Change to default boot options when creating a Windows 10 and Windows 2016 server and later in vSphere 6.7
Article ID: 332583
Updated On:
Products
VMware vSphere ESXi
Issue/Introduction
Symptoms:
vSphere 6.7 introduces support for the entire range of Microsoft virtualization-based security technologies introduced in Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016. This is a result of close collaboration between VMware and Microsoft to ensure that Windows VMs on vSphere systems support in-guest security features while continuing to be performance and secure on the vSphere platform.
NOTE: To build Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016 VMs today, we recommend building them with EFI firmware enabled. Moving from traditional BIOS/MBR to EFI (UEFI) firmware after the fact introduces some challenges later.
When you select a guest operating system, BIOS or Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) is selected by default, depending on the firmware supported by the operating system. Mac OS X Server guest operating systems support only EFI. If the operating system supports BIOS and EFI, you can change the default from the VM Options tab of the Edit Settings dialog after you create the virtual machine and before you install the guest operating system. If you select EFI, you cannot boot an operating system that supports only BIOS, and the reverse.
Important
Do not change the firmware after the guest operating system is installed. The guest operating system installer partitions the disk in a particular format, depending on which firmware the installer was booted from. If you change the firmware, you will not be able to boot the guest.
When creating a VIrtual Machine that is Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016 and later and you choose it be compatible with ESXi 6.7 and later,
The default boot options are EFI firmware and secure boot
vSphere 6.7 introduces support for the entire range of Microsoft virtualization-based security technologies introduced in Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016. This is a result of close collaboration between VMware and Microsoft to ensure that Windows VMs on vSphere systems support in-guest security features while continuing to be performance and secure on the vSphere platform.
NOTE: To build Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016 VMs today, we recommend building them with EFI firmware enabled. Moving from traditional BIOS/MBR to EFI (UEFI) firmware after the fact introduces some challenges later.
When you select a guest operating system, BIOS or Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) is selected by default, depending on the firmware supported by the operating system. Mac OS X Server guest operating systems support only EFI. If the operating system supports BIOS and EFI, you can change the default from the VM Options tab of the Edit Settings dialog after you create the virtual machine and before you install the guest operating system. If you select EFI, you cannot boot an operating system that supports only BIOS, and the reverse.
Important
Do not change the firmware after the guest operating system is installed. The guest operating system installer partitions the disk in a particular format, depending on which firmware the installer was booted from. If you change the firmware, you will not be able to boot the guest.
When creating a VIrtual Machine that is Windows 10 or Windows Server 2016 and later and you choose it be compatible with ESXi 6.7 and later,
The default boot options are EFI firmware and secure boot
Environment
VMware vSphere 6.7.x
Resolution
Additional Information
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