How to fix "the processor needs to have two or more cores to run Windows 11" issue in VMware Workstation Player
Microsoft really did not make it easy to test its operating system in virtual machines, with its ridiculous hardware checks stopping tech enthusiasts from trying it. A few days ago, I told you about how to enable TPM 2.0 support in VMware Workstation Player. This is sort of the 2nd chapter of the story.
I installed the Windows Insider Preview build from an ISO, thinking that I could opt in to the Program for future updates. It would be convenient than downloading the ISO every time a new build is released. But to my surprise, the OS said that my VM did not meet the system requirements. This was getting silly, I had enabled TPM in VMware Workstation Player and Secure Boot was working too. My VM is perfectly capable of handling the operating system, it is after all running Windows 11 without any major hiccups.
Unsure of how to proceed, I installed the PC Health Check app to see what is wrong. It told me that the processor needs to have two or more cores, and that my system, i.e. the virtual machine, had just one. I was confused, because it was only a few days ago that I had allocated 4GB of RAM, and 4 cores while setting up the virtual machine and installing the OS. To verify this, I shut down the VM and checked its settings, and I was right, it did have 4 processor cores enabled. So, why was Windows 11 not allowing me to participate in the Insider Preview Program?
A quick search on Google should help me, or so I believed. But nobody had reported such an issue, but I eventually found the fix in an unrelated thread at the VMware community forums.
How to fix "the processor needs to have two or more cores to run Windows 11" issue in VMware Workstation Player
1. Open the folder where your virtual machine's files are located.
2. Look for the VMX file and open it with Notepad.
3. Use Ctrl + F to find out if the following flags exist.
numvcpus
cpuid.coresPerSocket
The first flag, which defines the number of virtual CPUs, should exist in all VMs. e.g. numvcpus = "4". The other flag is used to set the number of cores per socket, you may refer to this support article to determine the number of cores you can assign based on how many vCPUs you have.
In my case, the 2nd option wasn't listed in the settings file, so VMware was using just 1 socket and 1 core. I wanted to use 4 cores, so I set the value like this, cpuid.coresPerSocket = "4".
4. Save the VMX file, and close it.
5. Boot your VM and when run the PC Health Check app. It should pass the test.
The Windows Insider Preview check should also allow you to participate in the program, and you can opt in to receive the Dev Channel builds. Without compatible hardware, i.e. before the fix, you can only get Release Preview builds. Here's a screenshot from my VM's Windows Update section, which shows that the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview build 22494.1000 is being downloaded.
If for some reason the Preview Program still displays the error, despite the PC Health Check app saying your system can run Windows 11, I recommend running the open-source tool, WhyNotWin11. It will give you a more detailed list of the compatibility results than Microsoft's utility. E.g. If you accidentally set the amount of virtual RAM or storage or CPUs to a lower number than the minimum requirements, the program will tell you what the issue is.
There is not still W11 23H2 and these instructions are nonsense by now. :[
It worked for me just fine. You’re probably not following the instructions clearly.
Just tried the password option and the OOBE option and didnt work.
Worked perfectly. Thank OP.
Worked perfectly for me just now. Specifically, the regedit option.
Is this cut and paste from a Microsoft PR paper, because it 1000% BS:
“By listening to user insights, Microsoft has demonstrated its commitment to refining the Windows experience based on real-world needs.”
Windows 11 is proof they don’t give a s*it.
Worked for me just now
I agree! Windows 11 was a downgrade to me and I kept all 8 computers in our family on Windows 10 as a result. They didn’t listen to any customers. The taskbar was THE main reason I stayed away from Windows 11. With 6 monitors, it is impossible to navigate so many browser tabs, without the feature. I will try the new version in the virtual box to see if it is worth it yet.
Microsoft did a terrible job with this implementation.
They simply need to employ the creator of StartAllBack to fix Windows. He is smarter and more talented than the entire campus of Microsoft employees.
lol
Thank you so much! I work in IT and this is extremely useful information!
