How to Install Windows Server 2019 on VMware Workstation | Step-by-Step Guide

This guide gives you clear steps on installing Windows Server 2019 on a Windows 11 or 10 computer using VMware Workstation. Whether you have versions 15, 14, 12, or 17, this guide is here to help you set up your virtual environment.

How to Install Windows Server 2019 on VMware Workstation

How to Install Windows Server 2019 in a VM on VMware Workstation

Microsoft recently released the Windows Server 2019 Preview version in the Windows Insider Program.

Although Windows Server 2019 is very similar to version 2016, it has many new features. If you are wondering what’s new in it, visit this webpage.

As you know, in the world of IT, high-quality virtualization programs are used. Examples of these virtualization programs are VMware Workstation, Oracle VM VirtualBox, and Hyper-V.

In this article, we will use the Workstation 14 Pro virtualization program developed by VMware to install its Technical Preview.

As you all know, creating a virtual machine with VMware software is simple. If you have not made a virtual machine before, you can check this article. Before proceeding with the installation steps, download the Server 2019 ISO file here.

How to Run Windows Server 2019 in Virtual Machine

Follow the steps below to install it using the VMware virtualization program step by step.

You can download VMware Workstation 14/15 Pro or newer from here.

Step 1

After you have opened VMware Workstation, click Create a New Virtual Machine to create a new virtual machine for installation.

In the virtual machine creation window, select Custom (Advanced) and click on the Next button.

New Virtual Machine Wizard

Step 2

In the Virtual Machine Hardware Compatibility window, make sure that Workstation 14.x/15.x is selected and click Next.

Choose the Virtual Machine Hardware Compatibility

Step 3

To add the Server ISO file to the virtual machine later, select I will install the operating system later and click Next.

Guest Operating System Installation

Step 4

In the operating system selection window, select Microsoft Windows and click Next when you have chosen the Server 2016 version.

Select a Guest Operating System

Step 5

Storing the virtual machine you created for installation on an external disk is essential for performance. Save the location on a portable HDD and click Next.

Name for the Virtual Machine

Step 6

In the Firmware Type window, UEFI is selected by default. If you want, you can enable Secure Boot.

Firmware Type

Step 7

In the Processor Configuration window, configure the processor according to the hardware specifications of your computer and click Next.

Processor Configuration

Step 8

Likewise, you can configure the virtual machine’s memory configuration to 4 GB (4096 MB). You can specify a higher RAM value as well. Click the Next button to continue the Windows Server 2019 virtual machine configuration.

Memory for the Virtual Machine

Step 9

In the VMware network configuration window, you can select the NAT network.

Network Type

Step 10

Choose LSI Logic SAS (Recommended), which is already selected by default, and keep going.

Select I/O Controller Types

Step 11

Please choose “SCSI” as the disk type and then proceed by clicking the “Next” button.

Select a Disk Type

Step 12

To create a new device for the virtual machine, select Create a new virtual disk and click Next.

Create a New Virtual Disk

Step 13

It is recommended that you use all the free space on the disk. After, configure the VMware virtual machine disk configuration as shown in the following illustration.

Specify Disk Capacity

Step 14

Continue by clicking the Next button in the disk file specification window.

Specify Disk File

Step 15

You should activate the virtualization feature before completing the virtual computer. Open the Hardware settings, enable the Virtualize Intel VT-x/EPT or AMD-V/RVI option as shown below, and close the window.

Virtualize Intel VT-x/EPT or AMD-V/RVI

Step 16

Click the “Finish” button in the window that’s ready to create a virtual PC.

Ready to Create Virtual Machine

Step 17

Once you click Finish, the virtual disk creation process will begin. Please note that this process may take some time.

Creating Disk...

Step 18

After you create the virtual machine, attach the ISO file that you downloaded to the virtual machine.

Open ISO File

Step 19

Start the virtual machine and start the WS 2019 installation.

Power on this virtual machine

How to Install Windows Server 2019 Step-by-Step

After you run the virtual machine, follow these steps to install Windows Server on VMware software step by step.

Step 1

When you run the virtual machine on VMware 14/15, press any key when you see the “Press any key to boot from CD” message.

Once the setup window opens, set your language, time, and keyboard preferences, then click Next.

Language to install

Step 2

Click the Install Now button to start the VMware Windows Server installation.

Install Now

Step 3

To activate Windows, go to the “Activate Windows” window and then click on the option that says I do not have a product key.

Activate Windows

Step 4

You must select the type of operating system you want to install. If you want a GUI, that is, desktop experience, continue with the option in the image below.

Select the operating system you want to install

Step 5

Accept the Server 2019 license agreement and click Next.

Applicable Notices and License Terms

Step 6

Select the “Custom: Install Windows only” option from the server installation types.

Which type of installation do you want?

Step 7

Partition the disk of the virtual machine, select the partition you want to install, and click Next.

Where do you want to install Windows?

Step 8

Wait as the wizard copies the system files for the server.

Getting Files Ready for Installation

Step 9

Please wait for a moment as the devices go through the required preparations to ensure they work at their best.

Getting Devices Ready

Step 10

Set a complex password for the Admin user and click the Finish button.

Customize Settings

Step 11

Once WS 2019 is open, press Ctrl + Insert at the same time to switch to the user interface. Type the password you have specified and press ENTER.

Login to Server

Step 12

After completing the setup, proceed to the next step to install VMware Tools.

Configure this local server

How to Install VMware Tools in Windows Server 2019

When you’re using VMware Workstation, make sure to install VMware Tools. It helps your virtual systems work better.

To install the VMware Tools in the virtual Server, follow the steps below.

Step 1

On VMware Windows Server, click on the VM option and then on the Install VMware Tools option.

Install VMware Tools

Step 2

After the VMware Tools image file is added to the system, click Run setup64.exe.

Run setup64.exe

Step 3

In the VMware Tools installation wizard window, click Next.

VMware Tools Wizard

Step 4

Select Complete for the type of installation and click Next.

Choose Setup Type

Step 5

And finally, click the Install button to start the VMware Tools installation.

Ready to install VMware Tools

Step 6

Restart your system for the changes to take effect.

Restart Server 2019

Step 7

Configure the resolution setting of the virtual machine by clicking View / Fix Guest Now. After installing VMware Tools, you can now exchange files between your virtual machine and your physical computer.

Windows Server 2019 Full Screen

Video 1

Video 2

Final Word

In this article, we have discussed the steps to run Server 2019 step by step using the virtualization program. Thanks for following us!

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2 Comments

  1. shayma tarif 12 September 2020

    Thank you

    Reply
  2. Ghansham Dass 8 October 2020

    Great artical

    Reply

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