VMWare Workstation 17 cannot create vm from Win 11 Insider Preview ISO EFI Network timeout

[bleibold1]

Hey,

I am attempting to create a new VM from a Win11 Insiders Preview version ISO.

When I start the VM I get the dreaded EFI Network Timeout and it eventually ends up in the BIOS boot manager.  I have read many articles stating to change the advanced options from "EFI" to "BIOS", but this is disabled in the options.

How do I get around this EFI network timeout issue?

[louyo]

You don't say whether the VM installed or not. If not, did you set the CD drive to the .iso file?

Did you allow the installer to set things up or did you select I will install the VM later?

[bleibold1]

Hey,

I referenced an ISO from a system drive using the "New VM" Wizard option of using an ISO.

When I power on the VM this is when I get the infamous EFI Network timeout and it ends up after some time in the BIOS wanting me to make some settings change or pick where or how to boot.

[bleibold1]

I should have added that I never got to the step in VM creation where it actually installs WIN11 from the ISO.

[louyo · Accepted solution]

At the risk of being basic:

My first thought would be the iso image, you might want to validate the iso file's checksum you downloaded.

If  you are sure of that, I would try selecting it on startup:

1. Edit the VM's .vmx file and add: bios.bootdelay="5000".  (this gives you 5 seconds to hit escape)

2. Start the VM and hit escape while it is counting the 5 seconds.

3. This should bring up a menu with the your CD drive as a choice. Select it.

If it comes right back to that menu, it means it can't find an bootable image in that iso. Under the VM menu (upper left), locate the CD under removable devices, check settings to make sure it is connected. If it is and the iso won't boot, I would try another iso file to test with. 

[bleibold1]

Hey louyo,

Thanks very much for the information you provided.  I am not installing from a CD drive, but I have a downloaded ISO Image from Microsoft that exists in a file system folder that I am referencing.  Not sure if that changes your 'useful' suggestions?

[louyo]

You  need to tell the VM that the CD drive is really an iso image. It then gets "seen" as one. This is done in VM settings/CDROM/DVD.

[bleibold1]

Hey,

I added the bios.bootdelay option as suggested.  I powered up the VM and within 5 secs I hit the escape key as instructed.

This appears to have worked as it booted into the ISO image and is now installing the Win11 OS.

Kudos to your suggestions and thank you very much!

Best regards,

Bill Leibold

[bleibold1]

Hey,

So I never did tell the VM that it was an ISO other than I chose the New VM Wizard option to browse and reference the ISO image file.

How did it boot properly when I hit the ESC key during the 5 second BIOS startup delay?  Not sure how that relates?

Even though the Win11 OS is not installing as expected I would like to understand why the 5 sec delay worked.

[bleibold1]

It appears that I have another issue where Win11 won't complete the installation as I don't have a valid Network connection.  The current installation step will not highlight the 'Next' button for me to continue nor is there any kind of escape button.

[bleibold1]

I went to the network settings and bridged to the physical network, but it still says 'unidentified network'.  Changed my network connection on my system to use a WIFI connection and that didn't help either.

[bleibold1 · Accepted solution]

Had to change the Network option to use 'NAT' and it continued as expected with a valid network connection.

[louyo]

The boot delay is to give you time to hit escape and then select the CDROM.

Network connection, it would seem that your VM is not pulling an IP. That should not be a problem if you are using NAT with external set for Auto. Maybe delete this VM and start over.

I am unsure of this iso. If this is still not working, I would download a Windows 10 iso from Microsoft and see if that installs. 

[louyo]

Great, I replied above not seeing your success.