Install Workstation Player

Host requirements and a clean first run.

Download Player from Broadcom/VMware’s current portal — product names have moved, but the desktop hypervisor is the same idea. Enable virtualization in BIOS/UEFI. On Windows, Hyper-V and Player can fight; if VMs will not start, check that Windows features like Memory Integrity / Core isolation are not blocking the hypervisor you intend to use.

Store VMs on a dedicated folder with room to grow. Default disks expand. A nearly full system drive will freeze a guest at the worst moment.