Install Windows 10 as Virtual Machine in VMware Player  

I do not have an extra key(or a copy of win 8 install media, I've always used the system image I created after initial install) I'm trying to find a way to create an Win10 insider(legally & morally correct!!!) in a VM. I just tried using 100240 media and after desktop appears immediately turning the insider program on, I knew it most likely wouldn't work(and I was right), but, I tried anyhow, for future posters: FORGET IT! I guess my only chance is the 90 day Enterprise version, which are actually good enough to test software with. Darn MS for changing the rules just before RTM. But I understand, not everyone is as law abiding as we are

I was an insider before the RTM, but still can't get one to activate. I do have extra keys, but I don't plan on using them for a VM I use just for testing and You Tube Videos.

essenbe said:

I was an insider before the RTM, but still can't get one to activate. I do have extra keys, but I don't plan on using them for a VM I use just for testing and You Tube Videos.

Even if I had a system image of an old insider build, I couldn't use it on my desktop, as it was from my laptop, and I really doubt I could run a VM well if at all on the ASUS X(K)54C. Oh well I'll just have to download all the software I want to test to a USB, Install a 90day test version and play with that(3 months is probably more than enough to test and retest UX patchers, and even download something totally unprotected from Download(dot)com and try to clean the virtual system out.
One question can one keep re-installing when using the 90 day versions, or do I copy paste the machine(after initial install) and just use the copy as a new one?

I don't know. I've never tried it. I just reinstall.

essenbe said:

I don't know. I've never tried it. I just reinstall.

Ok thanks Steve. It goes fast any how if I do it all on the SSD. I just had a thought, when I'm not using my DVD player(which I only use to rip) I can disconnect the SATA & power cables and hook it to my 256GB SSD that I still have(with only 5 TB it will be good for a loooong time to come) and use that for machines. It would just hang in there(sloppy I know) but I only have the stock case and 3 SATA's. Then I can build up my Linux library too. And if I ever buy a copy of Win10 I'll get the family pack or what ever it's called.

Whoa!!! I just tried something I really didn't believe or know would work with VMware Player. I do not want my VM to have access to the host, but I wanted my wallpapers from 10 there(music I can play in 10 while in the player), so for the heck of it I went to file explorer open my wallpapers folder, selected all, then copy in the ribbon. I then placed my cursor in the Ubuntu machine, opened pictures, and pasted, the result? Even though technically 2 different PC's sharing one mouse:



I'm so glad, you two(Shawn & Steve) made such easy to follow tutorials that I could start experimenting with VM's!! I'm, having fun on 3 week my vacation now(I don't like to travel, just take time to do things I don't usually have time to finish).

Maybe one of you two or both could create a tutorial on how to choose how much resources to give a VM. I mean, for example, with Win10 I have an overkill on RAM(16GB) and can give it a lot. But my CPU is a dual core with 2 threads each, which if I'm not wrong(most likely am though) to my PC is the same as having 4 cores, so I give my VM 2, but I'm just not sure, in my host(Win10 ) I haven't had any adverse effects, and that while I'm playing music on WMP or from YouTube with Chrome, and still using Cortana, and have Task Manager shrunk to just show the graphs to monitor my host. An the VM runs pretty good when I'm in Firefox to stuff running in Terminal and have it's version of Resource Monitor on to monitor my VMs virtual resources, ALL at the same time:)

So basically, how many cores should I be giving my VM?

I thought I briefly touched on that in my video. But, it would be very difficult to make a guide. I have, for example, 6 cores and 12 threads. I gave my Windows 10 4 cores, which didn't affect my Host at all. A Linux VM wouldn't use all of 2 cores, probably. Plus, a lot of people like to run 2, 3 or 4 VMs at the same time. That makes it a different ballgame. Plus, VMs typically have a point of diminishing returns. My experience is, that they all have some point at which you could give it more cores and more ram and it wouldn't make it perform any faster. For example, you could give a Linux VM, 2 cores and 2 GB of ram and it would perform pretty well for a VM. If you gave it 4 cores and 8 GB of ram, it wouldn't perform any better. However you set it up, you can change the hardware settings later on, if you want to. So, the initial settings are not critical.

essenbe said:

I thought I briefly touched on that in my video. But, it would be very difficult to make a guide. I have, for example, 6 cores and 12 threads. I gave my Windows 10 4 cores, which didn't affect my Host at all. A Linux VM wouldn't use all of 2 cores, probably. Plus, a lot of people like to run 2, 3 or 4 VMs at the same time. That makes it a different ballgame. Plus, VMs typically have a point of diminishing returns. My experience is, that they all have some point at which you could give it more cores and more ram and it wouldn't make it perform any faster. For example, you could give a Linux VM, 2 cores and 2 GB of ram and it would perform pretty well for a VM. If you gave it 4 cores and 8 GB of ram, it wouldn't perform any better. However you set it up, you can change the hardware settings later on, if you want to. So, the initial settings are not critical.

OK I'll just keep watch resources on both host an VM till I get a bit more experience. But is it correct when I choose a core for VM it's a thread or am I literally using both my cores(all 4 logical processors)? Like I said I have no problems running all that stuff and my CPU for host doesn't even twitch.

I can't factually answer, but I am under the impression it is counting threads too. I have searched for the answer to that very briefly but haven't found a creditable answer.