Thursday, September 15, 2011

Installing Windows 8 Developer Preview in VMware

Several versions of Windows 8 Developer Preview are public available on Microsoft’s Windows Developer Preview downloads. Just pick the one that fits for you. The downloaded file is an ISO file. You don’t need to burn it on disc.

If you don’t have a spare computer where you can install Windows 8 Developer Preview on, you can install it on your own machine using VMware. First you’ll need VMware Workstation 8 or VMware Player 4. The latter one is free, but at this moment you can only get it by downloading VMware Workstation 8. Don’t worry if you don’t have a license, you don’t need one because we will only use the free VMware Player 4. If you want full functionality you can download a trial version. For both downloads you’ll need to create an account. Go ahead and download and install VMware 8 if you have not already.

In this little tutorial I will use VMware Player, but the steps are nearly the same for VMware Workstation. Start VMware Player and click “Create a New Virtual Machine”. In the window that pops up, make sure you choose “I will install the operating system later.”

Installing-Win8-VMware-1

If you select one of the other options, you’ll get in trouble when Windows 8 Developer Preview is installing. Because in one of the next screens of the VMware wizard you’ll be asked to enter the license key for Windows 8 Developer Preview which you don’t have. You can leave it empty, but when Windows 8 Developer Preview is installing you’ll get the following error: “Windows cannot read the <ProductKey> setting from the unattend answer file”.

Installing-Win8-VMware-2

So, let’s proceed with the last option and click “Next >”. Depending on which version you have downloaded, select “Windows 7” or “Windows 7 x64” as operating system. I have downloaded the 64-bit version, so I chose “Windows 7 x64”.

Installing-Win8-VMware-3

Enter a Virtual machine name in the next step, for instance “Windows 8 Developer Preview”, and set the location of your virtual machine. I did not change anything in the next steps of the wizards, but you can choose the maximum disk size (default 60GB), whether to split the virtual disk or not. If you want to adjust the default allocated memory (1GB) you’ll need to click on “Customize Hardware…” in the last step to change it. This is my summary screen:

Installing-Win8-VMware-4

Click “Finish” and select the created virtual machine in VMware Player. Open the Virtual Machine Settings by clicking “Edit virtual machine settings” and select “CD/DVD IDE” in the device list. Make sure “Connect at power on” is checked and that you point it to the downloaded ISO file.

Installing-Win8-VMware-5

Click “OK” and power on the virtual machine. The Windows 8 Developer Preview installation wizard will start. At the end you can enjoy Windows 8 Developer Preview! One more tip: the metro style apps will only run if your screen resolution is at least 1024x768 (hardware or virtual machine).

UPDATE 1 (2 jan 2012): Some people have still trouble installing Windows 8 Developer Preview. You can fix that by removing the floppy of the virtual machine: Power off Windows 8 Virtual Machine, go to Virtual Machine Settings and remove the floppy drive. Thanks for the tip abkar, John and Claudiu!

UPDATE 2 (2 jan 2012): Modified links to download page for VMware Player.


on 09:56
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47 comments:

  1. Miraculix15 September, 2011 13:36

    Please just say me where you have Download vmWare Player Version 4? Actual version on vmWare Homepage is 3.1.4

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous18 March, 2012 00:47

      make an account on vwmare's website (if you didn't already)
      then click download and it will give you all versions of vmware player

      Delete
  2. sirpreis15 September, 2011 13:40

    Can't find VMWare Player 4 either. I think 3.1.4 is the most current version out right now, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thomas15 September, 2011 14:14

    Hi,

    I also could not find a seperate download for VMware Player 4. You must download VMware Workstation 8. VMware Player 4 is included in that download/installation.

    ReplyDelete
  4. sirpreis15 September, 2011 16:11

    Will it (Player 4) will work for longer than 30 days if no license is bought?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thomas15 September, 2011 16:42

    When I tried to create a virtual machine with VMware Workstation, I could not power it on unless I entered a license (which I don't have).

    I could power it on with VMware Player 4 without entering a license. So I _assume_ the player will work longer than 30 days.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous16 September, 2011 16:35

    When you download Workstation 8 as a trial it installs VMware Player 4.0.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous16 September, 2011 20:24

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous16 September, 2011 21:36

    thanks worked like a charm

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous16 September, 2011 22:05

    Excellent explanation! Just got the preview running after a few minutes with version 4. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous16 September, 2011 23:01

    thankyouthankyouthankyou, so much more stable than virtualbox omg

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous18 September, 2011 00:47

    I get to a license key screen and none of the codes I have work... Anyone know what I am doing wrong?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thomas18 September, 2011 12:03

    Where do you get that license key screen? If you work with VMware Workstation then you'll need a valid license key to power on the virtual machine. With VMware Player 4 you don't need a license key.

