Knowledge Base

To install Windows 8 in a virtual machine using the easy install method:

1. Click Create a New Virtual Machine. Alternatively, navigate to File > New > Virtual Machine.
2. Select Typical.
3. Click Next.
4. Select a source for installing the guest operating system. You can use one of these options:
   
• If you have burned the ISO on a DVD, select Installer disc. Ensure that the windows 8 installer disk in the physical CD/DVD drive.
• If you have downloaded the ISO from the Microsoft Download Center, select Installer disc image file(iso), click Browse, and select the ISO file for installation.
  
  VMware Workstation automatically detects the ISO or the Disc and selects the Easy Install option.
  
  
5. Click Next.
6. Enter the serial key obtained from Microsoft for Windows 8.
7. Enter the username and password.
8. Click Next.
9. Enter the virtual machine name.
10. Select the location where you want to store the virtual machine. You can choose to retain the default location displayed.
11. Click Next.
12. Specify the Disk Capacity and click Next. For more information, see Specifying Disk Capacity for a Virtual Machine.
13. If you want to modify any of the settings, such as memory (RAM), CPU, or hard disk size, click Customize Settings and specify the non-default values.
14. Click Finish to save the virtual machine. The installation should now begin. After the installation completes, it automatically installs VMware Tools.
15. After the VMware Tools installation completes, restart the virtual machine when prompted.  

To install Windows 8 in a virtual machine using the custom install method:

1. Click Create a New Virtual Machine. Alternatively, navigate to File > New > Virtual Machine.
2. Select Custom (Advanced) and click Next.
3. Ensure that the hardware compatibility is set to Workstation 9.0.
4. Click Next.
5. Select I will install the operating system later.
6. Ensure that Operating System is set to Microsoft Windows and Version is set to Windows 8 or Windows 8 x64, depending on whether it is 32bit or 64bit disc image.
7. Enter the virtual machine name.
8. Select the location where you want to store the virtual machine. You can choose to retain the default location displayed.
9. Click Next.
10. Specify the number of Processors and Cores you want to allocate to the virtual machine.
11. Click Next.
12. Specify the amount of memory (RAM) you want to allocate to the virtual machine.
13. Click Next.
14. Select the network type. For more information, see   Understanding networking types in hosted products (1006480)
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15. Click Next.
16. Select the I/O controller. It is recommended to use the default option.
17. Click Next.
18. Select Create a new Disk and click Next.
19. Select a disk type. It is recommended to use the default option.
20. Click Next.
21. Specify the Disk Capacity and click Next. For more information, see Specifying Disk Capacity for a Virtual Machine.
22. Specify a name for the virtual disk file and click Next.
23. Click Finish to save the virtual machine.
    
    The virtual machine is now created and added to the Workstation inventory.
    
    
24. Click VM > Settings for the virtual machine.
25. Select a source for installing the guest operating system. You can use one of these options:
    
• If you have burned the ISO on a DVD, select Use Physical Drive. Ensure that the windows 8 installer disk in the physical CD/DVD drive.
• If you have downloaded the ISO from the Microsoft Download Center, select Use ISO image file, click Browse, and select the ISO file for installation.
  
  
26. Click OK to save and close the settings window.
27. Power on the virtual machine. The virtual machine boots into Windows 8 setup.
28. Follow the instructions given during the Windows 8 install to finish the operating system installation. For more information, see Windows 8 FAQs.
29. After the operating system is installed and the virtual machine has booted into the Windows 8 Desktop environment, install VMware Tools. For more information, see   Installing VMware Tools in a Windows virtual machine (1018377)
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30. Reboot the virtual machine after the VMware Tools installation completes.

For more information on using Windows 8, see Windows 8 FAQs.