How To Change Boot Order In Vmware Workstation 15

To change the boot order in VMware Workstation 15, follow these steps:

1. Open VMware Workstation and power on the virtual machine.
2. Click on "VM" in the menu bar and select "Power" and then "Power On to Firmware".
3. The virtual machine's BIOS or UEFI screen will appear. Look for the "Boot" or "Boot Order" section.
4. Using the arrow keys, navigate to the boot device you want to move up or down in the boot order.
5. Press the "+" or "-" key to move the device up or down in the boot order.
6. Once you've adjusted the boot order, save the changes and exit the BIOS or UEFI screen.

By following these steps, you can easily change the boot order in VMware Workstation 15.

Understanding Boot Order in Vmware Workstation 15

Boot order refers to the sequence in which a computer's firmware loads the operating system to enable it to start. This process is crucial in virtual machine software like Vmware Workstation 15, as it allows users to determine the priority of bootable devices when starting a virtual machine. By changing the boot order, you can specify which device the virtual machine should start from, such as a hard drive, CD/DVD-ROM, USB drive, or network adapter.

In this article, we will explore step-by-step instructions on how to change the boot order in Vmware Workstation 15, allowing you to customize the startup process for your virtual machines.

Changing Boot Order in the Virtual Machine BIOS

The boot order of a virtual machine is typically managed through the virtual machine BIOS settings. To change the boot order in Vmware Workstation 15, follow these steps:

• Open Vmware Workstation 15 and power on the virtual machine.
• Once the virtual machine starts, press the designated key to enter BIOS setup. The key varies depending on the virtual machine's operating system. For example, it is often F2 or Del.
• In the BIOS setup, navigate to the "Boot" or "Boot Order" section using the arrow keys.
• Use the "+" or "-" keys to rearrange the boot devices based on your preference. The device at the top of the list will be the first to boot.
• Save the changes and exit the BIOS setup. The virtual machine will now boot according to the modified boot order.

By following these steps, you can easily change the boot order in Vmware Workstation 15 using the virtual machine's BIOS settings.

Using the VM Settings Menu

If you prefer a more straightforward method to change the boot order in Vmware Workstation 15 without accessing the virtual machine's BIOS, you can also utilize the VM Settings menu. Here's how:

• Open Vmware Workstation 15 and power off the virtual machine.
• Right-click on the virtual machine in the library and select "Settings" from the context menu.
• In the VM Settings window, navigate to the "Options" tab.
• Click on the "Boot Options" section.
• Use the arrow buttons to rearrange the boot devices according to your preference.
• Click "OK" to save the changes and exit the VM Settings menu.

By following these steps, you can conveniently change the boot order in Vmware Workstation 15 using the VM Settings menu.

Managing Boot Delay and Timeout

In addition to changing the boot order, you can also manage the startup behavior of your virtual machine by adjusting the boot delay and timeout settings. The boot delay determines the time the virtual machine waits before attempting to boot from the selected device. The timeout specifies how long the virtual machine should pause when displaying the boot menu before automatically booting the default device.

To modify these settings in Vmware Workstation 15, follow these steps:

• Open Vmware Workstation 15 and power off the virtual machine.
• Right-click on the virtual machine in the library and select "Settings" from the context menu.
• In the VM Settings window, navigate to the "Options" tab.
• Click on the "Boot Options" section.
• Adjust the "Power on Boot Delay" and "Power on Boot Timeout" values according to your preferences.
• Click "OK" to save the changes.

By customizing the boot delay and timeout settings, you can have more control over the startup behavior of your virtual machine in Vmware Workstation 15.

Changing Boot Order in Vmware Workstation 15 for Specific Virtual Devices

Another aspect of changing the boot order in Vmware Workstation 15 is specifying the boot device for specific virtual devices. This allows you to override the default boot order and prioritize a particular virtual disk or ISO file for a virtual machine. Here's how you can do it:

Note: This method assumes you have already created and added the virtual disk or ISO file to the virtual machine.

Changing Boot Device for Virtual Disks

To change the boot device for a virtual disk in Vmware Workstation 15, follow these steps:

• Open Vmware Workstation 15 and power off the virtual machine.
• Right-click on the virtual machine in the library and select "Settings" from the context menu.
• In the VM Settings window, navigate to the "Hardware" tab.
• Select the virtual disk for which you want to change the boot device.
• Click on the "Advanced" button.
• In the Advanced Settings window, check the "Use disk" box and select the desired virtual disk from the drop-down menu.
• Click "OK" to save the changes.

