VmWare 7 on 64 bit Win7 U:installer says '32 bit OS'

English Install/Boot/Login
1

Hello,

I am trying to install the latest SUSE in a virtual machine created on 64 bit Windows 7 Ultimate. When the CD loads in the VM’s console it says ‘This is a 32 bit computer. You cannot use 64 bit software on it’. I am running the free VmWare Server 2.0. Windows 7 sys info clearly shows it as 64 bit OS, and it is running on i7-720 (definitely a quad core 64 bit proc).

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

AK

2

Forgot to mention… I have clearly chosen the guest OS as SUSE Linux (64 bit).

3

Sounds like an error on VMWares part, perhaps you’d have better luck with virtualbox?

4

What is your VMware version? (Look in the about - post full version number)

5

Thanks for the responses.

  1. VirtualBox. Didn’t know about the product. Will try.
  2. The installed VmWare Server version is as below

VMware Server
Version 2.0.2
Build 203138

I also tried Microsoft’s Virtual PC, as I ended up installing XP mode (64 bit). Even in that when I create a VM and try to install the SUSE… get the same error.

Finally, I tried booting from the DVD. It brought to the installation screen without any error. So, I am guessing it is probably the new processor (i7-720 QM) throwing something off, especially in a VM?

Don’t have too much time to experiment with this now, or a burning need. Will try 32 bit SUSE.

  • AK
6

Believe it or not - this is a feature of the processor.

For instance, I go to yast -> hardware info and look at my processor. I have a T6600 (Intel core 2 duo)

google pulls up the intel page:
Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor T6600 (2M Cache, 2.20 GHz, 800 MHz FSB) with SPEC Code(s) SLGF5

Under “Ordering and Sampling information” you will see a column labled “VT-x”, mine says “no” and I suspect yours does too.

If your processor does not support VT-x then you can run a 64bit OS as your primary OS but you can only virtualize 32bit systems.

I repeat, you can only virtualize 32bit systems.

7

Hi
VT means run a XEN/KVM system. I’m running an AMD 4400 which doesn’t
support VT but have no issues running a 64bit guest OS in vmware
workstation… (or is that a windows thing?)

–
Cheers Malcolm °¿° (Linux Counter #276890)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (x86_64) Kernel 2.6.27.39-0.3-default
up 1 day 19:43, 3 users, load average: 0.91, 0.30, 0.13
GPU GeForce 8600 GTS Silent - CUDA Driver Version: 190.18