Guide to Installing Windows7 on VMPlayer

Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 2:10 PM | Posted by Unknown
Microsoft had recently release Windows7 RC1 (release candidate) for users testing before they go live. Windows7 looks to be pretty stable against its previous version, the major improvement in this version is its interaction with GPU which looks to be pretty good.

I have recently downloaded Windows7 RC1 and wanted to try it. However I did not wanted to upgrade my original Vista with the 1year valid Win7RC1 or neither I wanted a dual boot. One simple solution is to install and try this on Virtual Machine.

This guide I will demonstrate how you can install Win7RC1 on your virtual machine for giving it a try before you make up you mind to upgrade to it.

First get a copy of VMPlayer from here and install it in you machine, and download Win7RC1 iso file from here

Since VMPlayer is a free version it doesn’t come with the wizards like creating your virtual hardware which finally gives a .vmx (virtual machine) and .vmdk (virtual disk) file which you can download it from here.

Open the .vmx file and open it with notepad and change the "7100.0.090421-1700_x86fre_client_en-us_retail_ultimate-grc1culfrer_en_dvd.iso" to the iso file name which you have just downloaded from Microsoft website. That’s all you are almost set now for starting your virtual machine. Now double click your .vmx file which will now launch your VMplayer



Select the language, time format and your keyboard layout and hit next. Accepts the terms and conditions


This next screen gives option for upgrading an existing windows or to install a fresh copy since we are installing on VMPlayer choose the second option



Now the setup will start the installation which took me about 20 mins to complete during which it would restart your virtual machine once


After which enter user name and the computer name for this installation
,On next screens select the password and click next. Now the installation will ask for Product key, if you have forgot the password don’t worry go the Microsoft website again where you have downloaded your .iso file it will give you a product key before the download begins copy that product key and enter it here. (No need to download the .iso again!). Select the time zone and date and time for your installation click next and you are done! Now you can see Windows7 desktop on you VMPlayer where you can try all of its feature before you make up your mind to upgrade your existing OS.


There are a couple of new exciting features and improved versions of existing windows applications which you may try.


Happy exploring Windows7 !!!

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Sharing Wired internet connection over wireless card

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 12:12 AM | Posted by Unknown

If you have a wired internet connection at home and wanted to share this connection across other laptops which your family uses the best way is to get a wireless router install and configure it, also don’t forget to enable security passkey to connect to this wireless device else anyone may use this connection (for free!!) of course there are a way to hack your wireless security key which I don’t wanted to discuss here.

If you don’t like to spend on the wireless router and wanted a clever workaround in case you are having both wired and wireless network cards in your host computer and wanted to share your internet connection to other laptop over then follow the below instructions (demonstrated for Vista but should be similar for other flavours for Windows)

  1. On your host computer where you have both wired and wireless network cards, go to Network and Sharing centre, click on Manage network connection on left pane which bring up another window which shows all your network cards.
  2. Select Wired and Wireless card, right click and Select Bridge connections. 
  3. Once the network bridge is created you would see your Network Bridge icon in your list of network connections.

Once the network bridge is done its time to setting up your wireless adhoc network which other laptop can connect. 

Now go back to Network and sharing centre on your left pane select “Setup a connection or network”, from your connection options choose

  1. Setup a wireless adhoc network. Click next
  2. Give your network name (ex HomeNetwork) and give a passphrase and select the checkbox next to Save this network. 

Once this adhoc network is created you are ready to go. Now on your host network right click on the network icon from your system tray, then click on Connect to a network, you should be able to see the network which you have just created (HomeNetwork) also would see something like “security enabled network” next to it. Select this network and click on connect.

Now go to other laptop which you want to connect internet through host, click on the network icon on the system tray and click Connect to a network and select HomeNetwok and click connect. That’s all it takes, you should be able to connect to internet on other laptop through wireless.

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The stage is set up ...

Friday, May 1, 2009 at 1:24 AM | Posted by Unknown
I was pretty sure that I can get rid of that default templates which is given by blogger so I did some research here and there (Thanks to Google for getting me the stuff quickly, you saved my day!) and finally got by blogs interface look somewhat decent, also if you haven’t notice I have also managed to put a signature for all my posts here, hohoo…

Now that the stage is set will be posting more stuff in here soon ….


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