By following these steps, you can specify the boot device for a virtual disk in Vmware Workstation 15.

Changing Boot Device for ISO Files

If you want to change the boot device for an ISO file in Vmware Workstation 15, follow these steps:

• Open Vmware Workstation 15 and power off the virtual machine.
• Right-click on the virtual machine in the library and select "Settings" from the context menu.
• In the VM Settings window, navigate to the "Hardware" tab.
• Select the virtual CD/DVD drive for which you want to change the boot device.
• Click on the "Advanced" button.
• In the Advanced Settings window, check the "Use ISO image file" box and click on the "Browse" button to select the desired ISO file.
• Click "OK" to save the changes.

By following these steps, you can specify the boot device for an ISO file in Vmware Workstation 15.

Exploring Advanced Boot Options in Vmware Workstation 15

In addition to changing the boot order and specifying boot devices, Vmware Workstation 15 offers advanced boot options that can further enhance your virtual machine's startup process. These options provide additional flexibility and control over the boot behavior. Let's take a closer look:

Using the Boot Manager

The Boot Manager in Vmware Workstation 15 allows you to manually select a boot device each time you start a virtual machine. This is especially useful when you have multiple bootable devices and want to choose one on a per-boot basis. Here's how you can access the Boot Manager:

• Power on the virtual machine in Vmware Workstation 15.
• During the startup process, repeatedly press the Esc key to enter the Boot Manager.
• In the Boot Manager, use the arrow keys to navigate and select the desired boot device.
• Press Enter to start the virtual machine from the selected device.

The Boot Manager provides a convenient way to choose a boot device on-the-fly in Vmware Workstation 15.

Customizing Boot Options with VMware Tools

VMware Tools is a suite of utilities that enhances the performance and functionality of virtual machines. It also includes boot options that can be customized to suit your needs. Here's how you can access these options:

• Make sure the virtual machine is powered off in Vmware Workstation 15.
• Right-click on the virtual machine in the library and select "Settings" from the context menu.
• In the VM Settings window, navigate to the "Options" tab.
• Click on the "Boot Options" section.
• Enable or disable the desired options, such as "Force BIOS Setup" or "EFI Firmware", based on your requirements.
• Click "OK" to save the changes.

By customizing the boot options with VMware Tools, you can enhance the boot behavior and functionality of your virtual machine in Vmware Workstation 15.

Using the Boot Delay Option

VMware Tools also provides the option to set a boot delay, allowing you to specify the time the virtual machine waits before initiating the boot process automatically. Here's how you can configure the boot delay:

• Open Vmware Workstation 15 and power off the virtual machine.
• Right-click on the virtual machine in the library and select "Settings" from the context menu.
• In the VM Settings window, navigate to the "Options" tab.
• Click on the "Advanced" section.
• Under "Boot options", adjust the "Delay boot" slider to set the desired boot delay.
• Click "OK" to save the changes.

By using the boot delay option, you can create a pause before the virtual machine starts the boot process, giving you time to perform specific actions or configurations.

Understanding EFI Firmware

EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) is a replacement for traditional BIOS and offers advanced features and capabilities. VMware Tools allows you to switch between BIOS and EFI firmware for a virtual machine. Here's how you can enable or disable EFI firmware:

• Make sure the virtual machine is powered off in Vmware Workstation 15.
• Right-click on the virtual machine in the library and select "Settings" from the context menu.
• In the VM Settings window, navigate to the "Options" tab.
• Click on the "Advanced" section.
• Under "Boot options", check or uncheck the "EFI firmware" box to enable or disable EFI respectively.
• Click "OK" to save the changes.

By utilizing EFI firmware, you can leverage the advanced features and capabilities provided by Vmware Workstation 15.

Using Command-Line Options

Vmware Workstation 15 also allows you to modify the boot behavior of virtual machines by utilizing command-line options. These options allow you to override the default boot order, specify boot devices, and perform advanced configurations. Here are a couple of examples:

Note: Using command-line options requires familiarity with the command line interface.

Modifying Boot Order

To modify the boot order using command-line options, follow this syntax:

vmware -nolicense -h <path to virtual machine> --option "bios.bootOrder" "<new boot order>"

Replace <path to virtual machine> with the actual path to your virtual machine, and <new boot order> with the desired boot order sequence.

Specifying Boot Device

To specify the boot device using command-line options, follow this syntax:

vmware -nolicense -h <path to virtual machine> --option "bios.bootDeviceClasses" "<device classes>"

Replace <path to virtual machine> with the actual path to your virtual machine, and <device classes> with the desired boot device classes.

