Installing Microsoft Windows 8 in a VMware Workstation 8 VM turned out to be a real piece of cake.
Follow the screenshots for the procedure I used, but basically all I did was to create a new VM with the pre-configured “Windows 8 Server” preset and inserted the downloaded ISO file.
Note: Windows 8 Server has been removed as a preset option in the final release of VMware Workstation 8, my screenshots are from the beta version. If you want to install Windows 8 in the GA version of VMware Workstation 8, you’ll need to do a manual install (as opposed to Easy Install). Use the Windows 7 option as a baseline.
Windows 8 VM Configuration Screenshots
Networking, sound and other virtual hardware issues were non-existing, everything just works right out of the box (or .iso as the case is). Adding more than 1GB memory to the VM also helps a lot when it comes to it’s responsiveness.
Windows 8 in VMware Workstation 8 Installation Video
Various Windows 8 Screenshots
How did you get the Windows Server 8 option? I just downloaded VMWare Workstation 8, and it doesn’t have any Windows 8 options.
@Pat Richard: I did this with the VMware Workstation 8 Beta, so that option might have been removed from the GA release. I’m sure the Windows 7 option will work fine though? Of course, the “Easy Install” option for Windows 7 doesn’t work, so you’ll have to do a manual install, since the unattended setup scheme that Windows 7 uses has been changed in Windows 8.
Yep, the Windows 7 options seem to work fine. Just don’t do an easy install, it just gets itself into a loop…
@Storagebod: I’ve updated the post to reflect this, I had no idea this had been changed from the beta to the GA release of Workstation 8.
windows 7 options not working, even going manual
@leandro: Well, it worked fine for me, tried it several times too.
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Still no Windows Server 8 version option is available with latest build. But Windows 8 works well on Workstation 8
@Santosh: Yes, the post has been updated to reflect that it Windows 8 Server is not an option in the final release of Workstation 8, but it was present in the beta.
During the first boot after the installation i get the following error message in an additional windows (not the windows8 bootscreen itself!):
“The computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error. Windows installation cannot proceed. To install Windows, click ‘OK’ to restart the computer, and then restart the installation.”
Does anyone know a solution for this?
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Windows 8 x64 _is_ an option in the final release of VMWare: it’s been moved to the “Other” category. Look harder.
@Oisin: Well, it’s hard to look harder than I have, and the other category only contains FreeBSD, MS-DOS and Other:
I already Installed Windows 8 Developer Preview from USB drive and my friends through DVD Drive and i want to Dual Boot Windows 8 and Ubuntu Linux.
When using easymode and ‘Windows 7′ as guest OS,make shure that in the settings of the VM the floppy drive is empty or not connected.
I am having trouble connecting to the internet on windows 8 32 bit in vmware. I have installed the tools which installed the drivers for sound and others thing like network. But even with the vmnet3 driver it still will not start it says.
Please help me.
@Justin: Not sure what to tell you, it worked out of the box for me, no tweaks needed.
Well It says that the driver will not run windows 8. So is there a specific driver I need? Because my connection is fine and I have tried every network option in vmware.
Nevermind I got it to work! just had to add usb support and add a new network setup in the settings.
Hi Justin,
I am having the same problem with windows 8. Can you please help me with it .….
Thanks,
Susheel
@Justin: is it possible more in detail? I have the same problem.
You have to configure VMWare to use E1000 driver for the network adapter. Locate the .vmx file in your virtual machine folder, and make sure you have the line: ethernet0.virtualDev = “e1000”. Set the Network adapter to NAT in Vmware and it should work.
I successfully installed Windows 8 on Workstation 8,
but my tiles don’t works except for “IE”, “Desktop”, “Control Panel” and “Win. Explorer”.
So if I click on them, nothing happen.
I tried to install again, but no way I can start Apps.
Can you help me?
@Marco: You need to set the screen resolution to 1024x768 or above for Metro to work. The default 800x600 won’t do.
@Christian: It was already above 1024x768 but changing to 1440x900 works.
Thank you!
If u are using windows dev preview on Vmware then u need 2 install vmware tools.…and restart windows
all da best !!!
i have installed windows 8 on vmware 8, everything is workinh fine. i also installed vmware tools. network adapter is in NAT state, but internet ias not workinf
hi,
i am having a problem when i am installing vmware 8 on my windows 7 its is not getting installed on my laptop can u solve my problem .….
thanking you,
najmuddin,
When installing on VMware Workstation 8:
1) Use ‘Typical’ (Easy install)
2) Point to .iso file, Disregard warning about failed OS detection.
2) Choose ‘Windows 7 x64’ or ‘Windows 7′
3) Type a login name. Ignore product key and password.
4) Name your virtual machine and choose a location.
5) Set HDD as 20GB in 1 file.
6) Customize hardware: Set memory at 2 GB RAM. Keep 1 CPU/Core. Remove floppy drive and printer ()May not be needed.) from HW configuration.
7) When the virtual machine starts booting, click on the floppy drive icon, and choose ‘disconnect’. Thus you won’t be using the ‘autoinst.flp’ configuration file, and the installation will progress without a hitch.
Hope this helps.
Brgds
Steen
Steen: Simple but working perfect! Good Job!
Thanks Steen