You are using a “2gbsparse” formatted disk which is not directly compatable with ESX. Just get the ISO, upload it to /tools/isoimages, and set CD/DVD Properties to “Connect at power on,” then, in the VM BIOS, make sure that the CD is set as the first boot device.
Alternatly, you could convert the 2gbsparse disk with the vmware converter or at the command line of your ESX server (don’t quote me on this, I am not in front of my ESX server to try it) I believe the command is:
vmkfstools -i /vmfs/volumes/volumename/vmname.srcDisk.vmdk -d thick /vmfs/volumes/volumename/vmname/destdisk.vmdk
-j