VMware ESXi and vSphere Cluster Management

How to Create a Virtual Machine in VMware Workstation Player

Learn how to create a virtual machine in VMware Workstation Player, choose installation media, select the guest OS, configure storage and disks, and prepare for installation.

What a Virtual Machine Is

A virtual machine (VM) is an isolated, software-defined computer that runs inside virtualization software on a physical computer. VMware Workstation Player provides the virtual hardware that the VM needs, such as a processor, memory, storage, display, and network adapter.

The physical computer and its operating system are the host. The operating system installed inside the VM is the guest operating system. For example, Windows can be the host operating system while Ubuntu Linux runs as the guest.

Component	Exists on	Purpose
VMware Workstation Player	Host	Creates and runs virtual machines.
VM configuration files	Host	Describe the VM's virtual hardware and settings.
Virtual disk files	Host	Provide storage that the guest sees as a hard drive.
Guest operating system	Inside the VM	Runs as the VM's operating system.
Guest applications and data	Inside the VM	Software and files used by the guest.

Creating a VM establishes its virtual hardware and storage container. Guest operating system installation is a separate stage, although some wizard choices can connect installation media during creation.

Before You Begin

Install and open VMware Workstation Player.
Obtain a legitimate installer disc or bootable ISO image for the operating system you plan to use.
Check the host's available disk space. The host must have room for the VM files, guest operating system, applications, updates, and user data.
Know whether the VM is intended for a short test, a development lab, or regular use. This affects the disk capacity and storage location you choose.

Start the New Virtual Machine Wizard

Open VMware Workstation Player and use the menu path below:

Player > File > New Virtual Machine

The New Virtual Machine wizard is the guided interface for selecting installation media, identifying the guest operating system, naming the VM, choosing its host location, and configuring its virtual disk.

Choose the Operating System Installation Source

The first major choice is how the guest operating system installer will be supplied. VMware Workstation Player can use a physical optical disc, an ISO image file, or no installer during VM creation.

Option	Source	Best use case	What happens after VM creation
Physical installer disc	Bootable optical disc in a host disc drive	You already have a physical installation disc and an available optical drive.	The VM can use the disc as installation media when it starts.
ISO image file	Bootable ISO file stored on the host	You downloaded an operating system image or want a convenient, reusable installer.	The VM can boot from the selected ISO and begin installation.
Install operating system later	No installation media selected yet	You want to create and configure the VM before deciding which installer to use.	VMware creates virtual storage and configuration files, but no guest operating system is installed.

Physical Installer Disc

Choose the physical-disc option when a bootable operating system installer is available on an optical disc. The host must be able to access the disc drive, and the disc must contain bootable installation files.

ISO Image File

An ISO image is a file that represents the contents of a disc and is commonly used as bootable operating system installation media. Select the ISO option and browse to the ISO stored on the host. This is often the simplest choice for current Linux and Windows installers.

Install the Operating System Later

Choose the later-installation option when you want to create a blank VM first. This option creates the VM configuration and virtual disk, but it does not install an operating system. You must attach a bootable ISO or physical disc before the VM can install and run a guest operating system.

Select the Guest Operating System Family and Version

VMware uses the intended guest operating system type to choose suitable default virtual hardware and configuration recommendations. In the wizard, select the operating system family, such as Linux or Windows, and then choose the closest available version or distribution entry.

If the exact operating system is listed, select it. If the intended system is newer or less common than the choices provided, select the closest compatible version. Use the Other category when no suitable family or version is available. This selection does not install the operating system; it helps VMware apply sensible defaults.

Name the VM and Choose Its Host Location

The VM name is an organizational label displayed in VMware Workstation Player. Choose a descriptive name such as Ubuntu-Lab, Windows-Test, or Linux-Development.

The VM location is a folder on the host computer. It contains the VM configuration and virtual disk files. It is not a folder inside the future guest operating system. Select a dedicated folder on a drive with sufficient free space and reliable access.

C:\VMs\Linux-Lab

Review the default location rather than accepting it automatically. A dedicated folder makes the VM easier to find, back up, copy, and manage. Avoid locations that may be disconnected, synchronized unexpectedly, or unavailable when the VM runs.

Configure the Virtual Hard Disk

A virtual disk is a file or set of files on the host that the guest sees as a hard drive. Its configured disk capacity is the maximum amount of storage available to the guest. Plan for the guest operating system, applications, updates, temporary files, and user data rather than allocating only the minimum installation requirement.

Many virtual disks use dynamic disk growth. With this behavior, the host files consume more space as the guest writes data, up to the configured maximum. A disk configured with a 60 GB maximum does not necessarily consume 60 GB of host storage immediately. However, the host must eventually have enough free space as the disk grows.

The wizard can also offer a choice between storing the virtual disk as one file or splitting it into multiple files.

