Warning: Unable to locate the required Sysprep files. Please upload them under C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware vCenter Converter Standalone\sysprep\svr2003 if you have been running into this error there is a simple fix although not usually the one posted all over the web about downloading them from Microsoft’s website. Maybe they are on there somewhere but here is the easy solution.
Insert the Windows 2003 x86 CD it doesn’t if its R2, SP2 or whatever as long as its x86 or x64 to match the version of the OS your trying to copy over.
Open the directory on YOUR Machine, NOT the server your trying to convert. You will see the directory already exists but is empty, now open the Server 2003 CD and browse to \SUPPORT\TOOLS and you will see Deploy.CAB. You may need a program like WINRAR for this next part, right click on the Deploy.cab and select “Extract Files” you will want to extract the files to any location it really doesn’t matter because it will create a new folder called “Deploy” and what we need is the files in this folder. Now open the Deploy folder and select all the files and simply cut / paste them into C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware vCenter Converter Standalone\sysprep\svr2003.
Don’t forget you will need to completely close vCenter Convert and re-open it after the files are moved. Simply restarting the transaction isn’t enough.
Great! Worked a treat1
Just an FYI, n server 2003 the program data folder is here. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\VMware vCenter Converter Standalone\sysprep\svr2003