0

Simple question. My hardware/software setup is the following:

8GB RAM 2.5 GHz Windows 8.1 64 bit VMWare workstation player 12.

Can I install and run 64 bit Linux distributions on my setup? If yes, what should I do different compared to the 32 bit versions?

So far I've only used 32 bit distros since I didn't really need the 64 bit. However, OpenSuSE is only available as a 64 bit and I couldn't install it since it detects a 32 bit hardware at the startup.

Improve this question
6
  • I couldn't install it since it detects a 32 bit hardware at the startup. <- that is your answer.
    – Hannu
    Commented Jul 31, 2017 at 14:41
  • So your hardware and host OS (Windows) are all 64 bit? This should not be a problem.
    – Darren
    Commented Jul 31, 2017 at 15:04
  • @Hannu yeah but either I have 64 bit hardware or the box, the vendor and Microsoft are telling lies :)
    – mickkk
    Commented Jul 31, 2017 at 15:46
  • So what is your hardware. Please edit and add this to your question.
    – DavidPostill ♦
    Commented Jul 31, 2017 at 17:03
  • Your question is too broad in its current state. How you run a 64-bit guest os is well documented. Does your hardware support VT-x if it does not what you want IS NOT POSSIBLE. Edit your question, so not submit commentary, to clarify your question
    – Ramhound
    Commented Jul 31, 2017 at 18:18

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

If you are running a 64-bit host OS then by definition you have 64-bit hardware. The most likely problem is that you have not enabled, or your CPU does not support, virtualization support as explained here:

Installation Requirements

When you install Workstation, the installer performs checks to make sure the host system has a processor that meets the following requirements. You cannot install Workstation if the host system does not meet these requirements.

  • 64-bit x86 CPU
  • LAHF/SAHF support in long mode

You can use CPU-Z or a similar utility to determine if the host system CPU is 64-bit capable. CPU-Z shows EM64T (Intel) or AMD64 (AMD) if the processor is 64-bit capable.

If you plan to install a 64-bit guest operating system in a virtual machine, the host system must have one of the following processors. Workstation will not allow you to install a 64-bit guest operating system if the host system does not have one of these processors.

  • AMD CPU that has segment-limit support in long mode.
  • Intel CPU that has VT-x support. VT-x support must be enabled in the host system BIOS. The BIOS settings that must be enabled for VT-x support vary depending on the system vendor. See VMware KB article 1003944 for information on how to determine if VT-x support is enabled.

If you can see what CPU you have, you should be able to check if it does support VT-x and how to enable it in the BIOS.

Improve this answer
1
  • This may be it, I didn't know I had to do this. Let me check.
    – mickkk
    Commented Jul 31, 2017 at 15:47

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .