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Creating a custom virtual machine in Fusion
Symptoms
When creating a new virtual machine by installing an operating system from CD/DVD, errors about Unbootable disks or requests for valid boot disks or install CDs are displayed.
When installing a full version of Windows (not an upgrade version), the Windows installer incorrectly reports that an existing copy of Windows needs to be present
When trying an Easy Install, Windows does not recognize your license key.
Resolution
Instead of creating a virtual machine by using Fusion's built-in Easy Install options, create a custom virtual machine, then install the operating system as if the virtual machine were a physical PC.
To create the custom virtual machine, and then install the operating system:
From Fusion's menu bar, go to File > New.
Click Continue without disk.
Select the option Create a custom virtual machine and click Continue.
Select the correct Operating System and Version and click Continue.
Note: If the virtual machine starts up automatically, close any No Operating System was found errors, shut down the virtual machine, and continue to Step 7.
From Fusion's menu bar, click Virtual Machine > CD/DVD > CD/DVD Settings.
Ensure that the switch beside Enable CD/DVD Drive is ON (Fusion 4.x) or that Connected is selected (Fusion 3.x and earlier).
Choose SuperDrive (Fusion 4.x) or Specify physical CD/DVD drive (Fusion 3.x and earlier) and select the drive containing the install disc.
Close the Settings pane.
Start (or restart) the virtual machine.
Proceed normally with the operating system installation.
