This article shows you how to set up Windows 10 in a new virtual machine using the VMware Workstation 16 Pro virtualization program on a computer with Windows 10.
The Windows 10 20H2 version was released on October 20, 2020. Microsoft removed the Control Panel in this version. When you view the Control Panel, the About page on the Settings page will open automatically.
The second key feature is that the new Edge browser is now built-in. Android apps can now be used on Windows 10 with the Your Phone tool. The new start menu icons create a better-quality look. Users can now pin their favorite websites to the taskbar. New notifications have been improved on the desktop. The monitor refresh rate value can be changed in Settings.
VMware Workstation 16 Pro was introduced to users on November 19, 2020. The latest version of this virtualization software also has excellent features for users.
Downloading the Windows 10 20H2 version originally from the Microsoft website is recommended. You can use the Media Creation Tool to download the ISO file. Thus, you can download version 20H2 as ISO and create bootable setup media on removable media.
Now, let’s examine how to install Windows 10 20H2 on a virtual machine with VMware.
Step 1: View this article or refer to this video tutorial to install VMware Workstation 16 Pro on your computer.
Step 2: After installing VMware Pro, download the latest version of Windows to your computer in ISO format with the Media Creation Tool.
Step 3: Open the virtualization software and click Create a New Machine.
Step 4: With Custom (Advanced) selected in the new virtual machine wizard, click the Next button. With Workstation 16. x is set in the compatibility window and click Next again.
Step 5: To add the ISO file later from the “Install from:” options, select “I will install the operating system later” and click Next.
Step 6: On the operating system selection screen, select Windows 10 x64, write a name for the virtual machine on the next screen, and set the installation location on an external hard disk. You can leave the installation location as default, but it may take up too much space on your host computer’s disk.
Step 7: Enable UEFI / Secure Boot for the latest version of Windows 10 as firmware type. For the processor setting of the VM, set one CPU and four cores. After specifying a minimum amount of 4GB or more for the RAM value, select the NAT connection on the Network Type screen for the network settings of the VM and click Next.
Step 8: Continue with the recommended SAS disk for the I/O Controller, select a new feature NVMe for the disk type, and click Next.
Step 9: You need to create a new virtual disk for Windows 10. To do this, with the Create a New Virtual Disk option selected, click Next to proceed to the next step.
Step 10: You can specify an amount less or more than the recommended disk size for the virtual disk’s capacity. Configure the virtual machine disk size according to your usage purpose and enable you to store the disk file as a single file.
Step 11: Use the disk file name with the suggested name, and do not change it. Finally, click the customize hardware button and view the VM’s settings.
Step 12: Enable all settings in the Virtualization Engine while on the processor device of the VM. You can only select “Virtualize Intel VT-x/EPT or AMD-V/RVI” to enable virtualization.
Step 13: Click the Browse button on the CD/DVD device, go to the location where you downloaded the ISO file, and add the installation file to the virtual machine.
Step 14: After adding the Windows 10 installation media to the VM, run the virtual computer and start the installation.
Step 15: After running the virtual computer, press any key on your keyboard and start the installation. Select the system language to be installed, configure the time zone and keyboard layout, and click the Install Now button.
Step 16: Click on I don’t have a license key to continue the installation. You can add the license key if you plan to use a genuine Windows operating system on the VM.
Step 17: In the next step, select the Windows 10 Pro operating system version and accept the license agreement.
Step 18: Since you will install a new Windows on the disk, click Custom, click New in the disk partition section, and confirm using all disk space.
Step 19: After partitioning the disk, select the relevant drive and click Next. Then, wait for the installation files to be copied.
Step 20: The region settings will open after the necessary files are copied. In this step, choose your region and the keyboard layout.
Step 21: Click Set up for personal use, click Offline Account, and then Limited Experience to set up Windows 10 without a Microsoft account and continue.
Step 22: Type in a new username and set a password for the operating system. Click Next to continue without specifying a password.
Step 23: Configure the options you want to accept in the privacy settings window and click the Accept button. Then click the Accept button if you’re going to use Cortana. If you do not want to use it, click the Not Now button.
Step 24: Windows 10 desktop will open after this step. But, finally, you need to install VMware Tools. Click VM, Install VMware Tools, and click Next in the open wizard from the tool menu.
Step 25: For VMware Tools, select Complete because you can use the virtual computer you set up in the future in other VMware products.
Step 26: After completing the installation, restart the virtual machine and change the screen resolution (if it has not changed automatically).
Step 27: Following this video, you can perform all the above steps.