Although Windows 7 reached its end of support years ago, many users still need it for running legacy software, testing applications, or accessing old systems that are not compatible with modern versions of Windows.
Fortunately, you can safely run Windows 7 on a modern PC using VMware Workstation Pro 17. A virtual machine allows you to install and use the system without affecting your primary OS.
In the post, Your System Fixer will show you how to install Windows 7 on a modern PC using VMware Workstation Pro 17.
TL;DR – Watch the Step-by-Step Video Tutorial
Before diving into the written steps, you can watch our full video guide from our YouTube channel:
Prerequisites: What You Need
Before creating a Windows 7 virtual machine on Windows 11/10, you will need to prepare two essential components:
1. VMware Workstation Pro 17
Download and install VMware Workstation Pro 17 on your Windows 11/10 computer. Here’s how to do that:
Step 1. Visit the Broadcom site to open the VMware Workstation Pro 17 official site, sign up with your email, and verify your account.
Step 2. Log in to your account, search for “VMware Workstation Pro 17“, select the Windows version, and download the file.
Step 3. Once downloaded, run the downloaded setup file, accept the terms, click “Next” through the wizard, and click “Install“.
2. Download Windows 7 ISO
Because Microsoft no longer hosts Windows 7 ISO files on its official website, you must rely on trusted third-party repositories. You can try using Archive.org (The Internet Archive), which is a reputable, non-profit digital library and a member of the American Library Association, making it a safe and legal resource for digital archiving.
Step 1. Visit the official website of Archive.org and search for Windows 7 in the box.
Step 2. Scroll down to the download options sidebar and click on “ISO Image” to expand the list.
Step 3. Choose your preferred version, select a download location on your local drive, and wait for it to be completed.
Part 1: Create a Windows 7 Virtual Machine in VMware
Once your ISO file is ready, launch VMware Workstation Pro 17 and follow the steps below to create a new virtual machine:
- Click Create a New Virtual Machine.
- Select Typical (recommended) and click Next.
- Choose I will install the operating system later and click Next.
- On the Guest Operating System screen, select Microsoft Windows, highlight Windows 7 x64, and click Next.
- Then enter a name for the virtual machine and choose where you want to store the VM files, and click Next to continue.
- VMware will ask you to create a virtual hard disk. Set disk size to 60GB and store the virtual disk as a single file (or split into multiple files if preferred). Once confirmed, click Next, then Finish.
After finishing all the steps, the Windows 7 virtual machine should be created successfully.
Part 2: Install Windows 7 on the Virtual Machine
Once created, power on the Windows 7 virtual machine and follow the steps to start installing:
- Select the newly created VM and click Edit Virtual Machine Settings.
- Open the CD/DVD (SATA) settings and browse and select your downloaded Windows 7 ISO file. Click OK. Your VM is now ready to boot from the installation media.
- Click Power on this virtual machine to open the Windows 7 Setup Wizard.
- Choose your language and keyboard settings. Then click Install Now.
- Accept the license terms and select Custom Installation.
- Choose the virtual hard drive and click Next. Windows will begin copying files and installing features.
Depending on your system performance, this process typically takes between 15 and 20 minutes. The virtual machine will restart automatically during installation.
Part 3: Optimization & Full-Screen Configuration
When you first enter the Windows 7 desktop, it will display in a small, low-resolution window. Let’s optimize it for modern monitors:
Adjusting Screen Resolution:
1. Right-click any space on the Windows 7 desktop and select Screen Resolution.
2. Change the resolution slider to match your display, such as 1920 × 1080.
3. Click Apply and Keep Changes. Your Windows 7 VM will now display on a full screen.
Installing VMware Tools (Highly Recommended):
To unlock smooth mouse movement, dynamic window resizing, and seamless copy-and-paste (drag-and-drop) functionality between your host Windows 11/10 PC and the guest VM, you need to install VMware Tools.
1. In the top menu of VMware Workstation, go to VM > Install VMware Tools.
2. On the Windows 7 desktop, press the Windows Key + R simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.
3. Type D:\setup.exe (assuming D: is your virtual optical drive) and press Enter.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts of the installation wizard, choose the standard installation, and restart the VM when prompted.
