Align Windows disk in ESX

=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~= PuTTY log 2010.12.20 17:31:25 =~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
vmware.log Win2k3_R2_SP2_Ent_x86.vmsd
Win2k3_R2_SP2_Ent_x86-flat.vmdk Win2k3_R2_SP2_Ent_x86.vmx
Win2k3_R2_SP2_Ent_x86.nvram Win2k3_R2_SP2_Ent_x86.vmxf
Win2k3_R2_SP2_Ent_x86.vmdk

[root@abvms01 Win2k3_R2_SP2_Ent_x86]# cat Win2k3_R2_SP2_Ent_x86.vmdk


# Disk DescriptorFile
version=1
encoding="UTF-8"
CID=c36505a9
parentCID=ffffffff
isNativeSnapshot="no"
createType="vmfs"

# Extent description
RW 41943040 VMFS "Win2k3_R2_SP2_Ent_x86-flat.vmdk"

# The Disk Data Base


#DDB
ddb.adapterType = "lsilogic"
ddb.geometry.sectors = "63"
ddb.geometry.heads = "255"
ddb.geometry.cylinders = "2610"
ddb.uuid = "60 00 C2 99 26 78 cc 6b-e3 18 d4 1d 61 a4 1d dd"
ddb.longContentID = "7f28e4e9ec06d578dbe8508cc36505a9"
ddb.virtualHWVersion = "7"

[root@labvms01 Win2k3_R2_SP2_Ent_x86]# fdisk Win2k3_R2_SP2_Ent_x86-flat.vmdk


last_lba(): I don't know how to handle files with mode 8180
You must set cylinders.
You can do this from the extra functions menu.

Command (m for help): x

Expert command (m for help): c
Number of cylinders (1-1048576): 2610
The number of cylinders for this disk is set to 2610.


There is nothing wrong with that, but this is larger than 1024,
and could in certain setups cause problems with:
1) software that runs at boot time (e.g., old versions of LILO)
2) booting and partitioning software from other OSs
(e.g., DOS FDISK, OS/2 FDISK)

Expert command (m for help): p

Disk Win2k3_R2_SP2_Ent_x86-flat.vmdk: 255 heads, 63 sectors, 2610 cylinders

Nr AF Hd Sec Cyl Hd Sec Cyl Start Size ID
1 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00
2 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00
3 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00
4 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00

Expert command (m for help): r

Command (m for help): n
Command action
e extended
p primary partition (1-4)
p


Partition number (1-4): 1
First cylinder (1-2610, default 1):
Using default value 1
Last cylinder or +size or +sizeM or +sizeK (1-2610, default 2610):
Using default value 2610

Command (m for help): x

Expert command (m for help): b
Partition number (1-4): 1
New beginning of data (63-41929649, default 63): 128

Expert command (m for help): p
Disk Win2k3_R2_SP2_Ent_x86-flat.vmdk: 255 heads, 63 sectors, 2610 cylinders

Nr AF Hd Sec Cyl Hd Sec Cyl Start Size ID


1 00 1 1 0 254 63 1023 128 41929522 83
2 00 0 0 0     0  0      0    0             0 00
3 00 0 0 0     0  0      0    0             0 00
4 00 0 0 0     0  0      0    0             0 00

Expert command (m for help): r
Command (m for help): t
Selected partition 1
Hex code (type L to list codes): 7
Changed system type of partition 1 to 7 (HPFS/NTFS)

Command (m for help): w

The partition table has been altered!
Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table.
WARNING: Re-reading the partition table failed with error 25: Inappropriate ioctl for device.
The kernel still uses the old table.
The new table will be used at the next reboot.
Syncing disks.


[root@labvms01 Win2k3_R2_SP2_Ent_x86]#