If your Windows virtual machine running on VMware Fusion becomes corrupted or you simply want a fresh start, you may need to reinstall Windows. While the process may seem daunting, it’s actually quite straightforward with VMware Fusion’s built-in tools. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to reinstall Windows on your VMware Fusion virtual machine.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, make sure you have the following:
A valid Windows installation ISO file or USB drive
Sufficient disk space for the new virtual machine
Administrator access to your Mac
Step 1: Create a New Virtual Machine
The first step is to create a new virtual machine in VMware Fusion. Here’s how:
From the VMware Fusion top menu bar, click on File > New.
Click on Create Custom Virtual Machine.
Select Windows 10 or Windows 10 64-bit as the Operating System, depending on whether it is 32-bit or 64-bit that you are trying to install.
Click Continue.
Click Create a new Virtual Disk and Click Continue.
Click Finish and Click Save.
The virtual machine will power on automatically and show a “No Operating System Found” message.
Step 2: Prepare the Virtual Machine for Installation
Next, you need to prepare the virtual machine for the Windows installation:
From the VMware Fusion top menu bar, click on Virtual Machine > Shutdown Virtual Machine.
After the virtual machine is shut down, from the VMware Fusion top menu bar, click on Window > Virtual Machine Library.
Right-click or Control-click on the newly created virtual machine and click Show in Finder.
Right-click or Control-click on the .bundle file of the virtual machine and click on Show Package contents.
Edit the .vmx file and add the following entry to the file:
firmware = “efi”
Quit VMware Fusion and re-launch it.
Power on the virtual machine.
After you see the “No Operating System Found” message, connect the Windows installation ISO or USB drive to the virtual machine.
Step 3: Install Windows
Now it’s time to install Windows on your virtual machine:
The virtual machine prompts you to either Connect to Mac or Connect to Windows. Click Connect to Windows.
From the VMware Fusion top menu bar, click on Virtual Machine > Click on Send Ctrl Alt Del.
The virtual machine will reset and the Windows Boot Manager opens.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the operating system.
During the installation process, you may need to provide a valid Windows product key and select the appropriate installation options.
Step 4: Install VMware Tools
After the Windows installation is complete, you should install VMware Tools to enhance the performance and functionality of your virtual machine:
From the VMware Fusion top menu bar, click on Virtual Machine > Install VMware Tools.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install VMware Tools.
Once the installation is finished, restart the virtual machine when prompted.
Step 5: Activate Windows
Finally, activate your Windows installation to ensure that it is fully licensed and supported:
Open the Settings app in Windows.
Navigate to Update & Security > Activation.
Follow the instructions to activate your Windows installation.
And that’s it! You have successfully reinstalled Windows on your VMware Fusion virtual machine. Remember to back up your important data regularly and keep your Windows installation up to date with the latest security patches and updates.