Working to created a VM for primary works incase the system were to crash again like with the 14.6.1 update. When I go into Fusion to create I try the Install macOS from the recovery partition, but it hangs, till I close it.
Is this the best way to create the image or is there another? Can I download the MacOS iso? Could I install MacOS 15 when running 14 or does it require the same version for some authorization?
MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 14.7
You want the latest (released) version of VMware that is designated for your host version of macOS. Presumably, there are VMware instructions on how to configure recent macOS guests available from Broadcom that you can reference. The VM should be able to use the macOS installer (.app) to create the guest as Apple does not offer .iso builds like Microsoft or Linux.
I don't use VMware, but I do use Parallels's Desktop Professional. To enhance the speed of the guests, I keep them on an external Crucial X8 (1050 MB/sec) SSD via USB-C 3.2 Gen2 cabling to my TB3 port. You will need a lot of RAM to support any version of macOS guests on that MacBook Pro without starving the host macOS.
Your original post didn't make sense to me on why you wanted to do this, but your latest post clears things up.
You need to download a macOS installer for the OS you want to use in the VM. Here is an Apple article with instructions & links:
How to download and install macOS - Apple Support
I have not tried installing macOS into a VM in a long time, but I believe I needed to create & use a bootable macOS USB installer for the process. Here is an Apple article for creating a bootable macOS USB installer:
Create a bootable installer for macOS - Apple Support
Note that virtual machines run the same basic type of machine code as the host.
If you are on an Apple Silicon Mac, you cannot run any version of macOS earlier than Big Sur in a virtual machine. All of the Mac operating systems prior to Big Sur were released only for Intel, PowerPC, and/or 68K machines.
Using a Virtual machine for this is WAY too complicated. if problems occur, you don't know whether the new MacOS or the Virtual Machine setup is to blame.
if your goal is to maintain the old MacOS while trying out the new version, install the new MacOS on an External drive, and do not remove or update the internal drive until the new version until it is found to be acceptable.
Installing on and booting from an external drive WILL require you to adjust MacOS security settings.
I want use the vm as the working subsystem with important things and use the system os for other things. Would rather run Mac than Windows or Linux. For separate, Teams, Emails, projects collections not running on my primary system.
Im very heavy into the Virtual World. One of the reason I pick the Mac was because its not as much as a resource hog and could create more VM.
Using VMware Fusion 13.5 Pro. Recently upgraded to 14.7. I create new, Install macOS from the recovery partition, but the Preparing... sits there for with no movement. Ive let it sit there all day but nothing. I am not seeing anywhere where I need to set permission or allow sign in.
One reason to run a separate version is for Cisco DEVNET. I don't want to install everything on my Primary OS would rather an VM. Ive used diff version of Linux, but would rather use macOS. Would be nice if there was a container to put that portion into.
VMware Fusion Create MacOS VM
