[Tutorial] How to install VMware workstation 11 or 12 in Vista

[WinFX]

Warning: This only works with versions between 11.0-11.1.2 / 12.0.0 in 64-bit versions of Vista, later versions still do not work.

Officially the latest version compatible with Vista in both artitectures is VMware 10.0.7 but VMWare 11.1.2 and 12.0.0 also works in Vista.

Process:

1. Install VMware 10.0.7, when starting the program choose the 30-day trial as there will be problems with the license when installing VMware 11 or 12
2. Create a virtual machine and install Windows 7 there or on another partition or another PC. Then install VMware 11 or 12 there.
3. Returning to Vista, stop all VMware related services and processes
4. Remove the VMware folder from ProgramFilesx86 and replace it with the VMware 11/12 folder
5. Replace all VMware-related files in system32\drivers with those of VMware 11/12
6. The same as point 4 nothing more than with ProgramData\VMware
7. Restart Windows Vista
8. VMware 11 in Windows Vista !!!

 

[Jaguarek62]

13 hours ago, WinFX said:

Warning: This only works with versions between 11.0-11.1.2 / 12.0.0 in 64-bit versions of Vista, later versions still do not work.

Officially the latest version compatible with Vista in both artitectures is VMware 10.0.7 but VMWare 11.1.2 and 12.0.0 also works in Vista.

Process:

1. Install VMware 10.0.7, when starting the program choose the 30-day trial as there will be problems with the license when installing VMware 11 or 12
2. Create a virtual machine and install Windows 7 there or on another partition or another PC. Then install VMware 11 or 12 there.
3. Returning to Vista, stop all VMware related services and processes
4. Remove the VMware folder from ProgramFilesx86 and replace it with the VMware 11/12 folder
5. Replace all VMware-related files in system32\drivers with those of VMware 11/12
6. The same as point 4 nothing more than with ProgramData\VMware
7. Restart Windows Vista
8. VMware 11 in Windows Vista !!!

 

i'm stuck here. Any help?

[WinClient5270]

I already discovered this was possible back in 2015/2016, however I never posted about it because this absolutely infuriating little error prevents any VM from starting with no way around it:

Unless someone knows a workaround... I have tried using Application Verifier and FCWin2k to no avail.

[win32]

We may have to do the nuclear solution; replacing all instances of the OS build number in the registry with the one for W7 SP1.

Or try to use imagecfg to change the ntoskrnl.exe version number to match W7 SP1.

If successful, it could easily fix MSE as well as that seems functional with the exception of some extraneous version check failing.

Unfortunately, I won't be near my Vista machine until Sunday.

Furthermore, this method could get VMware Workstation 8-10 working in Windows 2000 (with extended core + kernel). The installers for 7 and up can't properly install and start services so they don't work. blackwingcat made a batch file that starts WS 7's services but nothing for the later ones.

Edited September 4, 2019 by win32

[WinClient5270]

Well after changing the launch condition of each .exe file in the VMware Program Files directory with Application Verifier (x64) using its "HighVersionLie" feature, I have successfully managed to remove the artificial OS block. However, all that did was create a different error...

The VM at least tries to start now, but after a few seconds the VM shuts down and this error appears... I'm pretty stumped at this point. Link to Application Verifier is here if anyone wants to try it out.

Edited September 4, 2019 by WinClient5270

[win32]

Have you checked VMware's drivers in dependency walker x64? They may not be compatible with Vista.

Are VMware's services able to start?

[WinFX]

10 hours ago, Jaguarek62 said:

i'm stuck here. Any help?

Here is a log file to fix VM12 license problems

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\VMware, Inc.\VMware Workstation\Dormant]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\VMware, Inc.\VMware Workstation\Dormant\License.ws.12.0.e1.201505]
"StartFields"="Cpt, ProductID, LicenseVersion, LicenseType, LicenseEdition, Field2"
"Field2"="Option, Epoch"
"Cpt"="COPYRIGHT (c) VMware, Inc. 1999-2015"
"ProductID"="VMware Workstation"
"LicenseVersion"="12.0"
"LicenseType"="Site"
"LicenseEdition"="ws"
"Epoch"="2015-05-01"
"Option"="19"
"Data"="MaxVcpusPerVm=8;mdate=2015-03-21"
"DataHash"="aa495f5b-a02cc718-ba192372-3393a1ba-fdb5e6d0"
"Hash"="f32baca2-cfe0f380-659bc70c-442a9688-6df344d8"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\VMware, Inc.\VMware Workstation\Dormant\License.ws.12.0.e2.201505]
"StartFields"="Cpt, ProductID, LicenseVersion, LicenseType, LicenseEdition, Field2"
"Field2"="Option, Epoch"
"Cpt"="COPYRIGHT (c) VMware, Inc. 1999-2015"
"ProductID"="VMware Workstation"
"LicenseVersion"="12.0"
"LicenseType"="Site"
"LicenseEdition"="ws.vl"
"Epoch"="2015-05-01"
"Option"="19"
"Data"="MaxVcpusPerVm=8;mdate=2015-03-21"
"DataHash"="9c1fd1a3-49c3429c-641e9076-da73b697-d2ee0588"
"Hash"="9811fc4e-e4f95a51-1b40c17c-ad0b652e-20218f07"

