Solution: How to install vCenter Server 4.1 on Windows 7 (Vista) 64-bit

Warning: This hacking is not supported by VMware !!!

1/ extract iso image of vCenter (e.g. in 7zip) to any folder in destination machine

2/ download application for editing msi file and install

e.g. Insted from http://www.instedit.com/download.html

3/ run this application and open file ...\vpx\VMware vCenter Server.msi

4/ in Tables click on item "LaunchCondition"

5/ on the right find row with text:

"Installed Or (VersionNT>=501 And VersionNT < 600) Or (VersionNT = 600 And MsiNTProductType <> 1) Or (VersionNT = 601 And  MsiNTProductType = 3)"

and modify it to:

"Installed Or (VersionNT>=501) Or (VersionNT = 600 And MsiNTProductType <> 1) Or (VersionNT = 601 And  MsiNTProductType = 3)"

after that save and close

6/ download 64-bit verison of Microsoft AD LDS (new name for ADAM) from:

Windows Vista:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=e1b7f0a5-2131-44fd-9dde-fa146154e13a

Windows 7: 

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=a45059af-47a8-4c96-afe3-93dab7b5b658

and install

7/ run ..\autorun.exe to install vCenter

...

good luck