Are you looking to try Windows 10 before you upgrade your PC? If yes follow this guide to install Microsoft’s latest operating system Windows 10 on VMware Workstation. Installing an operating system is very simple and easy on any Virtual Machine by following this guide. Also, read how to install and configure the VMware ESXi server.
For the TL;DR folks, this VMWare Tutorial covers:
1) How to Install Windows 10 on VMware.
2) Creating a Virtual Machine.
3) Configuring a Virtual Machine.
4) Step by step Installation of Operating System.
Installing Windows 10 on VMware Workstation:
Requirements: Windows 10 ISO Disk Image file, VMware installed on your computer, minimum 30GB free space on your hard disk, and minimum 4+ GB RAM.
After downloading and installing VMware workstation on your PC, follow the below step-by-step guide.
Open VMware and select New Virtual Machine (Ctrl+N) to create a new VM on your Laptop/PC. Now you will get a welcome dialogue box that asks what type of configuration do you want?
Now you have two options to choose that are Typical (for beginners) and Custom (for advanced users) select one and [ress next button. Here I selected the custom option you can also proceed with this and follow every step carefully.
Now the time for choosing virtual machine hardware compatibility (check the below image):
Select the compatibility option from the dropdown list which shows older versions of the VMware. For example, if you are using the latest version workstation it shows older versions workstations also, this is very useful for lower configured PCs and Laptops. After this, you have to select the operating system installation type.
There are three operating systems in the above image:
- Install from installer disk.
- Install from installer disk image file (ISO).
- I will install the operating system later.
We have selected the Windows ISO file by selecting the browse option from the above screenshot.
After selection, the ISO file click the next button, now you will get another dialogue box to select an operating system. Here you can many operating systems names to select a proper one.
Here, we have selected Microsoft Windows operating system, check the above image. And the version is Windows 10 x64. Select the next button to go further.
Here you can give a specific name and location for your virtual machine after naming and location click the next button to go further options.
Here are two options for selecting firmware those are BIOS (Basic Input and output system) and UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) and select the next button.
What is UEFI: Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) is a specification for a software program that connects a computer’s firmware to its operating system (OS). UEFI replaced
BIOS. BIOS or UEFI is installed at the time of manufacturing and is the first program that runs when a computer is turned on.
Now you will get options to choose hardware like the processor and its cores. here, you can select the number of processors and the number of cores for a single processor.
We recommend a Minimum 2 number of processors and 2 number of cores for processors for Windows 10 OS.
Now the time to specify RAM size, here you can adjust the memory size of the Virtual Machine up to 1GB to 64GB. we recommend ensuring at least a minimum of 4 GB of RAM for Windows 10. Next, you will network connection options.
Here you can see 4 network type options which are:
- Use bridged networking.
- Network address translation (NAT).
- Host-only networking.
- Do not use a network connection.
We recommend you to choose NAT (Network Address Translation) for this time.
Now Select the Input and Output types (which SCSI controller type would you like to use?). We recommend using the LSI logic SAS. Now time to choose what kind of disk do you want to create?
Here, you will see four options and we recommend you to select SCSI only.
What is SCSI: Small Computer System Interface is a set of standards for physically connecting and transferring data between computers and other peripheral devices. The SCSI standards define commands, protocols, electrical, optical, and logical interfaces.
Now you have to select a Disk by creating a new virtual disk or using an existing virtual disk or use a physical drive.
We recommend you have to choose to create a new virtual disk to create a new VD.
Now you need to specify disk capacity, allocation type, and single or multiple files for the virtual disk. See the below image for more details.
We recommend you have to ensure at least 20+ harddisk space for windows 10 and untick the allocate all disk space now and select store virtual disk as a single file.
Now you need to specify the path to where would you like to store the disk file by selecting the browse option, after selecting the path to save the disk file you need to select the next button to proceed to the final step to creating a virtual machine.
In this dialogue box, you will get all the configuration details which you have configured in these previous steps. Here you can review all the settings and modify if any mistakes done by you. This is the final step now if everything is ok to select the finish button to complete the creation process.
After creating the Virtual Machine you will see the list of VMs you have created in the My Computer section left side on your computer screen. Now select the Virtual Machine now you will get VM details on the screen also you can find the power on the virtual machine and edit virtual machine setting options. You just need to click on the green-colored power on the Virtual machine the VM will starts.
Installing Windows 10 on VMware:
After selecting Power on Virtual Machine the machine will start and boot from the ISO which we have selected earlier.
After windows loaded the above screen will appear on screen it will allow you to change the language, time format, currency format, keyboard, and input method.
Now you need to select the option Install now. After, clicking this the Windows 10 installation process will begin. Check the above image for your reference.
Now you will get the list operating systems like Windows 10 Pro, Home, Education and etc. You need to select one from the list if any see the image for more information. In the next screen, you will get the terms and conditions.
Here, you need to accept the terms and conditions of Microsoft`s Windows 10 OS. Read carefully before you accept those terms and conditions.
After accepting terms and conditions, you will get two options to choose from.
- Upgrade: Install Windows and keep files, settings, and applications: This will keep your old windows files and settings.
- Custom: Install Windows only (Advanceed): this will erase all the old data on your drive.
We recommend the 2nd option (Custom) for this time because we are using VMware and a new virtual disk.
Next, you need to select a hard/virtual drive to install the windows operating system. See the below image for more information.
After selecting the drive click on the new (creating new partition) option, then you will get the option to specify the size of the new partition on the disk. Here we selected the entire 20GB disk, see the below image.
Click on the apply button you will get a confirmation dialogue box click on ok to confirm to create a partition. Next, you will see two partitions on the screen, the 1st one is Partition 1 System reserved and the 2nd one is Partition 2 for installing windows operating system.
Select partition 2 and click on the Next button, the Operating system Windows 10 will start installing process. See the below image for your reference.
The above image shows the status of the Windows OS installation step by step:
- Copying windows files.
- Getting files ready for installation.
- Installing features.
- Installing updates.
- Finishing up.
After completing this 100% the device will restart automatically and you have to set up a new Operating System.
For the first time, you need to set up the OS, in the above screen you need to select a region from the list and press the next button. The below screen you need to select the keyboard layout.
The above screen allows selecting a keyboard layout from the list after the selection press the next button. Now you will get an option to select 2nd keyboard layout if want the second one select otherwise just press the skip button.
These options allow choosing your Laptop/PC for Personal use or Organization. Select one from the 2 options and press the next button and follow the further instructions.
After this you will get an option to sign in with Microsoft account, if you have Microsoft account enter login credentials otherwise create a new account. If not interested in logging with Microsoft account you can also create an offline user account.
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