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Installing macOS High Sierra on VMware Workstation 12.5.7


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I had posted a note earlier with little feedback so I thought I would post HOW TO INSTALL High Sierra on VMware Workstation 12.5.7

 

It is much easier than the complicated scripts that I have seen.

 

Assuming that you have a functioning macOS system:

 

1) On your existing macOS, go to the App Store and download the High Sierra installer.  Some people have reported that a stub installer is only downloaded although this has not happened to me. If it happens to you, follow the instructions on this page:  http://osxdaily.com/2017/09/27/download-complete-macos-high-sierra-installer/

 

2) The easy way to create a bootable USB is to use Install Disk Creator. It has been updated for High Sierra:  https://macdaddy.io/install-disk-creator/

 

     OR,

 

      Using a Terminal window, you could use the command:

 

      sudo /Applications/Install\ macOS\ High\ Sierra.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/MyVolume

 

       Note:  Replace "MyVolume" with the name of the macOS volume of your USB key

 

3) Create a new Virtual Machine in VMware Workstation. Select "Apple Mac OS X" as the Guest O/S and "macOS 10.12" as the version.
    Select the default for all other options (although I prefer to have the virtual disk as one single file)

 

4)  Edit the newly created VMX file and append the two following lines:

 

      smc.version = 0

      sata0:0.virtualSSD = "0"
 
5) Start your VM, and attach your USB key to the VM so that VMware can boot the installer.  Proceed with a normal installation of macOS. Use Disk Utility to format the new virtual disk as a "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)"   DO NOT SELECT APFS as your volume type.
 
6) Install High Sierra using all normal defaults.
 
7) Install the VMware Tools from VMware Workstation 14.  There is new support for HiDPI displays which is great.
 
8) After a sucessful install, shutdown your macOS VM and edit the VMX file.  Now change the virtualSSD value to a "1":

    sata0:0.virtualSSD = "1"
 
 
The reason why you cannot install High Sierra in VMware Workstation 12 is that (in my understanding, someone may correct me), in the second phase of the install, the installer reformats the volume to APFS which Workstation 12 cannot boot from properly.  But forcing macOS to think it is an HD disk and not SSD allows a proper install. Then changing it back allows macOS to see its virtual drive as an SSD and will not attempt to reformat it to APFS.
 
If anyone has additional comments, please feel free to correct me or add.
 

 

  

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Not working for me, i can't see my disk (sata or scsi) in installation or disk management, any with the same problem?

 

When you start Disk Utility, look on the upper left and change the View option from Show Only Volumes to Show All Devices.  If the virtual disk does not show up, exit Disk Utility and then restart it.  I don't know why, but I have seen this where it doesn't seem to detect the drives upon initial load. 

Hi

Would this method work with Workstation Player?

Thanks

 

I don't know. I never use Player but you should try it and report back...

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Now it's working, then when finish install, now not start  :( block on the bios blue screen.....

 

PD. How can i install vmware tools? i have .exe for vmware workstation 14 (contains vmware tools), but...

 

Thanks for your help,

 

If you are stopping on the EFI boot screen which shows that the boot path is "Unsuccessful", then you did not disable the virtual SSD properly.  Look at your VMX file and check the type of disk used.  The sample I showed above is the default where the VMware virtual disk is a SATA drive and mounted as the first drive. Therefore the line below properly disables the virtual SSD emulation in the virtual machine.

 

sata0:0.virtualSSD = "0"

 

If you still have problems, please ATTACH (DO NOT POST) the VMX file for your virtual machine.

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Just for the record, I had a similar problem updating from Sierra to High Sierra on Workstation 11.1.4 (OS wouldn't boot after the last restart). Setting sata0:0.virtualSSD = "0" before updating solved the problem.

 

Thanks.

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When you start Disk Utility, look on the upper left and change the View option from Show Only Volumes to Show All Devices.  If the virtual disk does not show up, exit Disk Utility and then restart it.  I don't know why, but I have seen this where it doesn't seem to detect the drives upon initial load. 

 

I don't know. I never use Player but you should try it and report back...

Thank You!  I've been pulling my hair out trying to get it to see the Virtual Disk.

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On the top left, “View” change it to show Devices. Then you will see your Virtual Disk

 

It is solved. Many many thanks  :thumbsup_anim:

I have installed previous versions many times but the disk was visible in all of them. I spent about 4 to 5 hours. you saved me

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You need to insert the line as shown on top to prevent the installer from seeing your Disk as an SSD. When High Sierra installs, if it sees an SSD, it will default to converting the disk to APFS which is not supported on Workstation 12. Once you are upgraded to High Sierra, you can remove the line and High Sierra will see the disk as an SSD but won’t auto convert it to APFS.

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My track-pad works with single tap as click and two finger tap as right mouse button on VMWare. How can I enable track-pad multi finger scroll up and down gestures?

 

Please don't post unrelated questions from what's posted in the original post of the thread.

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I tried today, Apples gave me a stub installer about 13 MB :(

 

BTW, is it possible to create an iso instead of creating a bootable usb?

Edited by trungpt
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Hi PJP61,

 

I have been running Mac on Macs with VMWARE Fusion for many years now.

 

Couple of key items that should be within MacOS .vmx file include:

 

Spoiler

board-id.reflectHost = "TRUE"

firmware = "efi"

tools.syncTime = "TRUE"

displayName = "YOUR vMAC"

guestOS = "darwin16-64"

 

These snippets are taken one of my Mac VMs.

I  have also been playing around with EFI for PC and Window 10 requires UEFI.

To get a Windows 10 VM running I used the same firmware = "efi" on the Windows 10 VM as on the Macintosh VM.

 

Cheers from Oz.

 

Zebity. 

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