For your safety, the program never starts it for the first time when I extract the registry

[WinFX]

3 hours ago, WinClient5270 said:

I already discovered this was possible back in 2015/2016, however I never posted about it because this absolutely infuriating little error prevents any VM from starting with no way around it:

Unless someone knows a workaround... I have tried using Application Verifier and FCWin2k to no avail.

You would be using version 11.1.4, 11.1.2 does not have the error. The same for users who have 12.5.x version 12.0.0 does not have it.

[WinFX]

2 hours ago, WinClient5270 said:

Well after changing the launch condition of each .exe file in the VMware Program Files directory with Application Verifier (x64) using its "HighVersionLie" feature, I have successfully managed to remove the artificial OS block. However, all that did was create a different error...

The VM at least tries to start now, but after a few seconds the VM shuts down and this error appears... I'm pretty stumped at this point. Link to Application Verifier is here if anyone wants to try it out.

In my opinion a somewhat difficult solution but the most direct is to use a hexadecimal editor and compare the vmware-vmx.exe of version 11.1.2 with that of version 11.1.4 and create a patch for compatibility in vista.

[WinClient5270]

I can confirm, 12.0.0 works great in Windows Vista!

Huge thanks to @WinFX for figuring this out. I will have to add these programs to my list sometime this week.

[Jaguarek62]

On 9/5/2019 at 3:43 AM, WinFX said:

Here is a log file to fix VM12 license problems

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\VMware, Inc.\VMware Workstation\Dormant]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\VMware, Inc.\VMware Workstation\Dormant\License.ws.12.0.e1.201505]
"StartFields"="Cpt, ProductID, LicenseVersion, LicenseType, LicenseEdition, Field2"
"Field2"="Option, Epoch"
"Cpt"="COPYRIGHT (c) VMware, Inc. 1999-2015"
"ProductID"="VMware Workstation"
"LicenseVersion"="12.0"
"LicenseType"="Site"
"LicenseEdition"="ws"
"Epoch"="2015-05-01"
"Option"="19"
"Data"="MaxVcpusPerVm=8;mdate=2015-03-21"
"DataHash"="aa495f5b-a02cc718-ba192372-3393a1ba-fdb5e6d0"
"Hash"="f32baca2-cfe0f380-659bc70c-442a9688-6df344d8"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\VMware, Inc.\VMware Workstation\Dormant\License.ws.12.0.e2.201505]
"StartFields"="Cpt, ProductID, LicenseVersion, LicenseType, LicenseEdition, Field2"
"Field2"="Option, Epoch"
"Cpt"="COPYRIGHT (c) VMware, Inc. 1999-2015"
"ProductID"="VMware Workstation"
"LicenseVersion"="12.0"
"LicenseType"="Site"
"LicenseEdition"="ws.vl"
"Epoch"="2015-05-01"
"Option"="19"
"Data"="MaxVcpusPerVm=8;mdate=2015-03-21"
"DataHash"="9c1fd1a3-49c3429c-641e9076-da73b697-d2ee0588"
"Hash"="9811fc4e-e4f95a51-1b40c17c-ad0b652e-20218f07"

For your safety, the program never starts it for the first time when I extract the registry

Thank you soo much!

[Jaguarek62]

it wooorks <3

[gerona12]

How to fixing?

[gerona12]

I installed VMware Workstation 12.0.0 PRO, not working internet in VM(Windows). How to i fiix?

[Win10-Hater]

1 hour ago, gerona12 said:

I installed VMware Workstation 12.0.0 PRO, not working internet in VM(Windows). How to i fiix?

Is your network adapter connected to the VM and set to NAT mode? That's what I do to ensure internet connectivity on VM's.

Btw, if that is not causing the issue, then I don't know what does.