Steps to Install Windows Server 2022 on a Virtual Machine

This guide provides a clear, practical overview of steps to install Windows server 2022 on a virtual machine, with useful context, important details, and straightforward takeaways for everyday readers.

• Download and install the software to run the virtual machine, in this article this guide choose VMware Workstation 16 Player. This is free software.
• Download VMware Workstation 16 Player
• ISO file of Windows Server 2022, you can download it according to the instructions in the link below
• How to download Windows Server 2022, download official Windows Sever 2022 ISO from Microsoft

Step 1 : Open VMware Workstation 16 Player and select Create a New Virtual Machine

Step 2 : Select Installer disc image file (iso)

Step 3 : Click Browse to find where you save the ISO file of Windows Server 2022 and then select the file, click Open > Next . Note that the downloaded ISO file name is often very long, you can rename it to shorten it to avoid errors

Step 4 : You select Microsoft Windows in the Guest operating system and then select Windows Server 2019 in the Version . section

Step 5 : Name the virtual machine and choose where to store the virtual machine

Step 6 : Choose the hard drive capacity for the virtual machine, if you are lazy, you can leave the default 60GB

Step 7 : You check the configuration again and can customize it by clicking Customize Hardware if not satisfied. It is recommended to choose a RAM memory larger than 2GB for the best experience. After selecting, click Finish

Step 8 : On the interface of VMware Workstation 16 Player , click Play virtual machine to run the newly created virtual machine

Step 9 : The application will automatically run to the Windows Server 2022 installation screen. At the first screen is to select the language, time zone and input method you can leave the default and then click Next

Step 10 : Click Install Now

Step 11 : Select the version. In this section you should note that Windows Server 2022 versions will have a DOS interface. If you want a graphical interface like normal Windows, you must choose the Desktop Experience version. We will guide both versions for you

Step 12 : Confirm reading the terms of use and then click Next

Step 13 : Select Custom: Install Microsoft Server Operating System only

Step 14 : Click Next to select the installation drive

Step 15 : Wait for the system to install itself. This process will take some time and the virtual machine will restart itself several times. After this step, the installation process of Windows Server 2022 regular version and Desktop Experience version will be slightly different

Step 16a : Setup on Windows Server 2022 Regular Edition

• A new screen will appear asking you to change the password of the system, use the arrows of the keyboard to navigate to the OK line and then press Enter.

• You enter the password and confirm the password. Note, Windows Server 2022 system does not accept passwords that are too short, too simple

• After entering the password, a confirmation screen will appear, press Enter to complete

• The Windows Server 2022 interface will usually appear like this:

Step 16b : Set up Windows Server 2022 Desktop Experience version

• After installing the necessary files, the account setup interface will appear. Enter the password, confirm the password, then click Finish

• Next, the login screen will appear with a suggestion to press Ctrl + Alt + Del to log in. However, on the virtual machine you will have to press Ctrl + Alt + Insert

• After you log in, this is what Windows Server 2022 will look like:

Above is the entire installation process of Windows Server 2022, good luck!