Question : super easy question - microsoft licensed download, got exe file, how to make it bootable in vmware?

so, MS in their infinite wisdom, only offers me EXE files for server 2003 R2 as download options.  which makes perfect sense, because a bare metal install loves biga$$ EXE files.

i downloaded:
SW_CD_Windows_Svr_Std_2003_R2_32-BIT_English_-2_R2_CD1_MLF_X12-16544
SW_CD_NTRL_Windows_Svr_Std_2003_R2_W32_English_2_X11-45871

of which i'm assuming i only need the first one, which is "disc 1"

it extracts what looks like the contents of the factory cd.  now, question is, how do i tell vmware to install a new machine from that folder OR how do i convert it to ISO so i can vmware that for the install?

Answer : super easy question - microsoft licensed download, got exe file, how to make it bootable in vmware?

Grab nlite. Here you go:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Windows/XP/Q_25646126.html