Windows 10: Install Windows 10 as Virtual Machine in VMware Player

547 won't update for me and I think its because 10 isn't activated in vmware.

 

That is what I meant in my last post. Load the ISO, sign in with the same MS account that you previously used with a W10 upgrade. It will activate and then you can use windows update to get the latest build.

 

Any time! That first download page you arrive at is for the latest VM Workstation Player 12 but actually branches off onto several pages when keeping track of each page address. Previously the free versions were listed on a single page with each having separate links for the 32bit and 64bit for Windows above the two for Linux. Now everything including the paid for version is wrapped together as you can see with the Major and Minor dropdown selectors.

The {Free, Paid} on the front page indicates a mix of the Workstation which has always been the paid for with the free versions now tossed into the mix. That can easily confuse some who would be needing the 32bit version since that sees the 6.0 and 6.0.1 numbers while the 64bit has the 7.1.2 version number for that. And yet the 32bit came out after the 64bit despite seeing the lower number. You have to refer to the release notes at times to avoid getting those confused! *Rolleyes

 

I used the iso I created from the upgrade but it wants me to activate.

 

Hmm, well try the one from the media creation tool. It installed and activated for me.

 

To date the only Windows that has seen activation for me on any VM has been the XP Mode for the 90 day period when seen out for 7. Either I couldn't connect online as seen at times with Virtual Box or something simply prevented the previous versions from being activated even when entering the retail key. With 10 on a VM seeing if a 7 VM upgrade to 10 will activate is another project to work on. First getting 7 activated plus SP1 on will be a task before trying to run the 10 set up.

 

@Dude,
Doug do I understand this correctly, to install a preview version, I have to re-download an ISO using the MCT? I go to the site and choose Get Windows 10 download button and it sends me here(the blue is from my newest color reg file, so ignore it):



Why would it send me to Win7 and not Win10?*What

Or can I just use the same USB I used to upgrade and later clean installed with? Then just do like you said in an earlier post, go to updates > advanced and Get Insider builds?

 

@Cliff S This should work, not sure why the other led you to 7

 

Ok I'll give it a shot this week(I have 3 weeks vacation to play around*Smile) It led me to Win7(I am still an insider) 3 times in IE and once each in FF-Chrome-Edge.

 

@essenbe
Steve, you said in the video I can place VM's on another drive, in this case I was thinking about possibly using my 2nd internal 7200rpm spinner instead of my OS SSD to save writes(and space) from uninstalling/reinstalling.**
My question is, how good will the Windows VM run, being I have used SSD's for the last 5 years , will I notice much of a speed difference? (after 5 years one disk has only 5.5 TBW with all the Linux distro installs/uninstalls, Windows reimaging/installs/reinstalls and in the Endurance Test made it to over 2 Petabytes)? Or will it actually run better if I place it on the SSD with the host and the VM on the same disk, because with an SSD and it's near zero access times, both on the same disk probably wouldn't be a problem.
I've been playing with the idea of buying a new Samsung 850 Pro 512GB for more space, replacing my 840 pro 256GB), and as you see below, actually with 300 TBW(real life it's in the 1 1/2 to 2 Petabyte range)TBW 128 / 256GB : 150TBW (Terabytes Written), 512GB / 1TB : 300TBW (Terabytes Written)
(I'm going through your video and Shawns tut getting ready to try out putting an Insider build in VMwP to use for 3rd party theming software testing, and just general software testing too, great when helping other members that have a problem with something I don't have or want on my Real(host) system)*Smile

**bold letters to make it easier to understand what I want

 

Cliff, it will always run better on an SSD. My experience has been that VMs are fairly slow any way. I like putting them in a Folder for several reasons. If you want to test something, just copy the folder and paste it somewhere else for a backup. If the test goes bad, just delete the VM folder and paste the backup there and it will run fine. If you decide to put it on the spinner, it will be a little slower, but it will run fine. As far as it being on the same drive as the OS, I don't think that matters at all. Maybe it will give you an excuse to go ahead and buy the new SSD. *Wink

 

First of all Good morning(your time*Smile), and second of all, you just answered what my next question was going to be: "What about creating a system image of the VM so I don't have to go through the rigga-maroll of re-installing and updating". Now I know just make my "Base" machine and copy the folder, thanks, (the force is strong in you, master essenbe-Kenobi, you see in the future) Ok I'm getting ready to head over to a small Euronics store a couple of neighborhoods away and see if they have the 850 Pro, but if they only have the EVO, I'll get that(even though they don't last as long(20 years instead of 100) or are as fast).

 

In actual use, they are just as fast. In benchmarks, they are not. Before you wear one out, something newer and much better will be on the market. I have an Intel X-25M which is ancient in the SSD world. It still works and is still in use in a Laptop which is about the same age. The response time is what you notice most in actual use. 0.1ms is typical. We're talking in 1000th of a second terms here. If it was twice as fast, would you notice? I have both. I have 5 in this machine and couldn't tell you which one is which from using them. I own 14 of them.

 

0.1ms is much much faster than what the electro- chemical reaction of the human brain is, so, yea that is fast*Smile

 

@Cliff S not too shabby for a 'slow' drive