I got VMware Workstation 4.5.2 installed in Slackware and I have a few problems. Whenever I start a Virtual Machine, I get a warning:

XFree86 DGA extension not present. Either your X server is built without this extension, or it is not configured to use it. XFree86 direct graohics (DGA extension) initialization failed.

Also, I'm having problems reading CD-ROMs. When I try to set up Win98, for example, I can boot from floppy, create/format a partition, but when I start with CD-ROM support I either get that it could not read from device (abort, retry, fail) or the CD-ROM starts spinning and doesn't stop untill I open the door (then I get error reading device). I can boot off a Win2K cd but copying files took over an hour and it stuck on recognizing hardware.
CD-ROM device is set to /dev/cdrom in vmware options.
Running Slackware 10 with KDE.
Samsung DVD-ROM master, slave is Samsung CD-RW.

Any help is really appreciated.

Here is the thread regrading your dga extension problem. Basically you need to add a line to rc.local telling your box to load some modules you need.

As for your cdrom problems, I am wondering if the drive is mounted? I think it needs to be unmounted for vmware to read it.

Thanks for the quick reply.
I unmounted the cdrom using 'umount /dev/cdrom' and its still doesn't read correctly. Am I doing something wrong with the unmounting?

Gee I don't know then. Can you read the cd form /mnt/cdrom in kde. What I mean is, does the symlink /dev/cdrom actually point to /dev/hdX (x being your drive numer)?

/dev/cdrom points to /dev/hdc. I tried setting that as the CD-ROM in vmware to no avail. I can read the CD through KDE when it is mounted.

Try turning on Legacy support.

Hmm. Even that doesn't seem to help

Thanks for the replies

You mentioned this was a win 9x install? This is just a shot in the dark, but when you booted with the floppy did you remember to boot with cdrom support?

Yea, booted Win98SE bootdisk with CD-ROM support. Even during a Win2K install, the cd-rom works in pulses. Like it will access for a few seconds and then stop responding for a few seconds. It does this with either drive.

Have you thought about upgrading to vmware 5.0?

I'm considering it. I will probably download the trial to see what it's all about. \

BTW- Unrelated question but this has been nagging me for a while. When I installed Slackware I chose KDE as the default GUI. I know 'startx' is the command to start the X server, but is there a way to start it in an alternate GUI, like fluxbox?

Yes. Create a file called .xinitrc in your home directory, and add the commands you would like to run when X starts. For example:

xsetroot -solid blue
rxvt &
exec fluxbox

If I'm messing about with various window managers, I like to have several .xinitrc files, e.g.

.xinitrc.kde (which contains "exec startkde" as the last line)
.xinitrc.icewm (which starts icewm in the same way)
.xinitrc.fluxbox (which starts...fluxbox!)

and have .xinitrc as a symbolic link to the required file before running startx, e.g.

$ ln -sfn .xinitrc.fluxbox .xinitrc
$ startx

P.S. .xinitrc doesn't need to be executable

You could also use xwmconfig which configures the window manager for you, however it may not list a window manager that you installed "by hand". xwmconfig will simply create a .xinitrc in your home folder for you. If you run it as root it'll select the default window manager for all users.

I prefer the way Nobber told here, but I suggest you to start with a file created by xwmconfig since it has some extra code to load some X resources.

You could also run 'xwmconfig' to change the default window manager. But you would need to change it back to kde if you wanted to run kde instead.

I've about decided vmware sucks. I still can't get this damn cdrom issue fixed and now theres more. I've installed WinXP by creating an ISO from within windows. Now whenever I use vmware and exit it messes up my sound drivers. I have to run alsaconf to get it working again. very annoying. Theres still the cdrom issue. I can read from it now but it only works in little spurts then sits idle for a few seconds, then works for a split second, then stops. I can't get my USB digital camera working. It never detects it. When I'm using real windows it detects it as a storage device.