    Windows Developer Preview doesn't need a license key. Therefore you have to select "I will install the operating system later" in the first step when creating a virtual machine.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous18 September, 2011 13:03

    Thanks for your description!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous21 September, 2011 12:07

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  15. abkar23 September, 2011 14:44

    no man not working
    pls remove flopy drive it will work ok good luck

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous25 September, 2011 15:06

    load of bullshit, doesn't work.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous26 September, 2011 05:22

    On VM Virtual Machine, just Remove or disconnect Floppy disc.

    Att...

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous29 September, 2011 17:38

    Works well if you actually READ the instructions!

    Nice one :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous25 October, 2011 06:20

    I'm from Ukraine. You are a great man, you helped me a lot. Thank you very much

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous27 October, 2011 13:01

    Thanks Man. It is not bull***t. I followed the given instructions and it is loading as we speak into VMware Player 4.0 which is now available as a download. To people who think all this is bullshit, go work it out on your own. Do not rubbish the efforts of one person who only wishes to help. Thanks again, bro.

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  21. John Thompson27 October, 2011 16:25

    I'd like to mention something. 'read the directions' is a pretty shoddy bit of advice. You should have said "read the comments" because following things as listed did not work. I had to follow the person's recommendation to remove the floppy. Which is not mentioned anywhere in the post

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous10 November, 2011 15:03

    I think you're all twats it's well easy to do

    ReplyDelete
  23. Claudiu Constantin13 November, 2011 21:54

    Solution for that error message is to remove or Disconnect "Floppy" from your Windows Virtual Machine. (Actually autoinst.flp. file contains the ProductKey & autoinst.flp is mounted when you start the VM)Power off Windows 8 Virtual Machine & Go to Virtual Machine settings & remove the Floppy. Now you can install Windows 8 without any issues.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous17 November, 2011 13:40

    Thanks, it works with VMWare Player 4, which can be found on Softpedia ( http://www.softpedia .com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/ VMware-Player.shtml )

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous28 November, 2011 19:00

    The latest version of VM Ware Player can be downloaded free, and w/o registration at:

    http://www.filehippo.com/

    Best of Luck,
    Cat

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous02 December, 2011 16:13

    works perfect

    ReplyDelete
  27. Joomla Developer15 December, 2011 13:06

    It is really very good blog thanks for the time you took in writing this post.I would like to come on this blog again and again.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous17 December, 2011 15:18

    No idea what canning the floppy does but after doing that I am up and running so thanks to everyone

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous18 December, 2011 19:38

    Thanks, it works great on VMWare Player 4.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous24 December, 2011 12:48

    Worked great. Thanks a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Anonymous14 January, 2012 19:52

    No problem installing windows 8 thanks to this good how too. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  32. RAD DUDE16 January, 2012 09:53

    I got everything to install correctly, but when I put VMware to fullscreen, all I get is the tiny screen with a black background. How do I make it take up the full screen size?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thomas17 January, 2012 08:38

      Hi,

      I don't have a VMware installation right now, but somewhere in the menu toolbar you can resize the OS desktop to the size of the VMware window.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous20 January, 2012 21:57

      Get to the classic desktop and change your resolution to something the same as or slightly less than your host OS. This will resize the Win8 desktop.

      Delete
  33. Anonymous30 January, 2012 01:57

    Rad dude, when you have your VOS open click on virtual machine at the top then install vmware tools. This will make the VOS screen the same size as your HOST screen.

    ReplyDelete
  34. danim07 February, 2012 02:56

    Hi guys
    I am trying to install the developers preview but while I am in the installation is says cannot find cd dvd drive drivers
    do you know how to sort this

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anonymous27 February, 2012 01:41

    missing cd/dvd drive drivers is usually an indication that the ISO failed to download completely, you have an incomplete ISO file. Check the size you downloaded vs the size listed on the site, try re-downloading.

    ReplyDelete
  36. rob01 March, 2012 04:53

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Robert02 March, 2012 14:35

    You can download VM Player 4.0 from here:
    http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/desktop_end_user_computing/vmware_player/4_0

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Robert02 March, 2012 14:38

      Oh and you have to register before downloading. :)

      Delete
  38. Robert02 March, 2012 17:35

    I believe the most important things to note are,
    1) Choose "I will install the operating system later”;
    2) Choose "Microsoft Operating System" under Guest Operating System and choose "Windows 7 x64" if you're installing the 64bit version of Windows 8 Preview.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Anonymous26 March, 2012 09:23

    FYI ..... Do I need a product key to install Windows 8 Consumer Preview?

    If you install Windows 8 Consumer Preview using the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Setup program, you won't need to enter a product key—the setup program automatically provides the product key. If you create installation media, start your PC from the media, and then install Windows 8 Consumer Preview. You'll need to enter this product key: DNJXJ-7XBW8-2378T-X22TX-BKG7J.

    ReplyDelete
  40. technoobie.com30 May, 2012 15:43

    Checking the install os later option fixed my product key error. That was driving me nuts >_< Thanks for the post!!!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Anonymous06 August, 2012 15:49

    Thanks for sharing it works

    ReplyDelete
  42. Unknown01 September, 2015 02:36

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Unknown09 October, 2015 01:13

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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