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4 Replies Last post: Nov 21, 2009 9:19 AM by jmattson  

Enable Hardware-assisted virtualization (HAV) in BIOS in a VMWare Fusion 3 VM posted: Nov 20, 2009 10:03 AM

Click to view frobitz's profile Lurker
frobitz
2 posts since
Nov 20, 2009
Hi,

I'm a web developer and have a Windows 7 Pro install on Boot Camp with IE6, IE7 and IE8 running via XP Mode (VirtualPC) via the recent article on Sitepoint,

I'd like to be able to access these through the Boot Camp Partition option in VMWare Fusion 3 but I'm blocked by not having Hardware-assisted virtualization enabled in the VM, and there's not option in the BIOS.

I realise running a VM inside a VM is a bit crap, but for my purposes I don't think the slowness will matter as it will be just to check rendering issues when coding CSS/HTML.

Additionally I don't want to install XP or Windows 7 inside VMWare VM's on OS X as I'm happy with my Boot Camp set up and don't want to use up more disk space, nor waste money on more M$ licenses! ;-)

I have come across some hacks for older version of Fusion but somehow doubt they work on 3.

Can anyone suggest a solution?

Thanks!
Tags: fusion3.0, mac, vmware, windows_7, virtualpc, hav, hardware-assisted_virtualization, bios

Re: Enable Hardware-assisted virtualization (HAV) in BIOS in a VMWare Fusion 3 VM

1. Nov 20, 2009 10:30 AM in response to: frobitz
Click to view jmattson's profile Master VMware Employees
jmattson
1,312 posts since
Mar 29, 2006
VMware Fusion does not virtualize the hardware-assisted virtualization features of the physical CPU, so you cannot enable them.

However, if you have Workstation 7 installed on your Boot Camp partition, you can configure Workstation 7 to run the XP Compatibility Mode VM. Workstation 7 is capable of virtualizing 32-bit Windows XP without the need for hardware-assisted virtualization.

Re: Enable Hardware-assisted virtualization (HAV) in BIOS in a VMWare Fusion 3 VM

2. Nov 20, 2009 4:03 PM in response to: jmattson
Click to view frobitz's profile Lurker
frobitz
2 posts since
Nov 20, 2009
Could you explain or point me in the direction of this Workstation 7?

Re: Enable Hardware-assisted virtualization (HAV) in BIOS in a VMWare Fusion 3 VM

3. Nov 21, 2009 6:30 AM in response to: frobitz
Click to view rcardona2k's profile Champion vExpert
rcardona2k
5,515 posts since
Oct 20, 2005
VMware Workstation is the flagship, hosted desktop product available at http://www.vmware.com/products/workstation/index.html. WS retails for $189

I think the product you really want is it's free bundled companion, VMware Player 3

This path is somewhat kludgey, running Player to play the XP mode VM requiring RAM for XP and Win 7, in a Boot Camp parition, ick.

IMO, you're much better off building a new XP machine to run side-by-side with 7. In the same way WS/Player can run the XP mode virtual hard disk (.vhd), so can Fusion but the licensing does not transfer as you're not technically hosting it on Win 7. Building another XP requires another license but if you need to do anything else behinds run IE as molasses (and there always is), you'll have much better success with a first class XP Fusion VM.

Re: Enable Hardware-assisted virtualization (HAV) in BIOS in a VMWare Fusion 3 VM

4. Nov 21, 2009 9:21 AM in response to: rcardona2k
Click to view jmattson's profile Master VMware Employees
jmattson
1,312 posts since
Mar 29, 2006
This path is somewhat kludgey, running Player to play the XP mode VM requiring RAM for XP and Win 7, in a Boot Camp parition, ick.

It's true that you cannot use the same integration features if you use Workstation/Player to run the XP Compatibility mode VM under Windows 7. There is the additional drawback that you cannot run VMware Tools in the outer (Windows 7) VM if you want to run them in the inner (Windows XP) VM. See Running Nested VMs for details.

IMO, you're much better off building a new XP machine to run side-by-side with 7. In the same way WS/Player can run the XP mode virtual hard disk (.vhd), so can Fusion but the licensing does not transfer as you're not technically hosting it on Win 7. Building another XP requires another license but if you need to do anything else behinds run IE as molasses (and there always is), you'll have much better success with a first class XP Fusion VM.

I have to agree with this. Moreover, if you have been running Windows XP in your Boot Camp partition in the past, you probably already have the necessary Windows XP license.

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