How to Install Windows 8.1 on VMware Workstation 15
In this article, we will install Windows 8.1 step by step on Windows 10 using the VMware Workstation 15/14/12 virtualization program.
How to Install Windows 8.1 on VMware Workstation 15
To set up Windows 8.1 with VMware Workstation on Windows 10, you must first create a new virtual machine. After you create a new virtual machine for Windows 8.1, you must download the Windows 8.1 ISO file to your computer and add it to the virtual machine.
If you do not have DVD media for the Windows 8.1 operating system, you can download the ISO image file to your computer by clicking the button at the bottom of the article.
In the previous articles, we made other Windows operating system installations with VMware. In these articles, you can find the links below;
- How to Install Windows 10 on VMware
- How to Install Windows 7 on VMware
- How to Install Windows XP on VMware
How to Install Windows 8 / Windows 8.1 on VMware Virtual Machine
To run Windows 8.1 on your Windows computer, first, install VMware Workstation 15. Then, follow the steps below in order to install Windows 8 / 8.1 on VMware after downloading the Windows 8.1 ISO file to your computer.
Step 1
To create a Windows 8.1 virtual machine Open VMware Workstation 15 Pro and click Create a New Virtual Machine.
Step 2
In the New Virtual Machine Wizard window, select Custom / Advanced, then click Next.
Step 3
Select Workstation 15.x in the Choose the Virtual Machine Hardware Compatibility window and click Next.
Step 4
In the Guest Operating System Installation window, select I will install the operating system later to add the operating system ISO file to the virtual machine later and start the installation, and then click Next.
Step 5
Select Microsoft Windows for the Windows 8.1 operating system that you will install in the Select a Guest Operating System window, and then click Next.
Step 6
Type the name of the operating system you will install in the Name the Virtual Machine window, and it is useful to store the virtual machine on another disk for performance, so click the Browse button to select the installation location.
Step 7
Create a new folder on the external hard disk for the virtual machine, and then select the folder and click OK.
Step 8
Click Next to continue the installation.
Step 9
Check the UEFI / Secure Boot options in Firmware Type and click Next.
Step 10
Determine the number of processors and cores in the Processor Configuration window according to your computer’s hardware specifications. Then click Next to continue the installation.
Step 11
Likewise, depending on your computer’s RAM capacity, determine a suitable RAM value for the virtual machine.
Step 12
When creating a virtual machine in the Network Type window, continue with the NAT selected by default.
Step 13
In the Select I/O Controller Types window, configure the LSI Logic SAS as SCSI controller type, and then click Next.
Step 14
Continue installation with SCSI, which is selected by default in the Select a Disk Type window.
Step 15
You must create a new virtual disk for the Windows 8.1 operating system setup on VMware. To create a new disk for installation, select Create a new virtual disk and click Next.
Step 16
In the Specify Disk Capacity window, select Allocate all disk space now for virtual machine disk performance, and select Store virtual disk as a single file, and then configure the disk size.
The “Allocate all disk space now” option allocates disk space on your disk for the virtual machine.
The “Store virtual disk as a single file” option configures the virtual disk as a single file instead of splitting it.
Step 17
In the Specify Disk File window, you can change the name and location of the disk file of the operating system that you will install. Click Next to continue the installation.
Step 18
Click Customize Hardware in the final step of creating virtual machine.
Step 19
After selecting the processor hardware in the virtual machine settings, select Virtualize Intel VT-x/EPT or AMD-V/RVI from the options on the right.
Step 20
Click the CD/DVD device to add the Windows 8.1 ISO file that you downloaded to your computer to the virtual machine. Then select the Use ISO image file option and click the Browse button to select the ISO file.
Step 21
Select the ISO file and click the Open button.
Step 22
Click the Close button to exit the virtual machine settings.
Step 23
After completing the steps for creating the virtual machine, click Finish.
Step 24
Wait while creating the virtual disk. This process may take some time, depending on the performance of your computer.
Step 25
Click Power on this virtual machine to start the Windows 8 / Windows 8.1 installation on VMware.
Step 26
You can install the operating system on the virtual machine. Press any key on your keyboard to start the installation.
Step 27
After the Windows 8.1 virtual machine runs smoothly, you can continue this step by clicking on the image below to make a step-by-step installation on VMware.
How to Install Microsoft Windows 8.1 on Windows 10 with VMware ⇒ Video
You can watch the video below to install Windows 8.1 up your Windows 10 computer using the VMware virtualization program, and also subscribe to our YouTube channel to support us!
How to Install Windows 8.1 on VMware Workstation 14 ⇒ Video
If you have 14 Pro version of VMware virtualization program installed on your computer, you can watch the video below to install Windows 8.1 with VMware 14!
How to Create Windows 8.1 Virtual Machine on VMware Workstation 12
On VMware, you must first create a Windows 8.1 virtual machine. To create a Windows 8.1 virtual machine, follow the steps below in order.
