New to T40- Need help install VMware

[clayfosterr]

Hi. This is my first post and just want to say what a great forum. I know very little about computers and programming so please be gentle

I bought a t40 2373 strictly to run some old auto diagnostic software on Windows XP pro.
I'm having trouble installing VMware player.
I can't tell if it's my CPU or the lack of memory that's stopping it from being able to install.
It only has the RAM it came with from the factory. 256mb I believe.
I have no problem upgrading the RAM if I know that it will allow me to install VMware player.

My question is what do I need to do to install VMware player (free edition- non commercial use)?

Thanks in advance guys.

[Neil]

Welcome to thinkpads.com!

If you are only going to run auto diagnostics on WinXP, why do you even need VMware at all?

Once we get past that, 256MB RAM is not really enough to run XP very well let alone another operating system in a virtual machine. You will need enough RAM for each operating system at the same time. 2GB is the max a T40 can handle and XP runs fairly well with 1.5 - 2GB RAM.

What other operating system(s) are you planning to run with VMware?

[clayfosterr]

It's a program called BMtechnics. They got shut down or something so no more support.
I understand the RAM is really low on this t40 but before I spend $40 or so on 2gb of RAM I was trying to find out if that's why VMware player is not installing or if it's my CPU.
If it's the RAM I will upgrade it because I really like this laptop.
If it's the CPU then I guess I have no choice.

Thanks for your help.

[RealBlackStuff]

Your CPU is most likely an older Banias, with only 1MB L2-cache.
You could upgrade it to one of these Dothan CPUs with 2MB L2-cache:
Pentium M 745 - SL7EN - 1800 MHz - 2 MB
Pentium M 755 - SL7EM - 2000 MHz - 2 MB
T40 needs PC2100 Sodimms (max. 2x1GB).

[clayfosterr]

Your CPU is most likely an older Banias, with only 1MB L2-cache.
You could upgrade it to one of these Dothan CPUs with 2MB L2-cache:
Pentium M 745 - SL7EN - 1800 MHz - 2 MB
Pentium M 755 - SL7EM - 2000 MHz - 2 MB
T40 needs PC2100 Sodimms (max. 2x1GB).

So does that mean the my current CPU won't run VMware player?

[Medessec]

We don't exactly know... because we don't know what CPU you have. If you can read off the Type No. on the bottom of your laptop (it will look like: "2373-A8U") then we can enter it in Lenovo's website and we can tell exactly what CPU your laptop has, provided it's never been upgraded in the past.

You can also type "dxdiag" into the Windows Run box(go to Start, then click Run), or right click on My Computer and click "Properties" to see what CPU you have.

The older Banias CPUs might run VMware, but any Guest OS run will not be able to run very fast at all. The later Dothan CPUs you can upgrade to will much more likely be able to run VMware, and they'll run it exponentially better than the older CPUs. They still won't be blistering fast, but you mentioned it yourself that you've fallen for your T40, so you're going to be wanting the best possible experience out of it.

I can install VMware on my T43p, to see how well that does and report back(T43p has Dothan CPUs).

[Neil]

I guess I'm a little dense, because I still don't understand your need for VMware. Is BMtechnics a Windows application?

Also, what version of VMware are you trying to install? If it's the current VMware Fusion 6, the T40 doesn't and cannot meet the requirements: https://www.vmware.com/support/fusion/f ... ments.html

[RealBlackStuff]

It's Bimmer diag software.
Have a look here for install-help: http://www.e46zone.com/forum/topic/4914 ... -software/

[ajkula66]

OK,let's start from scratch here:

a) 256MB RAM is a horrendously low amount of RAM to run XP. You need at add at least 1GB to be able to use that T40 for anything, really.

b) All T40s shipped with Banias CPUs which are obsolete by today's requirements. Upgrading to 1.7 or 1.8 Dothan which are inexpensive nowadays will make the machine somewhat more responsive.

c) Even with all of the above, running a virtual machine on a decade old technology is likely a non-starter.

d) So, you can spend another $30 or so to see whether you can get that T40 close to being where you need it to be, or abandon the concept altogether.

Personally, I'd give it a shot because it's not a huge amount of money that's at stake. But don't expect miracles.

Good luck.

[Neil]

It's Bimmer diag software.

This part I get.

Have a look here for install-help: http://www.e46zone.com/forum/topic/4914 ... -software/

This part I still don't get. Maybe since I'm not trying to install it myself, and have never used any such automobile diagnostic systems.
I see the party in the link is running Win8 and trying to install BMT and VMware, but why is still not explained.
Is BMT a complete OS that can be run on bare metal, or in a VM? If so, why not just install BMT on this T40 and nothing else?
If that is not the case...what OS's can BMT run on? Could OP just install [what-ever-OS] and then install BMT, since this application is the only stated use for this T40?
I'm just not getting where VMware comes into the picture.

[clayfosterr]

Thanks for all your replies guys. Much appreciated.

BMTECHNIC is one-click installer for 5 other BMW softwares that are a pain to install without configuring a bunch of things in registry and downloading from sketchy sites. I know nothing but minimum things registry related so BMTechnic was my answer.
2 of those BMW softwares need VMware player to operate. They're not intense programs, so minimal VMware use should be all I need.
The reason I need XP is because one of those BMW softwares will only read and code and work properly with the car running on XP.
Maybe those guys installing BMTECHNIC on Windows 7 & 8 are only using the other BMW softwares.
All of the softwares will install on Windows 7 & 8 but won't function as they should when connected to the car.

The BMTechnic installer won't let me even install the other 2 softwares without it recognizing that VMware is present first.

I really appreciate all your help. I was just looking at doing the Pentium M 755 upgrade as well as the max 2gb RAM. If I did this would I be able to run the current VMware player?

[clayfosterr]

Medessec,

It's a 2373-75u

[ajkula66]

ThinkPad T40 (2373-75U)

P M 1.5GHz, 256MB RAM, 40GB 5400rpm HDD, 14.1 XGA(1024x768) TFT LCD, 32MB ATI Radeon 7500, 16x10x24x/8x CD-RW/DVD(slim), Modem(CDC), 1Gb Ethernet(LOM), Cisco 802.11b Wireless(MPCI), Secure Chip(TCPA), UltraNav, 6 cell battery, WinXP Pro

Funny enough, that was our first T40 many moons ago. We loved it dearly. I'm guessing late 2003 or early 2004 production date...quite a survivor yours must be.

[clayfosterr]

A survivor it is. Lol. Not a scratch on it

[clayfosterr]

Hi guys. Back again with an update.
Ok, I updated the RAM to 2gb and the CPU to Intel 755.
I'm getting the same error message when I try to install VMware player- "my CPU doesn't support pae".
From what I found online it DOES support pae.
Can someone please tell me how to enable it?
Thanks again.

[ajkula66]

No PAE support on 400MHz Dothans, although old Intel info may state differently.