Converting physical machines to virtual machines using VMware Workstation for Windows

Products

• VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

This article provide steps describes to convert physical machines to virtual machines using VMware Workstation for Windows.

If you use Workstation for Linux, you must use VMware vCenter Converter.

Environment

• VMware Workstation 8.x (Windows)
• VMware Workstation 9.x (Windows)
• VMware Workstation 6.x (Windows)
• VMware Workstation Pro 15.x (Linux)
• VMware Workstation 10.x (Windows)
• VMware Workstation 7.x (Windows)
• VMware Workstation 11.x (for Windows)
• VMware Workstation Pro 15.x (Windows)

Resolution

To convert physical machines to virtual machines using VMware Workstation for Windows:

Workstation 8.x or later

Workstation 8 uses vCenter Converter Standalone to convert physical machine as well as importing existing virtual machines. If not already installed, Workstation prompts you to install Converter the first time you use the conversion feature.

1. Launch Workstation.
2. Go to File > Virtualize a Physical Machine:
    
   1. You are prompted to install vCenter Converter Standalone if it is not already installed. Follow the prompts to complete the installation. For more information, see Installing and upgrading vCenter Converter in VMware Workstation 8.x and 9.x (2005642).
   2. Once the installation completes, go to File > Virtualize a Physical Machine.
       
3. Click Next.
4. Enter the hostname or IP address of the physical machine, as well as the user name and password for the administrator account, then click Next.
   
   Notes:
   • The physical machine must be powered on and have a password to proceed.
   • User Account Control must be turned off. For information about UAC and Windows 7, see the Microsoft article What is User Account Control?. For instructions on disabling UAC on Windows 7, see the Microsoft article Guided Help: Adjust User Account Control settings in Windows 7. For information about UAC and Windows Vista (including instructions on disabling it), see Microsoft's article How to use User Account Control (UAC) in Windows Vista.
     
     Disclaimer: VMware is not responsible for the reliability of any data, opinions, advice, or statements made on third-party websites. Inclusion of such links does not imply that VMware endorses, recommends, or accepts any responsibility for the content of such sites.
5. Choose the name and location where you would like to store the converted machine, click Next.
6. Enter the user name and password for the account on the machine you have Workstation installed on.
7. Click Finish.

To verify that the conversion was successful:

1. Go to File > Open and browse to the folder where the virtual machine files are stored.
2. Select the .vmx file for the new virtual machine and click Open.
3. Power on the virtual machine.

Workstation 7.x and earlier

1. Launch Workstation.
2. Go to File > Import or Export to launch the Conversion Wizard and click Next.
3. Click Next.
4. In the Source field, select Physical Computer and click Next.
    
5. Select either a remote machine or local machine as the source machine you are converting and click Next.
   
   Note: Selecting remote machine requires you to:
    
   • Specify the computer name or IP address of the remote machine
   • Specify the authentication username and password
   • Have the remote machine running
      
6. Select data source(s) and click Next.
   
   Note: At least one system or active volume must be selected to successfully boot the new virtual machine.
    
7. Click Next.
8. In the Destination field, select Other virtual machine and click Next.
9. Name the new virtual machine, specify the location to store the virtual machine's files and click Next.
   
   Note: Virtual machine files can be stored in a local disk or expansion drive.
10. Select the amount of disk space you want to allocate to the virtual machine and click Next.
11. After the conversion wizard verifies your destination parameters, click Next.
12. Map the virtual machine’s NICs to a workstation network and click Next.
    
    Note: Up to 10 Network cards can be configured.
     
13. Configure the guest OS of the new virtual machine to customize the identity of the virtual machine or remove all system restore check points and click Next.
14. Review the summary of the virtual machine's configuration, make any necessary changes and click Finish.
15. When the conversion is complete, click Close.

To verify that the conversion was successful:

1. Go to File > Open and browse to the folder where the virtual machine files are stored.
2. Select the .vmx file for the new virtual machine and click Open.
3. Power on the virtual machine.

Additional Information

• For more information on the conversion process, including troubleshooting any errors that may occur, see Converting a physical machine for Fusion, Workstation, or Player using Converter Standalone (2005129).
• Installing and upgrading vCenter Converter in VMware Workstation 8.x and 9.x