Unable to create VM. Boot from CD or DVD option not working when pressing any key

[GerardS27]

Hi all,

I am working with Fusion Player 13 on a personal license. I have a Win11 Arm iso file and I am trying to create a Win11 VM. CD is configured and it is pointing to the ARM iso file. When I start the VM it does not pause or recognize my key press when the message "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD" appears. The iso is from MS and bonafide, I have changed keyboards and even re-installed VM ware but always the same results. It just flys past the key press message and goes right to the play button. I am using for the host machine a Mac Mini M1 Silicone. OS is Sonoma 14.0

Any help is appreciated

Thanks,

Gerard

[ColoradoMarmot]

Upgrade to 13.5 and use the built-in download function. instead.

MS does not provide ATM ISO's, so not sure where you got it from.

[Technogeezer]

Also make sure that keyboard focus is set to the VM or else the key press will not be recognized.

That means either moving the mouse pointer into the VM's console window and clicking in the window  -or- pressing Command-G on the keyboard while the "Press any key" message is being displayed and "counting down". Then press any key on the keyboard. You only get about 5 seconds to do this.

<rant> It's infuriating that Microsoft thinks it's doing us a favor by having to press any key when you boot from an installer ISO. I think that most of us know what I'm doing when we boot from the ISO - or will soon realize that we have the installer ISO/CD still in the drive and maybe we should just remove it. Microsoft just needs to get out of the way and just boot the installer.... </rant>

[GerardS27]

I am using 13.5 and I used the Download from MS option so I think I have a good ISO

[GerardS27]

Done and done still no joy. It is acting like it doesn't even pause at the message it just rides right through it and tries to start Windows. 

[Technogeezer]

Hmmm. Can you tell us what language and edition you specified in the VMware download tool and I’ll see if I can reproduce. 

[Technogeezer]

And it doesn't pause at the prompt. It waits about 5 seconds and if it doesn't think you've responded then tries to boot from other available devices in the VM (hard drive, which obviously has no installed operating system). After that it'll try the network (and that won't boot either unless you've set up network booting which is way outside of the box for anyone installing Windows - or Linux for that matter too).

Microsoft does provide a way to boot an ISO without that message. They actually provide the files needed to do so. but a "standard" build of the ISO from the downloaded Microsoft files insists on using the files that require the keypress.