Setup and configuration of VMware Workstation 8
Microsoft is already making the Windows 8 Developer Preview available for download in the Windows Dev Center.
These developer versions of Windows 8 are a good opportunity to take a look at the new Windows 8 operating system. However, there are a few problems with a normal installation.
The Windows 8 Developer Preview cannot be uninstalled normally and cause undesirable problems on a hard drive next to an operating system in productive use.
The solution, an installation in a virtual environment within the normal operating system.
We use the VMware Workstation 8
Virtual environment with VMware Workstation 8
The virtual environment enables the installation of Windows 8 within the normally used operating system and can then be started and executed in the virtual environment.
The system itself is not endangered by Windows 8 and Windows 8 can be removed again at any time.
VMware Workstation 8 is not free of charge, but a 30-day trial version is available for download.
This is definitely enough to take a look at the new Windows 8 operating system.
Of course there is other virtualization software, some free of charge, but here there are often problems with the necessary hardware virtualization, which is supported by many systems, but cannot be activated in the BIOS because this option is simply not available.
With VMware Workstation 8 we don't have this problem.
In order to get the test version of VMware Workstation 8 a registration is required under vmware.com
A valid email address and name must be entered here.
At this point it should be pointed out once again that we need version 8 of VMware Workstation, which is current at the time of writing, in order to be able to install Windows 8.
After installing VMware Workstation 8, we now need the iso file of the Windows 8 Developer Preview
Download the Windows 8 Developer Preview
For more information on the downloads of the Windows 8 Developer Previews, I refer to our article "Download Windows 8"
Here it is described in detail which versions are available.
Otherwise you can go directly to the Windows Dev Center
To download the Windows-8 Developer Preview
Install Windows 8 in VMware Workstation 8
Setup and configuration of VMware Workstation 8
In order for it to work, a few settings have to be made during setup, as Windows 8 is not yet officially supported.
Start VMware Workstation and choose
File> New Virtual Machine
The wizard will start, select the default setting "for installation configuration"Typical".
Click on "Next".
In the next window the "Guest Operating System"is queried, so the guest operating system that we want to install, in this case Windows 8 Developer Preview.
Since VMware Workstation 8 does not yet know Windows 8, select "I will install the Operating System later".
The later selection prevents problems during the further installation by first creating an empty virtual area.
Click on "Next"
Now choose the operating system to be installed.
As "Guest Operating System"choose"Microsoft Windows"and the appropriate version. In this case"Windows 7"what the the 32 Bit Version should be a 64 Bit Version the Windows 8 Developer Preview must be installed, "Windows 7 x64" to get voted.
Continue with "Next"
Now we need one Name and a location for the virtual machine.
I have as name "Windows 8 dev"Another partition with the path as the storage location D: \ Virtual Machines \ Windows 8 Dev .
but that can of course also be different.
It continues with "Next".
In the following window we put the Size of the virtual disk fixed, a size of 60 GBbased on an installation of Windows 7, this size is not required for the Windows 8 Developer Preview.
Enough for us 15 GB. After installing Windows 8 Developer Preview, the installation folder was almost 9GB in size.
We also choose here "store virtual disk as a single file"which is good for the performance.
Continue with "Next".
In theory, VMware Workstation 8 is now ready to create the virtual machine, but since we are actually installing an as yet unknown system and not the alternative Windows 7, we are making a few optimizations in the hardware settings.
Click on "Customize hardware"and change a few settings for a successful installation.
- Memory:
The minimum required available working memory is 1024 MB for the 32-bit version, the 64-bit version of Windows 8 Dev should be made available at least 2048 MB. - Processors:
Anyone who owns multi-core processors, such as Dual-core or quad-core processors can activate the corresponding support here.
With a simple single-core processor, everything can be left at 1. - CD / DVD (IDE):
An important point to avoid getting the error message "Operating System not found" to prevent.
Choose here "Use ISO image", click on Browse and select the appropriate image.
That's it, now click on "Close".
We are back in the window "Ready to create virtual machine"and click here on"Finish".
In the main window of VMware Workstation 8 there is now a tab labeled "Windows 8 dev", select it and click on"Power on this virtual machine".
The setup starts.
A few tips for using the mouse and keyboard within the virtual machine, as a few inputs are required.
- Show full screen: Double-click in the VM window or press CTRL + ALT + ENTER.
- Exit full screen: CTRL + ALT + ENTER
- Entries in the VM: Press CTRL + G
In a following article I will show the individual steps of the Windows 8 installation, including screenshots.
Is being worked on ;-)
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© Copyright Michael Hille
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