Exploring Additional Boot Options

Vmware Workstation 15 offers a range of additional boot options that can be used to further customize the boot process. These options include:

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Changing Boot Order in Vmware Workstation 15

To change the boot order in Vmware Workstation 15, follow these steps:

• Open Vmware Workstation 15.
• Click on the virtual machine you want to change the boot order for.
• Go to the "VM" menu and select "Power".
• Click on "Power On to Firmware" to access the virtual machine's BIOS settings.
• In the BIOS settings, navigate to the "Boot" or "Boot Order" section.
• Use the arrow keys to reorder the boot devices according to your preferences.
• Save the changes and exit the BIOS settings.
• Power off and restart the virtual machine to apply the new boot order.

By changing the boot order, you can prioritize which device the virtual machine will attempt to boot from first, such as a CD/DVD drive, USB drive, or network boot. It is useful for troubleshooting, installing operating systems, or configuring virtual environments.




Key Takeaways - How to Change Boot Order in Vmware Workstation 15

• Changing boot order in VMware Workstation 15 allows you to specify the sequence in which virtual machines start up.
• You can change the boot order by accessing the virtual machine's BIOS settings.
• In VMware Workstation 15, you can access the virtual machine's BIOS settings by powering on the virtual machine and pressing the designated key.
• In the BIOS settings, navigate to the "Boot" or "Boot Order" section to modify the boot order.
• Once in the "Boot" or "Boot Order" section, use the arrow keys to change the order of the boot devices and save the changes before exiting the BIOS.



Frequently Asked Questions

Changing the boot order in VMware Workstation 15 is a vital step in configuring the startup sequence of virtual machines. Here are some frequently asked questions about changing the boot order in VMware Workstation 15.

1. How can I change the boot order in VMware Workstation 15?

To change the boot order in VMware Workstation 15, follow these steps:

1. Select the virtual machine you want to modify in the VMware Workstation 15 interface.
2. Go to the "VM" menu and click on "Power" to open the power options.
3. Click on "Power On to Firmware" to access the virtual machine's BIOS/UEFI settings.
4. In the BIOS/UEFI settings, locate the "Boot" tab or section.
5. Adjust the boot order by moving the desired boot device to the top of the list using the provided options.
6. Save the changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI settings.
7. Power on the virtual machine to boot from the newly configured boot order.

By following these steps, you can easily change the boot order of a virtual machine in VMware Workstation 15.

2. Can I change the boot order while the virtual machine is running?

No, you cannot change the boot order while the virtual machine is running. Any modifications made to the boot order will only take effect during the next boot cycle of the virtual machine. Make sure to power off the virtual machine before modifying the boot order in VMware Workstation 15.

3. Does changing the boot order affect the existing operating system?

Changing the boot order does not affect the existing operating system or any data within the virtual machine. It only determines the order in which the virtual machine attempts to boot from available devices during startup. The existing operating system and data remain intact regardless of the boot order configuration.

4. What is the default boot order in VMware Workstation 15?

The default boot order in VMware Workstation 15 typically prioritizes booting from the virtual hard drive (VHD) or virtual solid-state drive (VSSD). If the VHD/VSSD is not bootable or no bootable media is detected, VMware Workstation 15 will attempt to boot from other available devices such as a CD/DVD drive or USB device.

5. Can I specify a temporary boot device without changing the boot order?

Yes, you can specify a temporary boot device without changing the boot order in VMware Workstation 15. During the virtual machine's startup, simply press a key (usually shown on screen) to access the boot menu. From the boot menu, you can select a temporary boot device for that specific boot cycle. This allows you to override the boot order without permanently modifying the configuration.

These are the commonly asked questions regarding changing the boot order in VMware Workstation 15. By understanding how to change the boot order and its implications, you can effectively configure the startup sequence of virtual machines according to your requirements.






Changing the boot order in VMware Workstation 15 is a simple process that allows you to prioritize which virtual machine (VM) boots first. By following a few easy steps, you can ensure that your VMs start up in the desired order. First, open the virtual machine settings by right-clicking on the VM in the main interface and selecting "Settings."

Next, navigate to the "Hardware" tab and select "Boot Order." Here, you can use the arrows to rearrange the boot devices and specify the order in which they should be booted. Once you have set the desired boot order, click "OK" to save your changes. Now, when you start your VMware Workstation, the VMs will boot in the order you have specified, ensuring smooth and efficient operation.