Stuck on this,
vmware server (free) setup as host, with 512MB ram and 0.2 GB IDE hdd for MT, and 5.8 ISO as CD-ROM emulation,
when i turn it on, it boots into this:
Loading Linux....
Loading initrd.rgz
Ready.
_

(and that is all) - what i do wrong? always thought that it will simply work?

you can attempt to install older version of RouterOS there and see what are the results

Ok.
2.9.27 -> does install. (fine for me, just some pppoe/radius tests)
3.30 -> doesn't
5.80 -> doesn't

vmware server 1.0.10 is quite old but i remember that i used 3.x releases. Try to update to newer version.

Also, what errors you get when trying to install RouterOS. Also, you are using netinstall or cd-install to install it?