Installing Windows on VMware

Virtualization is a technology for creating virtual versions of physical resources, enabling diverse, isolated virtual machines to run.

A hypervisor is a software or hardware that plays a key role in virtualization, allowing the creation and management of virtual machines on a physical computer or server. A type-2 hypervisor (hosted) runs on top of an already installed operating system called the host OS. Examples include:

• Oracle VirtualBox
• Parallels Desktop
• VMware Workstation

This article provides a step-by-step guide to installing Windows 11 on VMware. By reading it, you'll learn:

• How to install VMware Workstation on your computer
• How to correctly configure the installed hypervisor
• How to create a virtual machine with Windows 11, and much more

System Requirements for VMware Workstation

System requirements for VMware Workstation can vary depending on the program version and operating system. The minimum system requirements are as follows:

• Processor: 64-bit processor with a clock speed above 1.3 GHz and virtualization support (Intel VT-x or AMD-V)
• RAM: Minimum 2 GB, but 4 GB or more is recommended
• Free disk space: At least 2.5 GB of free space for installation
• OS: VMware Workstation supports various versions of Windows and Linux

For the latest system requirements for a specific version of VMware Workstation, refer to VMware's official resources or the software documentation.

Downloading VMware Workstation

Since VMware has been bought by Broadcom, the first thing to do is register an account at broadcom.com.

1. Go to broadcom.com and click "Register".
2. Enter your email address and then the verification code sent to your email.
3. Provide your details to complete the registration and create an account.

Now let’s proceed to downloading VMware.

1. Log into your Broadcom account.

2. In the product drop down list select "VMware Cloud Foundation".

3. Search for "VMware Workstation Pro."

4. Click on the link:

5. Scroll down to “References” and click on the first link:

6. Click on the version you need. In this article case, we will use the latest Windows version for personal use. This version is provided for free. With it, you will receive a fully functional product without needing to buy a license for or activate VMware Workstation 17 Pro.

7. Check the "I agree to Terms and Condition" box and click on the "Download" button on the right.

8. The system will prompt you to go through an extra verification step. Agree and fill in your data.

9. Click on the download button again.

The download will begin.

Installing VMware Workstation

Now we can start installing the software.

1. After download is complete, run the installer file. You should see the VMware Workstation Pro setup window. Click "Next."

2. In the next window, check the box next to "I accept the terms in the License Agreement" and click "Next”.

3. The installer then prompts you to specify the installation path for VMware Workstation and provides two options:

• Enhanced Keyboard Driver: This option offers additional functionality for working with the keyboard in virtual machines, enhancing key processing and security and allowing extra key combinations between the host and guest OS.

• Add VMware Workstation Console Tools to System Path: This option automates certain aspects of hypervisor operation.

Select these options based on your needs and preferences. We will include both in the installation.

4. In the next window, the installer offers two options:

• Check for product updates on startup

• Join the VMware Customer Experience Improvement Program

We skip this step by leaving the checkboxes empty and click "Next."

5. Finally, you will be prompted to create desktop and Start menu shortcuts. Select these options based on your preferences.

6. After specifying all parameters and options, click "Install."

This completes the VMware Workstation installation. Now, we proceed to launch it and run our first virtual machine on Windows.

Launching VMware Workstation and Creating Your First Virtual Machine

Now, we'll work in the VMware Workstation environment, perform basic configuration, and prepare a virtual machine for installing Windows 11. You will need the original Windows 11 ISO image for VMware, which you can download from the official Microsoft website or other trusted sources.

1. After installing VMware Workstation, launch it. The hypervisor's main window will open.

• First, configure the directory where all virtual machines will be stored. Open the "Edit" tab and select "Preferences…".

• In the "Workspace" tab of the opened window, you can change the path to the virtual machine storage directory.

2. Now we can create our first virtual machine. Go to the "File" tab and select "New Virtual Machine…". The New Virtual Machine Wizard will open.

Select the first option, "Typical installation," which automates much of the setup process. The second option, "Custom installation," involves manually configuring various hardware types, but you can do this after creating the virtual machine.

3. Next, specify the installation type for the guest OS. The system offers three options:

• • Install from a physical disk

  • Install from an ISO image

  • Install the operating system later

We choose the second option and add the previously downloaded Windows 11 ISO image using the "Browse…" button.

4. The system then prompts you to name the virtual machine and specify its storage location. Leave the default settings and click "Next."

5. In the next window, the wizard prompts you to configure virtual machine encryption.

A TPM (Trusted Platform Module) module is required for the guest OS to function correctly. All your files will be encrypted using a password, which you need to enter in the respective fields. The system offers two types of encryption:

• • Encrypt all virtual machine files

  • Encrypt only the files necessary to support TPM

We chose the second type of encryption and checked the box to save the password in the credential manager.

6. Next, the wizard will ask for the required disk space for the OS and the file storage method. Leave the default settings and proceed to the next step.

7. You will see the preliminary parameters of the virtual machine. These can be changed by clicking "Customize Hardware…," or left unchanged.

The virtual machine is created and ready to launch. The next section describes installing and configuring Windows 11 in VMware.

Installing and Configuring Windows 11 in VMware Workstation

After creating the virtual machine, you can start installing Windows 11.

1. To install Windows 11 in VMware Workstation, select the previously created virtual machine from the list and click the start button in the top menu.

When starting the virtual machine, you may encounter the following error:

This error indicates that the first requirement from the "System Requirements for VMware Workstation" section has not been met, specifically the lack of virtualization support. To fix this, enter the BIOS settings and enable the SVM Mode parameter.

2. After starting the virtual machine, you will be prompted to boot from CD or DVD. Switch to the active window area to boot from the installation image and quickly press any key on the keyboard, such as "Enter." The standard Windows 11 installation process will begin, which is the same as installing on a physical computer.

3. First, select the installation language, time and currency format, and keyboard layout.

4. Next, choose the required operating system type and accept the license agreement.

5. Then, the system will prompt you to choose the installation type. Since we are installing the system for the first time and not upgrading, we select the second option.

6. The penultimate step of the installation is choosing the disk space. We select the created 64 GB disk, which will later have the necessary system partitions created. Click "Next" to start the Windows 11 installation process.

7. The final step is the initial setup of the installed OS. This includes:

• • Choosing the region and language

  • Configuring the keyboard layout and input method

  • Setting up a Microsoft account

  • Selecting privacy settings and other configurations

After completing this step, the Windows 11 desktop will appear. This signifies the completion of Windows 11 installation on the virtual machine.

Installing VMware Tools

VMware Tools is a software package provided by VMware that is installed inside virtual machines to ensure more efficient operation and integration between the host system and the virtual machine.

1. To install VMware Tools, click the "VM" tab in the menu and select "Install VMware Tools…". This will add a virtual DVD drive with installation files to the guest OS.

2. Select "setup64" among the files and start the installation. After completing the installation, restart the system.

Conclusion

In this article, we have detailed the installation of Windows 11 on VMware Workstation, covering all steps from downloading VMware Workstation on the host system to installing Windows 11 on the created virtual machine.

Virtualization through VMware allows for flexible use of your computer's resources, ensuring isolation and efficient management of virtual machines.