VMware Workstation silent install.

[Martin H]

The MSI installer supports a switch for disabling the installation of certain components, like the VMware authorization service, NAT and DHCP i.e. 'REMOVE=Authd,NAT,DHCP'.

However, when doing that, then because of not installing the VMware authorization service, then an error is shown whenever one is trying to access a VM, but oddly enough, if not using the 'REMOVE=' switch to remove the VMware authorization service, but instead just closing the service afterwards and disabling it from starting up automatically, then one can access VMs without any problems...

Also, I personally don't need either DHCP or NAT to access the network, so i also close and disable them from starting automatically, after the install has done...

Here's an INF which will install VMware Workstation silently and close the three default services and disable them from starting up automatically(remember to change the serial):

[Version]
Signature=$Windows NT$

[DefaultInstall]
RunPreSetupCommands=runpresetupcommands
RunPostSetupCommands=runpostsetupcommands:1
AddReg=addreg

[runpresetupcommands]
"msiexec /i ""VMware Workstation.msi"" SERIALNUMBER=XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX /qn"

[runpostsetupcommands]
net stop VMAuthdService
net stop VMnetDHCP
"net stop ""VMware NAT Service"""

[addreg]
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VMAuthdService","Start",0x10001,4
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VMnetDHCP","Start",0x10001,4
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\VMware NAT Service","Start",0x10001,4

You cannot install this INF with "rightclick and install", as it's an Advanced INF, so use this command instead:

rundll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection install.inf

Also, the above INF is for installing an admin install of VMware Workstation, which is done by running e.g.:

setup.exe /a /s /v"/qn TARGETDIR=D:\Temp\VMWare"

I personally use VMware Workstation v5.0, but this procedure also works fine with v6.x...

Edited February 25, 2010 by Martin H

[neuropass]

Hi there ,

I wanted to know if it works for the new version...

[neuropass]

Bump...

[Martin H]

Yeah, atleast it did with v6.0.1 b55017(i used that as it was the latest lite version from RyanVMs forum).

I recall that there where another service added, which i also incorporated into the INF, but i'm affraid i don't have it anymore, as i've changed over to using VirtualBox now instead...

Anyway, you can easilly add it yourself i.e. just run 'WIN+R > services.msc', double-click on the other service and note the name at the top and then duplicate it to the addreg and runpostsetupcommands sections following the used syntax...

[oskingen]

Hi, this is what i do for the latest version

extract the package :

VMware-workstation-full-7.0.1.exe /extract "<Folder Name>"

Then install via MSI :

Msiexec /i "vmware workstation.msi" /qn REBOOT=REALLYSUPPRESS ADDLOCAL=ALL DESKTOPSHORTCUT=1 SERIALNUMBER=XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX