXi USB key based on VMware ESXi U3 (it was a little while ago when I first wrote this article though the same still applies to ESXi 3.5 U4 and ESXi 4.0). The file name for this is: VMware-VMvisor-InstallerCD3.5.0_Update_3-123629.i386. Using WinRar open your VMware ESXi ISO using WinRar.

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk

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Now whilst still in WinRar open (by double clicking) the INSTALL.TGZ file.

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From here drill down the directories until you reach the usr\lib\vmware\installer\ sub-directory.

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Now double click on the bz2 file to extract it (in this instance called VMware-VMvisor-big3.5.0_Update_3-123629.i386.dd.bz2.

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You are now left with a single file with a dd extension. This is the file that we are after. Extract this file to the same directory as where the dd for Windows utility resides. (Note: The other option would be to add this directory to the Path environment variable within your Windows OS so that the dd for Windows util can be access via command line from any directory). We are now at the stage where well use the dd for Windows utility to apply the image you just extracted to a USB pen drive. If you have any WinRAR windows left open you can now close them as we will only be dealing with the file with the dd extension you just extracted. Insert your USB key that you wish to have ESXi installed onto into your PC. With your USB key inserted into your PC open up My Computer within the OS and take note of the drive mapping letter that your USB key has been assigned.

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http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk

In my case it is the F (Removable Drive) drive.

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Open up a Command Prompt and navigate to the directory where the dd for Windows utility and VMware ESXi image file is located.

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Run the command: dd -list (Note: there are two dashes before the list command) If you are trying to run this from a Windows 7 Beta installation, as I am, you will notice that there is no entry for the USB pen drive (F:) under the NT Block Device Objects section (see image below) this is where wed usually expect to see an entry for the pen drive and the other attached hard disks. Im guessing this is down to some incompatibility between dd for Windows and Windows 7 Beta. So this part of the process will need to be performed either using Windows XP or Vista.

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I dont have a Vista machine built up at the moment though so I will perform the remaining steps from within Windows XP where we run the same command (ie: dd -list) we get the following output. I have run this process multiple times from a Vista based PC in the past and can confirm it works the same as it does from an XP machine.

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http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk

After running the dd -list from the XP machine notice how you can now see the hard disks and the USB drive (e:) appear in the NT Block Device Objects

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We are now ready to apply the ESXi image onto the USB drive. To do this use the following command (for more details on the commands click here): dd bs=1M if=VMware-VMvisor-big-3.5.0_Update_3-123629.i386.dd of=\\? \Device\Harddisk1\Partition1 progress

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The portion of the command that starts with \\?\ specifies the location of your USB pen drive just to clarify this information you get from running the dd list (see above). This will most likely vary between machines depending on how may hard disks and other USB drives it has attached. With the dd process running you will see a number that increments like that seen below. The process with generally run for a few minutes whilst the image is applied to the USB key.

Once the process has completed you are then a proud owner of a bootable VMware ESXi USB pen drive!

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk

Insert it into a compatible server/PC and boot to test that it works.

Method #2 WinImage:First begin with starting WinImage (assuming youve already installed it).

From the Disk drop-down menu select Restore Virtual Hard Disk image on physical drive as you want to restore the VMware ESXi image into your USB pen drive.

The next screen (below) should show you a list of all your attached removable drives. If you have multiple removable drives attached then take care to select the correct USB pen drive dont want any accidents happening to we? Select you USB pen drive to write the ESXi image to and click Ok

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk

See image below to select your VMware ESXi dd image file.

Once you have selected All files (*.*) and can now see you ESXi dd image file select Open

Select Yes at the Warning screen..

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk

The VMware ESXi image at this stage is now written to your select USB pen drive.

Once the ESXi image has been written when you open your USB pen drive within Windows Explorer, containing the ESXi image, you should see the following few files. You dont have to perform this step only if you want to check to see if the image was written successfully.

Method #3 ESXi Install CD (ESXi 4.0 Only):This third option is the easiest and most hassle free of all. From ESXi 4.0 you get the ability to install a USB pen drive into a USB port of your server and then boot from the ESxi 4.0 installation CD. When you get to to stage in the installation process to select the destination for the ESXi install you should see your USB pen drive as a destination along with your servers internal hard disk. Just select your USB pen drive as the target for the ESXi 4.0 install and follow the rest of the installation process through everything going to plan you should see it install onto your USB pen drive.

