Solved The New VMware Workstation Pro 17 - My Personal Opinion


You don't need to wait until it fails. If you download the ISO and start Setup from there, replace the .DLL file with a dummy and disconnect from the internet. Then you may proceed. If you successfully bypass compatibility check you should see the option to upgrade and keep both your apps and data. Stay offline until the first restart, or even better until you see the desktop again. Running winver command should confirm you have upgraded successfully. Running all the rest Windows updates doesn't check compatibility and they all install without any issue.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 64-bit (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v23H2 (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    Gainward NE5105T018G1-1070F (nVidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB GDDR5)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Patriot Burst Elite 480GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Stock Intel CPU Fan, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
I have used Virtualbox for a long time and find it easy to use. I have tried Vmware player a couple of times and never liked it. I recently downloaded Vmware player 17 and installed it on my laptop. I tried to install Linux Pop and it would not install. I could use it live but when I tried to install it would lockup. I did get Linuxmint installed but I could not install the tools. I find it to hard to use and have trouble finding information about how to use it. I removed it from my machine and will never try it again. I have never had trouble installing Windows or Linux Distros as guest on Virtualbox. In my opinion Virtualbox is far more advanced than Vmware player.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 23H2 22631.2715
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell xps8910
    CPU
    Intel core I7 6700
    Motherboard
    OWPMFG Z170 Skylake
    Memory
    32gbytes DDR4 1066mhz dual
    Graphics Card(s)
    nvidia GT730
    Sound Card
    Nvidia GK 208
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell del40e8
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel M.2 512G NVME / Samsung SSD 850 250G / Toshiba 1TB / WD 1TB
    PSU
    450W
    Case
    Mid
    Cooling
    Standard
    Keyboard
    Wired Perixx
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless MX Master
    Internet Speed
    25 Mbits/s-Viasat
    Browser
    Firefox and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows defender
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 22H2 22621.2428
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus BR1100CKA
    CPU
    Intel Celeron N4500 @ 1.10 GHz
    Motherboard
    Asustek
    Memory
    4.00 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    On board
    Sound Card
    On board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    standard
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Crucial 500Gb NVME M.2 SSD / 58GB Factory SSD
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    Heatsink
    Mouse
    Touchpad
    Keyboard
    Builtin
    Internet Speed
    25mbs/Viasat
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows
Virtualbox has fewer features than VMWare Workstation.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 64-bit (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v23H2 (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    Gainward NE5105T018G1-1070F (nVidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB GDDR5)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Patriot Burst Elite 480GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Stock Intel CPU Fan, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
Hi folks
I keep usually at least 3 Windows VMs running on a Linux NAS server (KVM/QEMU) - and rarely need to logon to the HOST. The VM's can be accessible to anybody who has a Windows account on the VM (although being Windows it's a single user system so only 1 user can access the VM at a time).

The Host is just sitting away quietly in the background just supplying a few services like SAMBA, OPENVPN, and some multi-media files (ascessible to a number of Firestick TV devices and the VM's as well).

If using VMWare on say a Windows HOST and it logs off when the user logs off the host it rather reduces the functionality and capability of what the VM could do -- for example say you wanted to test several concurrent users on a LINUX VM or a WINDOWS SERVER VM (W22 Server available for 180 day free trial so worth "a go with it") - then you are stymied if you have to stay logged on to the HOST.

cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP,7,10,11 Linux Arch Linux
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    2 X Intel i7
Virtualbox has fewer features than VMWare Workstation.
But it's FREE -- VMWare workstation is certainly well more than 100 USD these days.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP,7,10,11 Linux Arch Linux
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    2 X Intel i7
Ok, so that implies any VM cumulative or feature update must be done with an ISO, an MSU, or other hard local source. A standard Check for Updates is out of the question. IMO, that constitutes a massive PITA. But thanks for the info, do appreciate.
Hi there
I'm at a loss to understand why Windows on ANY VM - the main ones here being HYPER-V, VBOX, VMWare and KVM/QEMU as HOST VM software--. system needs an ISO etc to install updates.

Surely just the "Bog standard" Windows update from settings etc should work just as it does on Native hardware.

