To open (mount) an ISO file in a virtual machine within VMware Workstation, you need to attach it to the virtual CD/DVD drive of the virtual machine. This process allows the virtual machine to access the contents of the ISO file as if it were a physical CD or DVD inserted into the drive.
Here are the steps to mount an ISO file to your virtual machine in VMware Workstation:
Attaching an ISO Image to a Virtual Machine
Follow these simple steps to configure your virtual machine to use an ISO file:
- Open VMware Workstation Pro: Launch the VMware Workstation Pro application on your computer.
- Select Your Virtual Machine: In the left-hand pane, select the specific virtual machine you want to attach the ISO file to.
- Edit Virtual Machine Settings: Click on Edit virtual machine settings in the right-hand pane or go to the menu
VM > Settings. - Navigate to Hardware: Ensure you are in the Hardware tab of the Virtual Machine Settings window.
- Select CD/DVD Drive: Click on the CD/DVD (SATA) device from the list of hardware. (Note: It might be listed as IDE or SATA depending on your VM's configuration).
- Choose ISO Image File: In the connection settings on the right side, select the option Use ISO image file.
- Browse for the ISO: Click the Browse... button located next to the file path field.
- Select Your ISO File: Navigate to the location where your ISO file is saved, select it, and click Open.
- Confirm Settings: Click OK in the Virtual Machine Settings window to apply the changes.
Once these steps are completed, the ISO file will be mounted to the virtual machine's CD/DVD drive. You can then power on or restart the virtual machine, and it should be able to access the contents of the ISO, typically for installing an operating system or running a live environment.
This method is the standard way to "open" or use an ISO file within the context of a virtual machine, allowing the VM to boot from it or access files contained within.
