Solved Catch 22

[BJB]

I have an unused Win 8 upgrade key and want to use it in VMware Player running in Win 7. As it's an upgrade key I can't use it for a clean install (I've tried) so I'm having to install some other windows version first and then use Microsoft's Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Windows Help to download and install Win 8. Rather to my surprise this upgrade (of XP) appeared to work just fine and what had previously been an XP VM booted up into Win 8. Whoopee.....Uhoooh, no internet connection, whether using Bridged or NAT, and despite the fact that the VM can see both of the host's network adapters in its settings.

After some head scratching as far as I can make out this appears to be being caused by the fact that VMs do not have their own network adapters, they use those on the host. So when 8 was installing over XP in the VM and didn't find any adapters to install drivers for it just left it and moved on. That might be wrong of course but it fits the facts.

So my question is whether anyone can dream up some way to get my Win 8 VM to recognise the host's adapters and connect. I'm not hopeful but you never know

EDIT - yeah, I know there is a Win 8 forum but I think I have a better chance of a fix here.

 

[Dude]

BJB, have a look here

How to share Internet connection of VMWare guest with host in VMWare Player? - Super User

 

[BJB]

No joy. The problem is that there simply aren't any adapters showing in the Win 8 VM so nothing to configure. They are showing in the VM itself and I can choose which to use, but in Win 8 zilch.

 

[Dude]

Hang in there, Kari can help when he sees this. I will send him a message to check it. He is very good with VMs

 

[Kari]

A vm should automatically connect to network if bridged network is selected. The basics are the same on VMWare, VirtualBox, Hyper-V and so on: you do not need to install NIC drivers on guest OS but instead the guest uses a virtual NIC which in its turn is connected to one of the host NICs. Selecting the correct network mode in virtualization program's (in this case VMWare) settings, the correct virtual drivers will be installed in guest.

My suggestion is to go through these troubleshooting steps, reading everything carefully: VMware KB: Troubleshooting network connection failures

Kari

 

[BJB]

Thank you kari. I have been using VMs for years so what you say is entirely familiar to me. The only differences with this one are that it's first time with Win 8 and the method of installation of guest was different as previously I've always used either a disc or an ISO. I've always used Bridged mode and never previously had a connection problem. However on this occasion, for whatever reason, no virtual adapters have been installed in the guest.

I shall work through the troubleshooting and let you know if anything new emerges.

 

[Kari]

I will test if I can reproduce your case, downloading and installing VMWare Player now (I do not use it normally).

 

[Kari]

Of course I forgot I cannot test your scenario. All my computers, laptops and desktops alike, have Windows 8 Pro with Hyper-V installed; VMWare and Hyper-V cannot be installed on same system.

​

Sorry, I am unable to test this.

Kari

 

[BJB]

I appreciate the thought. I might try the whole experiment again but this time upgrading a Vista VM rather than XP. Just need some time.

EDIT - upgrading Vista to Win 8 using Microsoft's 'upgrade with only a product key' has been successful. However the failed attempt to upgrade XP could possibly have been because the VM being upgraded was located on an external USB drive. The Vista VM was on an internal HDD.

This is a very easy way to upgrade a system to Win 8, real or virtual, and I recommend it.

Upgrade Windows with only a product key - Windows Help