New Windows installation keeps asking you to log in Microsoft account and forcing you to connect network. This is overwhelming for creating a VM for testing purpose.
Using Rufus to create a bootable USB flash drive, it gives you the option to bypass these options.
How to install a Windows VM from a bootable USB flash drive that is created by Rufus?
(The following steps are based on a post on Broadcom website, refined according to my practice)
Installing Windows 10 in a virtual machine using Windows 10 USB drive (EFI) in VMware Workstation Pro using the Custom Install method:
- Insert Windows bootable USB flash drive. Since no VM is running, it sure would connect to host, not VM.
- Click Create a New Virtual Machine. Alternatively, navigate to File > New > Virtual Machine.
- Select Custom (Advanced) and click Next.
- Ensure that the hardware compatibility is set to Workstation 1x.x (the version of your VMware client version) Pro > Click Next
- Select I will install the operating system later.
- Ensure that Operating System is set to Microsoft Windows and Version is set to Windows 10 or Windows 10 x64, depending on whether it is 32bit or 64bit disc image.
- Enter the virtual machine name.
- Select the location where you want to store the virtual machine. You can choose to retain the default location displayed > Click Next
- If you are installing Windows 11, it would ask you to choose from TPM related encryption options
- Select EFI as Firmware type > Click Next
- Specify the number of Processors and Cores you want to allocate to the virtual machine > Click Next
- Specify the amount of memory (RAM) you want to allocate to the virtual machine > Click Next
- Select the network type > Click Next
- Select the I/O controller. It is recommended to use the default option > Click Next
- Select Create a new Disk and click Next.
- Specify a name for the virtual disk file and click Next.
- Click Finish to save the virtual machine. The virtual machine is now created and added to the Workstation inventory.
- Run the VM
- Click on VM > Removable Devices and connect the Windows bootable USB flash drive to the virtual machine. The Windows bootable USB flash drive is now connecting to the running VM
- Click on VM > Click on Send Control + Alt + Del. This resets the VM to boot again
Still asking you to sign in a Microsoft account?
Just disconnect your network then click Sign In button, it would let you create a local account.
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