How to Install Windows 7 on VMware – For Testing Only

As you probably know that Windows 7 has been leaked from Microsoft. earlier there was version of the leak consisting of many pieces that you needed to put together and then burn it to a DVD, but I was able to find an ISO that only needs burning to a DVD. I don’t remember where I found it, but I know I downloaded it using utorrent. if you want a copy let me know and we can find a way to share it out. I will install Windows 7 using a VMware virtual machine.

Let’s get started.

Preparing the virtual Machine

If this is the first time you use VMware I recommend you to read how to create a virtual machine on the following article Creating a Virtual Machine on VMware 2.0 remember that you will be booting your virtual machine from an ISO image. to do that, right-click on the virtual machine you created in the tutorial above and go to Settings:

click on the CD-ROM icon then choose Use ISO Image then click browse to find your ISO image.

Windows 7 Installation

Click OK. and reset your Virtual machine.

after rebooting the virtual machine, the Windows 7 Installation wizard should begin. the first window that should come up is this:

Choose your Language, and click next.

right after, the Install Now window should pop-up:

Click on Install Now, and let the installation begin.

After awhile, the Microsoft license agreement should come up. accept it, and click next.

Next, you need to choose which type of installation you want. choose the Custom (advanced) option. the upgrade option is selectable on this beta build. it must be a bug because as far as I know there is no windows installation on this VM.

Click Next.

Select the drive where you want to install Windows 7. if you have an IDE drive probably it will show up here, but if your hard drive is an SCSI or SATA you will need the drivers. the best option is to change the settings on your virtual machine to use an IDE drive instead of a SCSI.