INSTALLING "VMWARE PLAYER" INTO A "WINDOWS" HOST COMPUTER

Objective: Install the free "VMware Player" software application program into a "Windows" computer. Then you can create an unlimited number of "virtual machines" that run various versions of "Windows", "MS-DOS", "Unix", and "Linux" computers.

BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT "VMWARE PLAYER" Basic information about "VMware Player" can be found at http://www.vmware.com/products/player/faqs.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMware and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMware_Player

OPERATING SYSTEMS REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HOST COMPUTER

"Windows XP", "Windows Vista", "Windows 7", many "distros" of "Linux" can be a host operating system for "VMware Player". According to page 13 of the users guide at http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vmware_player310.pdf <Start of quote:> You can check the supported host and guest operating systems list for virtual machines running in VMware

Player to verify whether your computer operating system allows you to install VMware Player. For installation, VMware Player requires approximately 250MB (Windows) or 200MB (Linux) free disk space. You can delete the installer after installation is complete to reclaim disk space. For host and guest operating system support and known issues, go to the VMware Web site, and click the Support & Downloads tab. Under Support Resources, click the Compatibility Guides link. VMware Player is not listed, but the information for VMware Workstation 7.x is applicable to VMware Player 3.x. Operating systems that are not listed are not supported for use in a virtual machine. <End of quote> http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php?action=search&deviceCategory=software&advancedORbasic=advanced&maxDisplayRows=1000000&key=&productId=3&datePosted=-1&partnerId%5B%5D=-1&os_bits=-1&os_use%5B%5D=-1&os_family%5B%5D=-1&os_type%5B%5D=-1&rorre=0

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HOST COMPUTER

The hardware requirements for a host computer than runs "VMware Player" can be found at http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vmware_player310.pdf According to page 11 of this document: <Start of quote> Your computer must have the compatible hardware to install VMware Player. The minimum host system requirements for installing and using VMware Player are: Standard x86-compatible

or x86-64 with Intel VT Intel™ Virtualization Technology feature turned on or most AMD64 processors (except the earliest revision C Opteron processors). Processor speed – 1.3GHz or faster Memory – Minimum 1GB is required, however VMware recommends to have 2GB and above available memory. You must have enough memory to run the host operating system, the guest operating system for every virtual machine, and for applications on the host and guest. For more information about memory requirements, see your guest operating system documentation. The total amount of memory you can assign to all virtual machines running on a single host is limited only by the amount of RAM on the host. The maximum amount of memory for each virtual machine on 32-bit hosts is 8GB and on 64-bit hosts is 32GB. VMware Player does not allow powering on virtual machines that are configured to use more than 8GB of memory on 32-bit hosts. Memory management limitations on 32-bit operating systems cause virtual machine memory to overcommit, which severely affects system performance. Hard disk – At least 1GB free disk space is recommended for each guest operating system.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING "VMWARE PLAYER" Step 1: Start a Web browser such as "Internet Explorer" or "Firefox". Step 2: Go to https://www.vmware.com/tryvmware/?p=player&lp=1 It looks like this:

Ignore where it says "Your Trial Includes" in the lower left-hand corner. The free "VMware Player" software application program is not a time-limited trial. Step 3: Either log in with your existing free "VMware" account or register for one. Step 4: The download page for "VMware Player" looks like this:

Step 5: Click on the "Download" button for the "Windows" version of "VMware Player". Step 6: Click on the "Save" button of the "File Download - Security Warning" box:

Step 7: A "Save As" box will be displayed:

Step 8: Click on "Desktop" in the left pane of the "Save As" box. Step 9: "Desktop" should now be highlighted:

Step 10: Click on the "Save" button of the "Save As" box:

Step 11: The status of the download will be displayed:

Step 12: Click on the "Run" button to start the installation of "VMware Player":

Step 13: Click on the "Yes" button if a "User Account Control" box pops up:

Step 14: Click on the "Next" button of the "Welcome.." box:

Step 15: Click on the "Next" button of the "VMware Player Setup" box:

Step 16: Click on the "Next" button of the "Software Updates" box:

Step 17: A "User Experience Improvement Program" box will be displayed:

Step 18: Remove the checkmark by clicking on it:

Step 19: Click on the "Next" button of the "User Experience Improvement Program" box:

Step 20: A "Shortcuts" box will be displayed:

Step 21: Remove the checkmark for "Quick Launch toolbar" by clicking on it:

Step 22: Click on the "Next" button of the "Shortcuts" box:

Step 23: Click on the "Continue" button of the "Ready.." box:

Step 24: The status of the installation process will be displayed:

Step 25: Click on the "Restart Now" button of the "Setup Wizard Complete" box:

Step 26: Your "Windows" computer will reboot. Step 27: Start "VMware Player" by double-clicking on its icon on the Windows "Desktop":

Step 28:

A "License Agreement" box will be displayed:

Step 29: Read the "License Agreement". Step 30: Select the "Yes, I accept.." option:

Step 31: Click on the "OK" button of the "License Agreement" box:

Step 32: The "VMware Player" application window will be displayed:

Note that there are no virtual machines inside the left pane. You will soon remedy this deficiency! When you install virtual machines into "VMware Player", they will be listed in the left pane:

The "VMware Player" main window acts a bit strange: You cannot resize it. You can drag it around by clicking and dragging any edge of the "VMware Player" main window.