Colin have you actually tried it?
I have done it succesfully, and it is not the error you state that is the
problem.
The error is for another reason.
see this giude (steps 2 to 8 are the trick)
Okay so Just Follow these steps and you can install Vista on Vmware
steps are
1. Create a new VM
2. Memory 512MB
3. Hard Disk (IED 0:0) 20GB
4. CD-ROM (IDE 1:0) Pointing to the ISO Image
5. Ethernet 1 "Bridged"
Start VM
1. Boots the DVD
2. When you get to the part where it ask to pick the disk, delete the
existing partition.
3. Recreate the partition
4. Exit the install and reboot the VM
5. During the VM BIOS hit F2 then change the boot order to have the CD/DVD
be the first boot device
6. Save and Exit the BIOS
7. When you get to the part where it ask to pick the disk again, highlight
then choose format
8. Now select again then choose install
9. It will now start the installation process
10. After a couple of reboots and 45 minutes later (depending on your host
machine), the install will be done.
11. You are now logged in but no network, video, and sound
12. Install the VMware tools to get the video going
13. After VMWare Tools reboot and the video will be better
14. Still no network or sound, active the VMware tools so the VM can see the
tools on drive D:
15. Goto Device manager, right click the ethernet controller, go to
properties, then reinstall the driver.
16. During the reinstall it search the CD-ROM (vmware tools) for the right
network driver.
17. You should now have network and able to surf the Internet with IE 7, but
still no sound
18. Surf to
www.soundblaster.com
19. select drivers from the right bottom panel
20. then North America/United States/English then Go
21 then choose Sound Blaster/Other/16PCI then click Next
22. Choose English/Windows XP/Drivers then Go
23. Download the "Driver release for SB PCI 128 Vibra / PCI 16"
24. Run the installer then reboot and viola you should have sound.