Clean install of Windows 11 Build 22533.1001 on VMware Player 16.2.2

but if I cannot install in EFI mode I cannot update to Win 11. 😆

Maybe you could, I did it the other day when replying to Johnny.

.NET 6.0

I'm about to check on that W7 VM, stand by, it will take a while.

Hi Sibro,

Thanks, but I think I solved it, at least for now. 😉

I found a key that I had on an old PC that I just got rid of, that was an OEM key for Win 7 Pro that came with the box, this one worked when I used it directly on Win 11. in the V.M.

but if I cannot install in EFI mode I cannot update to Win 11. 😆

Maybe you could, I did it the other day when replying to Johnny.

.NET 6.0

I'm about to check on that W7 VM, stand by, it will take a while.

I don't have a Windows license for VM and cannot activate.

When I did a Hyper-V test, I used an old Win 7 key and it worked, but not in this case, I don't have any extra keys to try. 😉

Hi fg,

Create a Windows 7 x64 VM, activate with that key and upgrade to Windows 11.

Upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 11 Insider Preview on a Virtual Machine

edit: make a backup or don't delete it from the original location so you can clean install anytime.

Hi Sibro,

With my configuration I could not install Windows 7 in VM in EFI mode, it could not find the drivers to support the disk.

It installs Windows 7 fine without EFI, but with EFI it could not see the disk where to install windows.

No Idea what driver it needs for that.

It works fine with the Windows 11 ISO, but not with the Windows 7 ISO.

I used SSD back then and it worked.

Are you creating the VM on NVMe drive? maybe VMPlayer isn't capable enough.

Try changing to SSD or SATA if you have the choice, it may work.

edit: let me see if I can find a backup of that VM and I'll look into it.

I think it may use NVMe when in EFI, I don't see a way to change it with VMplayer. (I downloaded the latest version today 16.2.2, but still using the free one).

Windows did not like my key anyway; it looks like I only have upgrade keys for windows 7 not a full retail key. 😣

I will have to find if I still have one for a clean install.

I don't have a Windows license for VM and cannot activate.

When I did a Hyper-V test, I used an old Win 7 key and it worked, but not in this case, I don't have any extra keys to try. 😉

Hi fg,

Create a Windows 7 x64 VM, activate with that key and upgrade to Windows 11.

Upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 11 Insider Preview on a Virtual Machine

edit: make a backup or don't delete it from the original location so you can clean install anytime.

Hi Sibro,

With my configuration I could not install Windows 7 in VM in EFI mode, it could not find the drivers to support the disk.

It installs Windows 7 fine without EFI, but with EFI it could not see the disk where to install windows.

No Idea what driver it needs for that.

It works fine with the Windows 11 ISO, but not with the Windows 7 ISO.

I used SSD back then and it worked.

Are you creating the VM on NVMe drive? maybe VMPlayer isn't capable enough.

Try changing to SSD or SATA if you have the choice, it may work.

edit: let me see if I can find a backup of that VM and I'll look into it.

I don't have a Windows license for VM and cannot activate.

When I did a Hyper-V test, I used an old Win 7 key and it worked, but not in this case, I don't have any extra keys to try. 😉

Hi fg,

Create a Windows 7 x64 VM, activate with that key and upgrade to Windows 11.

Upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 11 Insider Preview on a Virtual Machine

edit: make a backup or don't delete it from the original location so you can clean install anytime.

Hi Sibro,

With my configuration I could not install Windows 7 in VM in EFI mode, it could not find the drivers to support the disk.

It installs Windows 7 fine without EFI, but with EFI it could not see the disk where to install windows.

No Idea what driver it needs for that.

It works fine with the Windows 11 ISO, but not with the Windows 7 ISO.