Thanks for the reply.
1. DNS works perfectly. Here's the screenshot from the template/guest in ESXi being able to connect / talk with everyone. http://screencast.com/t/3lYSrt8dYph
2. Activation doesnt appear to be the problem.
3. Will run those tests.. standby.
4. The most damning thing is this... : http://screencast.com/t/Xj0BbGgDS
When looking at it from ESXi's perspective.. the guest is reconfigured, powered on.. then.... nothing at all. It just sits there.
Was I supposed to do something in advance to make the guest auto log on or do something?
I have NOT sysprep'd the machine.. the instructions say use either Sysprep OR Quickprep.
So I'm using Quickprep.
So what am I NOT doing, and why is it stuck?