I've run zillions of W10 and W11 updates on VM's - in any case on decent VM systems you can emulate a TPM V2.0, specify graphics and even mess around with the virtual CPU topography so running on "Unsupported hardware" should be a doddle.

cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP,7,10,11 Linux Arch Linux
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    2 X Intel i7
Don't confuse standard updates with upgrading to a higher version. All computers can download and install all standard updates, including the optional updates from Windows Update as it never checks compatibility. Unsupported computers are not offered the upgrade to a new version through Windows Update. To upgrade to a new version (such as from v21H2 to v22H2) you have to manually download the latest ISO and bypass compatibility check to proceed with the upgrade.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 64-bit (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v23H2 (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    Gainward NE5105T018G1-1070F (nVidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB GDDR5)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Patriot Burst Elite 480GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Stock Intel CPU Fan, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
Don't confuse standard updates with upgrading to a higher version. All computers can download and install all standard updates, including the optional updates from Windows Update as it never checks compatibility. Unsupported computers are not offered the upgrade to a new version through Windows Update. To upgrade to a new version (such as from v21H2 to v22H2) you have to manually download the latest ISO and bypass compatibility check to proceed with the upgrade.
Correct answer :-)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7-11700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS Prime Z590-A
    Memory
    128GB Crucial Ballistix 3200MHz DRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    No GPU - CPU graphics only (for now)
    Sound Card
    Realtek (on motherboard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Envy 32
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    1 x 1TB NVMe Gen 4 x 4 SSD
    1 x 2TB NVMe Gen 3 x 4 SSD
    2 x 512GB 2.5" SSDs
    2 x 8TB HD
    PSU
    Corsair HX850i
    Case
    Corsair iCue 5000X RGB
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black cooler + 10 case fans
    Keyboard
    CODE backlit mechanical keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1 Gb Down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Additional options installed:
    WiFi 6E PCIe adapter
    ASUS ThunderboltEX 4 PCIe adapter
  • Operating System
    Win11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 2
    CPU
    Intel i7-1255U
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek® ALC3306-CG codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3-inch IPS Display
    Screen Resolution
    WQXGA (2560 x 1600)
    Hard Drives
    2 TB 4 x 4 NVMe SSD
    PSU
    USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 Power / Charging
    Mouse
    Buttonless Glass Precision Touchpad
    Keyboard
    Backlit, spill resistant keyboard
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1Gb Down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    WiFi 6e / Bluetooth 5.1 / Facial Recognition / Fingerprint Sensor / ToF (Time of Flight) Human Presence Sensor

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 21H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    AMD
    CPU
    Ryzen 5
    Motherboard
    Asus
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce
    Monitor(s) Displays
    DELL
    Keyboard
    MS
they enforce encryption for Win 11 VMs.
They don't enforce anything. As you wrote, you can just choose "Windows 10" as the guest OS type and proceed to install a tricked out Windows 11. This is fairly easy, for example, popular USB diskmaker RUFUS can do this. But you can also do it manually. This way you don't need encryption.

Besides, don't forget that VMWare Workstation, and VMWare Player are consumer-grade tools. For your needs, ESXi seems to be a better choice. Or any type 1 hypervisor in particular, which includes Hyper-V as well but since you made this a VMWare topic, you're getting a VMWare product suggestion. That is ESXi.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

Correct answer :-)
Not quite - as on some VM platforms the "Virtual Hardware" even if run on "Natively unsupported systems" will pass the W11 compatibility check and therefore should (and is) offered appropriate updates.

Some VM systems particularly KVM/QEMU allow a "TPM emulator", graphics configuration and even the CPU topography for the virtual cpu to be specified -- making a VM actually quite simple to run even on quite ancient MBR (non UEFI) hardware without native secure boot. If the CPU has enough horsepower there's no reason why a proper "Up to date" W11" can't be run as a VM on any capable machine.

TPM emulation :

Screenshot_20221204_114220.png


Video :
Screenshot_20221204_114315.png


CPU :

Screenshot_20221204_114425.png

@ish4d0w

Running Esxi on consumer grade equipment isn't so straight forward -- in addition with the Non enterprise version you need to have a separate box to logon on the the VM - otherwise you need something expensive like vSphere.

If you want this sort of flexibility with essentially a Type 1 Hypervisor you are far better off using HYPER-V on a Windows host or KVM/QEMU and Libvirt on a Linux host.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP,7,10,11 Linux Arch Linux
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    2 X Intel i7
My experience with VMware WS 17 running under Manjaro was more positive. I could not get around MS's absurd restrictions on the "hardware." WS 17 handles the TPM stuff admirably, and I was able to install Windows 11 latest dev build. There are improvements in speed and stability over WS 16 - whether it is worth the money, only you can decide. The first software I have bought an upgrade for in many months

Cheers
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Fedora 39 Silverblue and Rhino Linux . Kernels 6.6x and 6.7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HomeBrew
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 2700X Eight-Core Processo
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell
    Hard Drives
    4 2 in Linuz raid0
    Keyboard
    Eluktronics
    Mouse
    Eluktronics
    Browser
    Firefox and Chromium
    Other Info
    Gnome 45

Latest Support Threads

Back
Top Bottom