Manually Install a Guest Operating System in VMware Player

Attach a bootable ISO to an existing VMware Player virtual machine, boot from it, install Windows or Linux, and complete post-installation configuration.

Why manually install a guest operating system?

A virtual machine (VM) is a software-defined computer with virtual processors, memory, storage, and other hardware. It runs inside the physical computer rather than replacing it.

The host operating system is installed directly on the physical computer. VMware Player is the virtualization application running on that host. The VM is the virtual computer managed by VMware Player, and the guest operating system is the operating system installed inside that VM.

A newly created VM needs a guest operating system before it can be used as a functional computer. If an operating system was not installed during VM creation, attach bootable installation media and run the operating system installer manually.

Manual installation is useful when automated installation is unavailable, unsupported, or unsuitable. VMware Player's Easy Install feature can automate parts of installation for some supported operating systems, but it does not support every guest operating system or every installation scenario. Manual installation gives you direct control over language, disk, account, edition, and other installer choices.

Installation media options

Installation media is the source from which the guest operating system installer starts. VMware Player can present several types of media to a VM.

Method	Required media or infrastructure	Best use case	Key consideration
Physical installer disc	An installer disc and an optical drive connected to the host	Using an existing DVD or other physical optical medium	The host drive must be available, and the disc must be bootable
ISO image file	A bootable ISO file stored on the host	Most modern Windows and Linux installations	The ISO must be complete, readable, and appropriate for the VM
PXE network installation	A network with PXE and deployment services	Managed environments and repeated network deployments	Requires correctly configured network boot infrastructure

An ISO image is a file containing a disc image. A bootable operating system ISO can be connected to the VM's virtual CD/DVD drive, which makes the file behave like an inserted installation disc. This lesson focuses on ISO-based installation.

Prerequisites

Create or select the VM intended for the guest operating system. If necessary, review how to create a virtual machine.
Obtain a legitimate, bootable installer ISO from the operating system vendor or another authorized source.
Check that the ISO edition, processor architecture, license, and system requirements match your intended guest installation.
Confirm that the VM has a virtual hard disk large enough for the operating system and your applications. The installer must target this virtual disk, not a disk belonging to the host.
Allocate sufficient virtual memory and processors without starving the host operating system. You can review memory allocation and processor settings before installation.
Ensure the host has enough free storage for the ISO, VM files, virtual disk growth, and temporary installer files.
Power off the VM before changing virtual hardware settings when VMware Player requires it. Do not change hardware settings while the VM is running unless the particular setting explicitly supports that action.

Configure the virtual CD/DVD drive

Open VMware Player and select the target VM in the library.
Power off the VM if it is running.
Open Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings.
In the hardware list, select CD/DVD. The exact wording can vary slightly between VMware Player versions.
Enable Connect at power on. This setting attaches the virtual optical device when the VM starts.
Select Use ISO image file instead of the physical drive option.
Choose Browse, locate the installer ISO on the host, and select the correct file.
Review the selected path and choose Save, OK, or Apply, depending on the VMware Player version.

Setting	Recommended value	Why it matters
CD/DVD device	The VM's virtual CD/DVD device	This is the virtual hardware that presents installation media to the guest
Connection state at startup	Connect at power on enabled	The installer media is attached before the VM begins booting
Media source	Use ISO image file	VMware Player reads the installer from a file on the host
Selected ISO path	The intended, readable, bootable ISO	The VM can boot only from the media that is actually selected

If the VM has no virtual optical device, add a virtual CD/DVD drive through the hardware settings. For related hardware configuration, see adding a CD-ROM drive.

Boot from the ISO

Start the VM after connecting the ISO.
Watch the VM window during startup. The virtual machine should detect the virtual optical media and start the operating system installer.
If the installer displays a prompt such as “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD,” respond before the prompt times out.
Perform the installation inside the VM window. The process generally follows the same types of prompts as installation on a physical computer, although the available hardware is virtual.

If the VM starts the existing operating system or reports that no bootable device exists, stop the VM and troubleshoot the CD/DVD connection, ISO, or boot order before trying again.

Complete the guest operating system installation

Follow the operating system vendor's installation workflow. Depending on the operating system, you may be asked to choose:

Language, region, time zone, and keyboard layout
Operating system edition and license or activation options
The installation type and the virtual disk destination
A computer name, user account, password, and privacy settings
Network configuration and optional online account settings

When selecting a destination, choose the VM's virtual hard disk. Do not select or format a physical host disk unless you intentionally understand the consequences and the installer explicitly presents a safe, correctly configured virtual device. A VM normally exposes its virtual disk as the guest's installation disk.

