To ensure you are able to correctly upgrade your Windows virtual machine, see the Microsoft TechNet article
Windows 8 Upgrade Paths.
Upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 8 saves your Apps, Windows settings, and personal files. If you choose to keep nothing during the installation, your files are saved to the Windows.old folder, where you can retrieve them after the upgrade (if you did not format the hard drive). For more information, see the Microsoft article
How to retrieve files from the Windows.old folder.
Warning: Microsoft recommends backing up any important data before performing this upgrade. VMware recommends taking a backup of your virtual machine. For more information, see
Best practices when backing up a VMware Workstation virtual machine (2006202) and
Best Practices for virtual machine backup (programs and data) in VMware Fusion (1013628).
To upgrade a virtual machine from Windows 7 to Windows 8:
- Shut down the virtual machine.
- Open the virtual machine settings:
- For Fusion 5.x and later, click Virtual Machine > Settings.
- For Workstation 9.x and later, click VM > Settings.
- For Player 5.x and later, click Edit virtual machine settings.
- Change your Operating System type:
- For Fusion 5.x and later:
- Click General.
- From the OS dropdown, select Windows 8 or Windows 8 x64, then click Change to apply the changes.
- For Workstation 9.x and later:
- Click Options > General.
- From the Version dropdown, select Windows 8 or Windows 8 x64, then click OK to apply the changes.
- For Player 5.x and later:
- Click Options > General.
- From the Version dropdown, select Windows 8 or Windows 8 x64, then click OK to apply the changes.
- Power on the virtual machine.
- Log in using the user account on the Windows 7 installation.
- Purchase Windows 8 from Microsoft. Open this link inside the virtual machine.
Note The purchase link must be opened inside the virtual machine.
- Decide on a upgrade version and click Download the upgrade.
- Click Run to download and run the file. Follow the onscreen instructions.
- When presented with the option to Choose what to keep, choose if you want to keep your Windows settings, personal files, and apps.
- Click Next.
- On the next screen, you are given an option to purchase the upgrade. Upon purchase, the Windows 8 product key is shown on the next screen. Click Next to proceed to the download.
Note: The key is also sent to your email address.
- After the download is complete, select Install Now and click Next.
- Accept the Microsoft Software License Agreement.
- Click Install to start the installation.
- After the installation is complete, you are given an option to personalize the operating system. Follow the onscreen instructions to finish the process.