Choice	Benefit	Trade-off	Recommended situation
Single virtual disk file	Fewer files to manage and often simpler local storage.	A large file can be inconvenient to copy or move.	The VM will remain on one reliable local drive.
Split virtual disk into multiple files	Individual files are smaller and can be easier to copy to another drive or computer.	All parts must remain together, and there are more files to manage.	Portability or transfer to removable storage is important.
Dynamically expanding virtual disk behavior	Host storage is consumed as the guest uses it instead of reserving the maximum immediately.	The host can run out of space later if the guest grows unexpectedly.	You want to avoid allocating the full maximum capacity at creation time.

Single-file versus split-file storage and dynamic growth address different concerns. The first controls how the virtual disk is divided into host files. The second controls how much host storage is consumed as guest data grows.

Practical Example: Create a Linux VM and Install Later

Open VMware Workstation Player.
Start the wizard with Player > File > New Virtual Machine.
Choose Install the operating system later.
Select Linux as the guest operating system family and choose the appropriate distribution or version when it is offered.
Use a descriptive name such as Linux-Lab.
Set the host location to a dedicated folder such as C:\VMs\Linux-Lab.
Choose a virtual disk capacity suitable for the Linux distribution, applications, updates, and expected files.
Select single-file or split-file storage according to whether local simplicity or portability is more important.
Review the summary and finish the wizard.
Before the first boot, attach the Linux ISO to the VM's virtual optical drive.

The result is a powered-off VM with virtual hardware and storage but without an installed guest operating system.

Practical Example: Create a VM Directly from an ISO

Start the New Virtual Machine wizard.
Select the option for an installer disc image file, then browse to the downloaded ISO.
Select the matching guest operating system family and closest available version.
Choose the VM name and a host folder with enough free space.
Set the virtual disk capacity and choose whether to use one file or split files.
Finish the wizard and start the VM.
Allow the VM to boot from the ISO, then follow the guest operating system installer.

Complete VM Creation

When you finish the wizard, VMware Workstation Player creates the VM configuration and virtual hard disk files in the selected host folder. If an installer source was selected, the VM is ready to boot from that source. If you selected later installation, the VM is normally powered off and waiting for bootable media.

Remember that VM creation and guest OS installation are separate stages. The first creates the virtual computer. The second places an operating system on its virtual disk.

Prepare a Blank VM for Manual Installation

A blank VM cannot run an operating system until it has access to bootable installation media. The next step is to attach an ISO image to the VM's virtual optical drive or make a physical installer disc available to it.

Open the VM settings in VMware Workstation Player.
Configure the virtual optical drive to use a bootable ISO or the host's physical disc drive.
Start the VM.
Allow it to boot from the installation media. If it does not, review the VM's boot or optical-drive settings.
Follow the guest operating system installer and install the system onto the VM's virtual disk.

Create a Portable VM

For a VM that may be copied to another computer or storage device, place all files in a dedicated folder on a drive with enough capacity. Consider choosing split virtual disk files when the VM will be transferred in smaller pieces.

When moving the VM, copy the configuration files and every virtual disk file together. Moving only one part can make the VM unusable or cause its virtual disk to appear missing.

Troubleshooting

The Intended Operating System Is Missing

Select the closest compatible guest type when appropriate. If no suitable entry is listed, use Other. For newer or uncommon systems, verify their VMware compatibility requirements before installation.

The VM Cannot Install an Operating System

This commonly occurs when the VM was created with the later-installation option and no bootable media is attached. Attach a valid ISO or make the physical installer disc available, then start the VM and confirm that it boots from the selected media. An unavailable ISO path or non-bootable ISO can cause the same symptom.

The Host Drive Runs Out of Space

A dynamically growing virtual disk may have expanded as the guest wrote data. The configured maximum is not the same as storage that is immediately reserved, but the host must still be able to provide that space as needed. Free host space, relocate the VM to a larger drive using an appropriate migration process, and plan capacity for updates, applications, and user files.

The VM Is Difficult to Copy

A single large virtual disk file can be inconvenient to transfer. For future portable VMs, consider split virtual disk files. Regardless of the choice, copy the VM configuration and all virtual disk files together.

The VM Files Are in an Unexpected Location

The default folder may have been accepted without review. Choose a documented dedicated host folder during creation and confirm its drive has enough free space before finishing the wizard.

Key Points

The host is the physical computer and its operating system; the guest runs inside the VM.
The New Virtual Machine wizard creates virtual hardware and storage, while guest OS installation is a separate stage.
Choose a physical disc, ISO image, or later installation according to when and how you want to install the guest.
Select the closest guest OS family and version so VMware can apply suitable defaults.
The VM name is a label, while the VM location is a host folder containing configuration and disk files.
Virtual disk capacity is the guest's maximum storage, and dynamic growth means host usage increases as guest data is written.
A blank VM must be connected to bootable media before it can install an operating system.

After creating the VM, continue with virtual machine setup and installation as needed.