Finished! Now go and put the cello tape, scissors and clothes peg back into the drawer.. Have fun..

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk

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25 Responses to How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive.

starter says: 14 July, 2009 at 1:49 pm wasnt this article published before (shows 12th of July)? anyway: Since ESXi 4.0 is out it is possible to install it directly from CD to an USB Stick: http://www.vm-help.com/esx40i/Boot_ESXi_from_USB_flash_drive.php stating this) will try it within this week. [Reply] (more resources on web

Kiwi Si Reply:July 14th, 2009 at 5:03 pm

Hi starter, Youre definitely on the ball on both accounts. This article was published before though I had a problem with some of the formatting corrupting so had to re-publish and took the opportunity to adding a section on WinImage and a quick mention of ESXi 4.0. Good catch re: installing ERXi directly from the install media.. I was a bit rushed trying to get the article out before work so didnt have enough time to include a section on mentioning installing from the distribution ISO/installer. Will be adding this shortly. Thanks for reading TechHead. All the best, Si [Reply]

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J says: 27 July, 2009 at 8:39 am Ive found that Winimage sometimes leaves a winimage.exe process running even when you exit the program. When you restart Winimage and try to do the recovery process, it fails with the error you

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk described. I guess what happens quite often is that people start Winimage (when UAC is enabled) and notice that you cannot do the recovery (no devices listed), exit the Winimage (which really does not exit), and try to run the WinImage (Administrator) ie. in elevated privilege mode. Which, at that point, does not work. To recover from the situation open Task Manager, kill the background winimage.exe and then start WinImage (Administrator), then it worked at least for me. [Reply]

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mlaccetti says: 29 August, 2009 at 1:10 am dd works with Windows 7 RTM (64 bit) WinImage doesnt seem to play nice at all. [Reply]

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Tweets that mention How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk -- Topsy.com says: 2 September, 2009 at 12:14 pm [...] this page was mentioned by livedoorcliphot (@livedoorcliphot), Aben Samuel (@neop26), TechHead.co.uk (Simo (@kiwi_si), ?????? (@ivaylov), Simon West (@swests) and others. [...]

Clemente says: 4 September, 2009 at 4:40 pm Hello, I already create my bootable USB pen drive, I jus have a question: Can I install the Windows XP on my mini laptop with this disk or I have to install the VM ware software? [Reply]

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Carlos Beppler says: 16 September, 2009 at 5:56 pm To see the remaining drives no Windows Vista or 7 you must open the prompt as administrator. [Reply]

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Stuart Mycock says: 19 October, 2009 at 11:50 pm

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk Ive been looking for a nice clean simple method for dumping the .dd image to USB under Windows 7 and have come across this: https://launchpad.net/win32-image-writer/+download Works a treat for me, just change the default image open dialog search from *.img to *.dd in the filename box, select the image, select the destination USB drive, hit write, then just sit back with a nice frosty beer and a smile. [Reply]

Kiwi Si Reply:October 20th, 2009 at 6:18 am

Hi Stuart, Thanks for letting us know about this nifty sounding utility. Ill definitely be giving it a go sounds very straight forward! Cheers, Si [Reply]

Stuart Mycock Reply:October 20th, 2009 at 7:27 am

I found it when trying to figure out why my ESXi key wouldnt boot after installing onto the USB key using the CD installation I was getting Panic: no usable banks found. when trying to boot, so thought the installer had failed. I got the exact error message after using this tool, but turns out it was to do with my BIOS emulating the wrong type of USB device. I had reformatted it with the HP USB tool prior to imaging but that may not be necessary. Credit goes to vm-help.com for the USB fix: http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/ESXi_35_common_issues.php Stu. [Reply]

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How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive Snip IT Blog says: 16 November, 2009 at 12:48 pm [...] Posted on November 16, 2009. Filed under: VMWare | Tags: VMWare |

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive [...]

