Tutorial: Install Windows Server 2016 on a virtual machine

Are you attempting to install Windows Server 2016 on a virtual machine? In the tips provided below, we'll guide you through a secure, efficient, and detailed tutorial process to prepare your VMware Workstation and seamlessly install Windows Server 2016 on a virtual machine. Follow the steps outlined below to install Windows Server 2016 on your VMware workstation: 1. **确保VMware Workstation版本**: 确认你已安装了最新版本的VMware Workstation，以确保与Windows Server 2016的兼容性。 2. **下载Windows Server 2016镜像**: 从Microsoft官方网站或者通过订阅获取Windows Server 2016的ISO镜像文件。 3. **启动VMware Workstation**: 打开VMware Workstation软件。 4. **创建新的虚拟机**: 选择“创建/注册虚拟机”或“文件”>“新建虚拟机”。跟随向导完成新虚拟机的设置。 5. **选择安装类型**: 在向导中，选择“典型(推荐)”或“自定义”，然后点击“下一步”。 6. **选择操作系统**: 选择“Microsoft Windows”作为操作系统类型，然后在版本下拉菜单中选择“Windows Server 2016”或最接近的选项，然后点击“下一步”。 7. **命名和位置**: 为虚拟机提供一个名称和存放位置，然后点击“下一步”。 8. **分配内存**: 根据你的硬件配置，分配足够的内存给虚拟机（建议至少4GB）。点击“下一步”。 9. **创建虚拟磁盘**: 选择“创建一个新的虚拟磁盘”，然后选择“薄磁盘”或“最大大小”选项，根据需要设置磁盘大小（建议至少60GB），然后点击“下一步”。 10. **指定磁盘文件位置**: 选择虚拟磁盘的保存位置，然后点击“下一步”。 11. **完成设置**: 审查你的设置，确保一切无误，然后点击“完成”。 12. **挂载ISO文件**: 在虚拟机设置中，找到“CD/DVD”设备，选择“使用ISO映像文件”，然后浏览并选择之前下载的Windows Server 2016 ISO文件。 13. **启动虚拟机**: 点击“开启此虚拟机”以启动安装过程。 14. **安装Windows Server 2016**: 跟随屏幕上的指示进行安装，包括接受许可条款、设置管理员密码、选择安装类型（如“Server with GUI”或“Server Core”）等。 15. **等待安装完成**: 安装过程可能需要一段时间，完成后，虚拟机将自动重启。 16. **配置Windows Server 2016**: 完成初次启动后，你将被引导进行一些基本的系统配置，如网络设置、更新、添加用户等。 现在，你应该已经在VMware Workstation上成功安装了Windows Server 2016。如有问题，随时查阅VMware和Windows Server的官方文档，或寻求在线帮助。祝你好运！

Note: If your VMware machine contains any important business or personal files, back them up or move them to an external storage device before you begin.

Now you can proceed with the VMware installation and easily install Windows Server 2016 on a virtual machine.

Part 1: Creating and Customizing Virtual Machines

• Start VMware > Click on "Create a new virtual machine."

If you don't have VMware installed on your computer, you might need to download and install it first.

• Select "Custom (Advanced)" to specify VMware settings, then click "Next";
• Keep the "Virtual Machine Hardware Compatibility" setting at the default > click "Next";
• Add the installation image to the virtual machine, choose "Installer Disk Image File (ISO)" > click "Browse" > select the Windows Server 2016 ISO file, then click "Next";
• Under "Microsoft Windows," select the version of Windows Server 2016 > click "Next";
• Enter a name for the virtual machine and browse to choose the location to store the installation files > click "Next";
• In "Processor Configuration," select the number of processors the server should use > "Next" > specify the amount of memory (in MB) for VMware, then click "Next";
• Choose "Use Network Address Translation (NAT)" or "Use Bridged Networking" as the network type for internet connectivity > "Next";
• Select the default "I/O Controller Type" > "Next";
• Choose the disk type as SCSI > "Next" > click "Create a new virtual disk" for the virtual machine to create a new virtual disk;
• Specify the disk size and click "Next" > review your custom settings, then click "Finish."

You have now completed the process of creating and customizing a new virtual machine on your computer. You can proceed to prepare and install Windows Server 2016 on your new VMware Workstation.

Part 2: Expanding the VM System Partition to Install Windows Server 2016

Usually, a VMware virtual machine requires at least 32 GB of space, and if you're installing a server with the desktop experience, it needs 2 GB. Make sure your VMware Workstation system partition and system reserve partition have enough room. You can try using Partition Master Server, a professional Windows server partition management software, to extend the system/system reserve partition with just three easy steps:

Please provide the English content you'd like to translate, and I'll do my best to translate it into Chinese.

Step 1: Locate the target partition

Enter the partition manager and select the target partition and choose "Resize/Move Partition".

Select the partition to extend

Step 2: Extend the Target Partition

Drag the partition panel right or left to add unallocated space to the current partition, and then click OK to confirm.

Additional option: Get space from another disk

If there's not enough unallocated space, right-click a large partition with enough space, and choose "Allocate Space."

Under “Allocate space to,” select the partition you want to expand.

Step 3: Perform the operation to extend the partition

Drag the partition with the bootable operating system to the “Unallocated” space, and then click OK.

Click the Run Task button, and then click Apply to save all changes.

Aside from expanding the VM system partition, you can also use the Partition Master tool to adjust the disk layout of your VM or Windows Server with just a few clicks.

Part 3: Install Windows Server 2016 on a Virtual Machine

Now you can proceed with the installation of Windows Server 2016 on the virtual machine, as follows:

1. Open VMware Workstation on the host computer and click "Start this virtual machine"; 2. When the virtual machine boots up, select the language, time zone, and keyboard layout, then click "Next"; 3. Click "Install Now" to install Windows Server 2016 on the virtual machine > Choose the edition of Windows Server you need > Then click "Next".

4. “I accept the license terms,” and then Next > Custom: Install Windows only (advanced), and click on the drive where you will install the server.

5. Select the disk where you want to install Windows Server, then click "New" > enter the Capacity in MB and click "Apply" > "Next"; 6. The server will copy all the files to the disk, mount the Windows image, install features and updates. This process may take some time and the server will restart automatically. 7. After the restart, set a complex password containing uppercase letters, lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers, then click "Finish".

8. When the customization is complete, press Ctrl+Alt+Del and log on to Windows Server.

Success! Here's the screenshot of Windows Server 2016 installed on a virtual machine: 

Your installation of Windows Server 2016 is now complete, and you can begin using and administering it in VMware Workstation.