New VM Mac OS on Mac host virtual SATA drive unsuccessful

[Vmware_User_38]

Running Mac Catalina 10.15.3 on an iMac.

VMware Fusion 8.5.10 for Mac.

Trying to create a new virtual machine El Capitan OS X 10.11.

File > New

Create from disc or image

Select the InstallMacOSC.dmg downloaded straight off Apple's website.

It won't mount, instead the VM shows the following error.

Attempting to start up from:

> EFI VMware Virtual SATA Hard Drive (0.0) ... unsuccessful.

> EFI VMware Virtual SATA Hard Drive (1.0) ... unsuccessful.

> EFI Network ...

Then an error message is thrown that says there is no OS.

I have a Windows VM that works, created prior to upgrading to Catalina.

[dariusd]

Usually when you download from the Apple website you will get a complete installer .app bundle.  You should pick the .app as the installation source, not the .dmg.  Does it work if you pick the .app when creating a new VM?

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Darius

[Vmware_User_38]

The .app file is greyed out, it can't be picked. Same goes for .pkg files. The SIP (System Integrity Protection) has been disabled. It doesn't matter which startup disk is set. Also tried converting the .dmg to .cdr and booting from CD/DVD without success.

[wila]

Hi,

When you create a new VM, drag the .app onto the "create new" dialog.

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Wil

[Vmware_User_38]

File > New brings up "Select the Installation Method" dialog.

When I try to drag and drop the installer .app to the Install from disc or image window it won't stick. When the .dmg is dragged it does stick. Click Continue, select the operating system, and no change, back to the same problem.

This article says the installer .app file is not bootable:  https://www.winytips.com/convert-macos-app-to-bootable-dmg-iso/

[dariusd]

How big is the .app?  Perhaps Apple sent you one of its mini-installers which can't be used for installing in a VM.  It should be at least several gigabytes in size.

Random thought: There's been a long-standing but minor/annoying defect in the "Select the Installation Method" window where you can't drop things onto any of the icons... just make sure your attempt to drag the .app did not end up on one of those icons.

If the .app you have is several gigabytes and still won't work, even if you drag it onto the blank spaces in the "Select the Installation Method" window, perhaps you might need to download a fresh copy from Apple.

--

Darius