Learn How to install Windows 7 on a Mac using VMware Fusion 13
Introduction
Windows 7 was one of the most popular operating systems and a significant contributor to Microsofts success story. Even today many people miss its stability and wide spread use. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of installing Windows 7 inside a virtual machine on your Mac. Whether you need to run a specific Windows program or just prefer the Windows interface, this tutorial will equip you to set up your own virtual Windows environment. By the end, you’ll be able to seamlessly switch between macOS and Windows 7 on your Mac, all within a single machine.
Requirements
The following is a list of items needed to complete the installation successfully:
1) VMware Fusion 13: You can download a free trial from the VMware website.
2) Windows 7 Installation Media: You’ll need a Windows 7 installation disc or a valid ISO file. Make sure to acquire a legal copy of Windows 7, as VMware Fusion doesn’t provide operating systems.
3) Mac with an Intel Processor: VMware Fusion 13 only supports Intel-based Macs. Check the VMware Fusion website for details about support for M1 / M2 based Macs.
4) Minimum 4GB RAM: While 4GB is the minimum, 8GB or more is recommended for smoother performance, especially if you plan to run other applications alongside the virtual machine.
5) Internet connection: While not strictly necessary for the installation process, having an internet connection is helpful for downloading updates and drivers for the virtual machine later on.
Overview
The following is an overview of the steps covered in this guide:
1) Download the Windows 7 ISO image file
2) Open VMware Fusion and create a virtual machine
3) Start the virtual machine and install Windows 7
4) Restart the virtual machine and login to Windows 7
5) Conclusion and next steps
Step 1: Download the Windows 7 ISO image file.
The first step is downloading the Windows 7 ISO file. Since Windows 7 is nolonger supported by Microsoft, you can download the ISO file from unofficial sources. At billysoft we found to possible sources to download the ISO file. Please note these are not official sources and downloading will be done at your own risk:
1) Click HERE to download Windows 7 from getintopc.com
2) Click HERE to download Windows 7 from the internet archive
When the download process completes, please move the files to a location such as your documents folder incase you need to reuse the ISO file in future.
Step 2: Open VMware Fusion and create a virtual machine
Open VMware Fusion and click the New button. Click “Install from Disk or Image” and click “Use another disk or image”. Browse to the folder where the Windows 7 ISO file is located, select the file and click Open. Click Continue and enter your account name, password, windows product key and select a windows version from the Select Windows Version drop down. If you do not have a windows 7 product key you can continue without one. Leave the Windows Product Key field blank and you can configure a windows 7 product key after the installation completes.
On the Integration section, select More Seamless or More Isolated and click Continue. Click Customize Settings and enter a name for the virtual machine. Click Save and a virtual machine hardware settings popup window will be displayed. Click Processors & Memory and set the number of processors to 2 processor cores. Close the hardware settings page and proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Start the virtual machine and install Windows 7
Step 4: Restart the virtual machine and login to Windows 7
Conclusion and next steps.
Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed Windows 7 inside a virtual machine on your Mac. This allows you to run Windows programs and experience the Windows interface alongside your macOS environment.
If you want to share files between your macOS and Windows 7 environment, you can configure shared folders within VMware Fusion. This allows seamless access to documents and other data between the two operating systems.
We hope that this tutorial has been informative and we’d like to thank you for reading it! Visit the home page for more helpful tutorials and how-to-guides