Install a new build of Windows now

[Hawaiian_Ryan]

I've been running Fusion 22H2 with Windows 11 installed for about 6 weeks now. I started getting prompts to install a new build of windows after a couple of weeks. Is it necessary or recommended to up date the Windows installation every time they come out with a new build?

[Stinger12]

Hi Ryan, could you share the link to the documents you mentioned? Thanks!

[Technogeezer]

@Stinger12 Try looking here https://communities.vmware.com/t5/Fusion-22H2-Tech-Preview/tkb-p/160003 for both the Tech Preview Testing Guide and the unofficial Tips and Techniques guide. 

[felsensepp]

Hello Paul,
Thanks for the good tutorial. It took time but now I have a good working version of the 22H2. It is a pity that VMware makes it so difficult for its customers to get a version of Windows. A little more support would be a good thing, especially for the paid version of VMware.

[btechit]

or just use Parallels - single click Windows 11 and linux instals  

[Technogeezer]

The free, open source CrystalFetch and the freely available scripts do the exact same thing to get Windows "from Microsoft" as Parallels does. The difference is they install it for you behind the scenes. The good news is that the "single click" installs are "single click". The bad news is you get exactly what Parallels gives you. I particularly dislike "easy installs" because I have no control over what they did. Plus, running the installers as Microsoft and the Linux distros have built them are valuable learning experiences. You may not need to be a mechanic to drive a car, but wouldn't you say it's valuable to know how to change a tire, check oil, or fuel up your car? 

There's another difference. Parallels caters to the inexperienced or Mac-centric users and dumbs things down removes complexity in favor of canned installation processes. VMware caters to professionals who know how to get OS distributions and install them exactly the way they want them. VMware makes it clear that they do not provide operating systems to run under Fusion; that's your responsibility. 

Which leads me to the topic of Microsoft. Part of the blame about accessibility of Windows 11 ARM installation ISOs must also go to Microsoft here. They don't make a download of the Windows 11 ARM installation ISO available like they do for Windows x64. They're the ones that have made Parallels and others "jump through hoops" in order to get a Windows 11 ARM installation ISO.

Since this is posted in a 22H2 Tech Preview forum,, I have a final comment. If. you are using the 22H2 Tech Preview (or are thinking of doing so). STOP RIGHT NOW. That version of the TP software and its associated documentation is obsolete. You should be using either the released Fusion 13, or for a better experience with Windows 11 ARM, the 2023 Tech Preview. Both have updated documentation that make it much easier with fewer hoops to jump through to obtain Windows 11 ARM and install it. 

[felsensepp]

Okay, I downloaded the "2023 Tech Previw" and will give it a try this weekend.
What I don't understand: you say "If you are using (or thinking about doing) the 22H2 Tech Preview. STOP NOW."
Do you want me to stop using the 22H2 version? Now that I have everything set up again (and that was some work)? Or should I stop with VMware Fusion 13.0.2?

[Technogeezer]

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@felsensepp wrote:

Okay, I downloaded the "2023 Tech Previw" and will give it a try this weekend.
What I don't understand: you say "If you are using (or thinking about doing) the 22H2 Tech Preview. STOP NOW."
Do you want me to stop using the 22H2 version? Now that I have everything set up again (and that was some work)? Or should I stop with VMware Fusion 13.0.2?

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You don’t have to stop using it. However you should upgrade to the 2023 Tech Preview sooner rather than later. The  Fusion 22H2 Tech preview was a public beta for Fusion 13, and became immediately obsolete the minute Fusion 13 was released.  The 2H22 Tech Preview has known bugs and security vulnerabilities that are fixed in Fusion 13 and it’s updates. One annoying bug is networking related and causes networking to drop unexpectedly. Another one is that AirPlay becomes unusable once Fusion is started.

The 2023 Tech Preview. Is a public beta of the next Fusion version and is light years ahead of Fusion 13 for Windows 11 ARM support. It’s very stable. And when that next Fusion release sees the light of day, you should upgrade to that version. . There are known issues in the 2023 Tech Preview that will be fixed in that official release, and it will contain more features for Windows 11 ARM VMs.

The good news is that upgrading Fusion doesn’t impact your VMs. Existing VMs will continue to work. 

[felsensepp]

Tried and only one resolution left. 1024 x 768. How do I get that back? Uninstall VMware tools and reinstall? VMware Support says "Open the Windows terminal, navigate to the directory that contains the VMware Tools ISO image, then type: setup.ps1 -Uninstall". But where is the location of the tools?

[Technogeezer]

Don’t install any tools until you upgrade Fusion to the 2023 Tech Preview. You will be much happier with the tools provided in that release rather than the 22H2 Tech Preview or Fusiin 13  

Once you have upgraded, use the information in the 2023 Tech Preview Testing guide that VMware has posted to install the updated tools found in that release. 

[felsensepp]

The Fusion 13 update is out and I'm wondering what to do now. Install the update and integrate my Windows 11 there? Or should I continue to use the Tech Preview and wait until a new Tech Preview is released?
A nice greeting from Switzerland
Hans

[Technogeezer]

Hans, here's my advice:

Move to the Fusion 13.5 update and stop using Tech Preview releases.  Fusion 13.5 is the officially released version of what was previewed in the 2023 Tech Preview. Anything you did in that preview should move smoothly to the 13.5 release. 

Tech Previews are never officially meant to be running day-to-day activities (although to be honest, VMware's lagging in delivering features for Windows 11 ARM made it almost a necessity to use it). They are for testing new features and review by the community before release. They become obsolete the minute the official release appears, and VMware should be doing everyone a favor and removing the downloads for these beta releases when that occurs. 

The features are released, so the need for running the Tech Preview is over.

You may be waiting an awful long time for VMware to release another Tech Preview if they decide to do one before the next major Fusion release. Also if bugs and security issues crop up with the Tech Preview, you will get no help on them from VMware unless you can reproduce them on Fusion 13.5. 

I certainly hope you are not using the older 21H1 or 22H2 Tech Preview releases as those have been obsolete for well over a year now and contain known bugs and security vulnerabilities.