Allow the guest to restart as required. Some installers reboot several times while copying files, configuring devices, and creating the initial system.

After the first installation phase, disconnect the ISO or disable Connect at power on. Otherwise, the VM may boot into the installer again instead of starting the newly installed guest system.

Example: installing Linux from an ISO

Create or select a Linux VM with an appropriately sized virtual disk.
Attach the downloaded Linux installer ISO to the virtual CD/DVD drive.
Enable Connect at power on and save the settings.
Power on the VM and choose the Linux installation option.
Install Linux onto the VM's virtual disk, then allow the VM to restart.
Disconnect the ISO after installation so the VM boots from the installed Linux disk.

Example: installing Windows from an ISO

Attach a valid Windows installation ISO to the virtual CD/DVD drive.
Start the VM and boot from the ISO when prompted.
In Windows Setup, select the VM's virtual disk as the installation destination.
Complete the required edition, activation, account, region, and network choices.
After reaching the Windows desktop, install VMware Tools or the supported guest integration package.

Other installation methods

Physical installer disc

Insert the installer disc into the host computer's optical drive. In the VM's CD/DVD settings, select the physical drive rather than an ISO image, enable Connect at power on, and start the VM. The disc must be bootable and accessible to the host.

PXE network installation

PXE, or Preboot Execution Environment, allows a computer to boot from a network service. To use it with a VM, the environment must provide PXE and deployment services, the VM's network adapter must connect at startup, and the VM must be started with network boot selected. This method is common in managed deployments but requires network-side configuration outside VMware Player.

Post-installation steps

Boot into the newly installed guest operating system and confirm that it starts from the virtual disk.
Install VMware Tools, or the equivalent supported guest integration package. See the guides for VMware Tools, installing VMware Tools in Linux, or installing VMware Tools in Windows.
Use the guest's update mechanism to install security updates, operating system updates, and current drivers.
Install applications needed inside the guest and configure its network, user accounts, and security settings.
Test display resolution, mouse movement, keyboard input, clipboard integration, and other required features.
If performance is poor, review the VM's memory, processor, virtual disk, and network settings. Increasing an allocation is not always beneficial if it leaves too few resources for the host.

VMware Tools can improve display support, pointer integration, time synchronization, and features such as shared folders or clipboard sharing where the guest operating system and VMware Player version support them. These features are optional integrations; the guest operating system can still run without all of them.

Troubleshooting

The VM does not boot into the installer

Power off the VM and confirm that the correct ISO is selected under the CD/DVD device.
Confirm that Connect at power on is enabled.
Check that the ISO is bootable and matches the VM's architecture and firmware requirements.
Use the VM boot menu or virtual firmware settings if the virtual hard disk is being chosen before the optical device.

The ISO cannot be selected or an access error appears

Confirm that the file was not moved or deleted and that the drive containing it is available.
Move the ISO to a local folder that the current host user can read.
Check file permissions and verify the download checksum when the vendor provides one.
Download a fresh copy if the ISO is incomplete or corrupted.

The VM returns to the installer after restarting

The ISO is probably still connected, or the VM is prioritizing the virtual optical drive. Disconnect the ISO or disable Connect at power on, then restart the VM so it boots from the installed virtual disk.

The installer cannot find a usable disk

Review the VM hardware settings to confirm that a virtual hard disk exists.
Check that the virtual disk is large enough for the operating system.
Review guest compatibility and storage-controller requirements.
Provide storage drivers when the operating system requires them and the virtual hardware is compatible with those drivers.

For disk configuration tasks, see configuring a virtual hard disk, adding a new virtual hard disk, or adding an existing virtual hard disk.

Display, mouse, clipboard, or resizing works poorly

Install VMware Tools or the supported guest integration package, restart the guest if prompted, and apply guest operating system updates. Some integration features depend on the guest operating system and are not available in every configuration.

Completion checklist

The guest operating system starts from the VM's virtual hard disk.
The installer ISO is disconnected or no longer connects automatically.
VMware Tools or an equivalent integration package is installed when supported.
The guest operating system is updated and activated or licensed appropriately.
Memory, processor, disk, and networking resources are adequate for the workload.
Important guest files are backed up using a method appropriate for virtual machines.