Thanks man. The second method worked great!
I used the second method, and i got exactly what i expected.
Using the Bypass 2: Use a banned email address email worked fantastically as I had gone to far to use the bypass 1.
I will be back when I next have a problem.
Keep you the great work
W11 File Explorer is the worst crap ever done. W11 is the biggest shame ever.
Just one more reason for me to go to Linux when Windows 10 ages out.
@ MarineRecon,
Be careful which Linux distro you choose. Some of them don’t include the Wayland protocol which is a security issue i.e. apps can copy, paste and inject data without user interaction.
It’s included in Fedora: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/fedora/latest/system-administrators-guide/Wayland/
How about a DARK MODE for your website? That would be oh so nice.
Something like this : [https://img.justpaste.me/image/8617] maybe?
Done with ‘Dark Reader Extension for ? Firefox’ [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/darkreader/]
This comment was written on [https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-installation-has-failed-how-to-fix-this-upgrade-error/#comment-4573155}
Definitely NOT! Once you get older and your eyesight starts to fail you’ll positively loathe dark mode.
Not sure what eye problems *you’re* having, but for me the exact opposite is true. Dark Mode is MUCH easier on my Eyes.
BTW- I’m 52, and have worked in IT all my life. Been staring at monitors for hours each day, most days of the week since the late 1980’s.
Microsoft completely ruined File Explorer by converting to XAML/WinUI/whatever new bloated modern garbage. Its worse than it ever was.
i tested it on win10 current edition. speeds up explorer like a charm
SO what is the priority numbers to give preference to ethernet over wireless?
Worked very well happy to have Windows Photo Viewer back in action in Windows-11
Worked for me (registry option) thank god, I can use the search option to find things on my computer again. Thank you so much!
Install Everything Search and dispense with Microsoft’s crappy search tool. https://www.voidtools.com/
Martin wrote an article on it: https://www.ghacks.net/2020/10/09/add-everything-search-to-the-windows-taskbar-for-even-faster-searches/
I presume the text “WindowsCopilot,,” is a typographical error (2023/09/17/how-to-disable-windows-copilot-in-windows/). The broken comment system unfortunately looks like it is populating itself via AI autopilot.
Hopefully, this Windows Copilot nonsense fails even more spectacularly than Cortana. Who requested this? We want all of the UX features removed back in 11, not this copilot nonsense.
I really don’t mind all of these Windows enhancement but Microsoft get one thing very wrong. ‘Opt in’, is far better than seek information and work to disable.
Turn off Windows Copilot entirely is not good enough.
How to uninstall Copilot entirely ?
@ ilev,
Use Gpedit or the registry. Explained in this article: https://www.ghacks.net/2023/09/17/how-to-disable-windows-copilot-in-windows/
With that snake oil salesman Panos gone, hopefully Windows can return to a normal desktop operating system without all the insanity it has right now in Windows 11.
Can we please stop being ‘politically correct’ (lying) and call them ads again instead of ‘suggestions’?
@ Martin,
Does your gpedit hack also turn off all the other “subscribed content” shown in the registry screenshot? Do you happen to know what all those are?
Thank you, I used the fake email option, it worked great.
I wish I had read this article a few months ago, as I purchased two refurbished Windows 10 Pro PCs to replace two older ones. The 1st one I entered an existing Microsoft account I had and it imediately setup OneDrive, adding it to the path names for the common folders such as Documents, Music, video, etc. I tried to just disable OneDrive but then had odd problems finding my data copied from another older PC. long story short I was able to remove all the entries from the registry after un-installing OneDrive.
The second refurbished PC I didn’t connect the WiFi adapter so during installation I was able to click on the no Internet option. Basically I did as you suggested above; set up a local login, disabled OneDrive from running on bootup, and eventually unInstalled it. No problems with folder paths, etc.
The registry option worked for me, but only me, not any other users. How do I make this apply to all users? Yes, I have admin rights.