Follow the steps below to install Windows 8/8.1 on VMware after downloading the Windows 8.1 ISO file to your computer.
Step 1
After you open the VMware Workstation 12 Pro virtualization program, click File / New Virtual Machine to create a new virtual machine.
Step 2
In the opened window, select the Custom (Advanced) option and click on the Next button.
Step 3
In the Choose the Virtual Machine Hardware Compatibility window, select the Workstation 12.0 option and click Next.
Step 4
In the Guest Operating System Installation window, select the I will install the operating system later option and click on the Next button.
Step 5
After selecting the operating system version to install, click on the Next button.
Step 6
In the Name the Virtual Machine window, type the name of the operating system to be installed. Then click on the Browse button to select the location where the virtual machine will be installed.
Step 7
In the Virtual Machine Location window, select your external HDD and click OK after creating a new folder.
Step 8
In the Name the Virtual Machine window, click the Next button after making the necessary settings.
Step 9
In the Firmware Type window, the BIOS option is selected as the default setting. Continue to the steps for creating a Windows 8.1 virtual machine by clicking on the Next button.
Step 10
In the Processor Configuration window, click Next after configuring the number of processors and cores for the Windows 8.1 virtual machine.
Step 11
In the Memory for the Virtual Machine window, after specifying the 2 GB RAM value for the Windows 8.1 virtual machine, click Next to continue.
Step 12
In the Network Type window, select NAT and click on the Next button.
Step 13
In the Select I/O Controller Types window, select LSI Logic SAS (Recommended) and click Next.
Step 14
In the Select a Disk Type window, select SCSI (Recommended) and click on the Next button.
Step 15
In the Select a Disk window, select Create a new virtual disk and click Next.
Step 16
In the Specify Disk Capacity window, configure the disk space size for the Windows 8.1 X64 operating system and click Next.
Step 17
You can configure 30 GB of disk space for Windows 8.1 installation on VMware. Click on the Next button to continue with the steps for creating a virtual machine.
Step 18
The Disk File configuration specifies the virtual disk where to save it. If you want to store the virtual disk in a different location, you can change this setting with the browse button. Leave the name and location of the disk file in the default setting and click on the Next button.
Step 19
After creating the Windows 8.1 virtual machine, if there is a change you want to make, click the Customize Hardware button. Click the Finish button to close the new virtual machine wizard.
How to Install Windows 8.1 on Virtual Machine in Windows 10 using VMware Workstation
After you create a Windows 8.1 virtual machine, you need to add the ISO file you downloaded to your computer to the virtual machine. Follow the steps below in order to install Windows 8.1 step by step on the virtual machine.
Step 1
Click on CD/DVD (SATA) to add the ISO file to the virtual machine for Windows 8.1 installation.
Step 2
In the Virtual Machine Settings window, select the Use ISO image file option.
Step 3
Click on the Browse button and add the Windows 8.1 ISO file.
Step 4
Start the Windows 8.1 installation by clicking the Power on this virtual machine button.
Step 5
Wait while Windows 8.1 opens …
Step 6
In the Windows 8.1 installation window, click the Next button after configuring the language setting, time and currency, and keyboard settings.
Step 7
Click Install Now to start Windows 8.1 installation.
Step 8
Starting Windows 8.1 Setup…
Step 9
Accept the Windows 8.1 operating system license agreement and click Next.
Step 10
To do a clean installation of Windows 8.1, click Custom: Install only Windows (advanced).
Step 11
In the Windows 8.1 virtual machine disk configuration, click the New button.
Step 12
Click the Apply button to use the entire virtual disk.
Step 13
Click OK on the warning window “Additional fields will be created for Windows”.
Step 14
Select the drive you want to install Windows 8.1 and click Next.
Step 15
Preparing files for installation…
Step 16
Wait while the files are being prepared for installation…
Step 17
After the installation copies the necessary files, the virtual machine restarts.
Step 18
Type the computer name for the Windows 8.1 virtual machine and click Next.
Step 19
Click the Use quick settings button.
Step 20
Click the Finish button.
Step 21
Wait while the setup completes your system settings.
Step 22
Wait while the setup is setting up the settings for you.
Step 23
Windows 8.1 installation is in progress.
Step 24
After installing Windows 8.1 with VMware Workstation 12, the first view of the operating system is as follows!
Step 25
To check the Windows version, right click on My Computer and click Properties. In System window, you can check the version of Windows 8.1 as follows.
How to Install Windows 8.1 in VMware Workstation 12 ⇒ Video
You can watch the following video to install Windows 8.1 and VMware Tools on VMware Workstation 12 on Windows 10, and you can also subscribe to our YouTube channel to support us.
Final Word
In this article, we have installed Windows 8/8.1 on Windows 10 using the VMware virtualization program. Thanks for following us!
If this article is helpful, please send us feedback by commenting…
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Download Windows 8.1 ISO for VMware Workstation
You can download the Windows 8.1 ISO file for VMware Workstation by clicking the button below …
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