Mike Meier says: 17 November, 2009 at 2:07 pm Hello, I also tried both ways, but I am only able to use the WinImage way. While I DDd the USB stick, it was not bootable. Difference I mentioned: WinImage Way:

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk \\?\Device\Harddisk1\Partition1 link to \\?\Device\Harddisk1\DP(1)0-0+5 Removable media other than floppy. Block size = 512 size is 4177920 bytes DD Way: \\?\Device\Harddisk1\Partition1 link to \\?\Device\Harddisk1\DP(1)0-0+5 Removable media other than floppy. Block size = 512 size is 8015249920 bytes Any Ideas? BR Mike [Reply]

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Nigel Boulton says: 2 December, 2009 at 8:47 am Hello Si, OK, so I have a bootable ESXi 4.0 USB pen drive in my ML110 built as per (the earlier version of) this article. Its running as a standalone host. Whats your recommended approach to updating this to update 1? Is there a procdure or should I have a crack at the vSphere Host Update Utility (which Ive never looked at)? Keep up the good work! Cheers, Nigel [Reply]

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StorageMaven says: 16 December, 2009 at 11:58 am Hi, I am trying out the create bootable ESXi 4.0 USB procedure. Am trying Method 3 and it does not like a computer name longer than 16 characters. I am trying to change my computer name but since this is controlled by my organization, I am having trouble with this, too. Please include a warning in the procedure about this limitation. Thanks. Maven [Reply]

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StorageMaven says: 16 December, 2009 at 4:24 pm More questions: Method 3 fails in the installation of vCenter Server Directory Services instance. So, I decided to try Method 2. VMWare ESXi 4.0 is delivered as a .iso file. It does not contain Install.tgz and

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk is not formatted as a .dd file. Now what? [Reply]

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Marc says: 2 March, 2010 at 11:11 am Winimage 8.5 is working for me on a Windows 7 64Bit installation [Reply]

Kiwi Si Reply:March 8th, 2010 at 12:45 pm

Hi Marc, Thanks for the letting us know. That sounds like the update weve been waiting for though I now just build my ESXi images off of the VMware install media. Much easier. All the best, Simon [Reply]

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VMware vSphere Now Available for Trial and Download! | TechHead.co.uk says: 20 March, 2010 at 6:37 pm [...] The ESXi 4.0 version, as with the previous version (3.5) of ESXi, contains the necessary dd file to make a bootable USB stick/pen drive version as outlined in my article here. [...]

Installing VMware ESXi 4.0 on a USB Memory Stick The Official Way | TechHead.co.uk says: 22 March, 2010 at 10:53 pm [...] writing my original post last year on installing VMware ESXi 3.5 onto a USB memory stick things have changed and with the [...]

New Server - Untangle Forums says: 1 June, 2010 at 6:33 pm [...] with the Controller) So the first thing i did after powering it on was to boot from my ESXi USB. (http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-cre-usb-pen-drive) Booted Up without any problems and no problem with Storage or Network drivers. So now just the [...]

ESXi 4.1 install notes | Toxaq says: 13 August, 2010 at 7:46 am [...] followed method 2 from the directions on found this site noting that the image on 4.1 is called image2dd.bz2. This entailed using WinImage to write this [...]

AnonyMou.se says:

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk 2 November, 2010 at 5:19 pm Why use WinRAR when theres free & better 7-zip?! [Reply]

Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast) Rating: +1 (from 1 vote)

Jay says: 18 December, 2010 at 10:09 pm Hi Using the WinImage way for example, would this mean the USB Key would always need to be in the server? Thanks [Reply]

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Alexander says: 25 January, 2011 at 7:49 pm Here is the way to avoid this error thing on Windows 7. The error only occurs if there is already a partition on your flash drive. Instructions to make it work: 1. Insert your flash. 2. Run cmd.exe as administrator 3. Run diskpart within command prompt (just type diskpart and then press enter) 4. type in list disk 5. 6. 7. 8. Note the flash drive you want to use. Type in select disk 1 if your flash drive is displayed as disk 1 type in clean Once successful -run Winimage as administrator and write that image.

Steps may also be good for Vista -I just made it to work under 7. Wishing you Successful virtualisation ! Alex [Reply]

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james says: 17 February, 2011 at 10:20 am Thanks for the article. I attempted the install with ESXI 4.1 u1 and apart from the filenames being different (imagedd.bz2 within the iso and imagedd (no extension) inside that) it has gone ok. I did find that Winimage didnt offer my USB drive (or any drive) so I tried DD which only offered my optical drive as an NT Block device object. This on Windows Vista Home Premium SP2. However once I ran both programs (cmd prompt and winimage) elevated I could see the device ok and winimage handled it fine (once the filemask was changed to show imagedd) [Reply]

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast) Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)

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