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I would like to install OS X Yosemite in VMware Fusion 7.0.

If I select the DMG file my university is providing, VMware is unable to boot from the DMG file.

The image is a compressed DMG.

Properties:
    Encrypted: false
    Kernel Compatible: true
    Checksummed: true
    Software License Agreement: false
    Partitioned: false
    Compressed: true

Is there a way to make VMware Fusion boot from a compressed DMG?

I tried to convert to DMG to "uncompressed" or ISO with no improvement. I always get:

EFI VMware Virtual IDE CDROM Drive (IDE 1.0) ... unsuccessful

In the VMware log file I only see:

2015-08-12T09:44:42.586+01:00| vcpu-0| I120: CDROM: Connecting sata0:1 to '/Users/corti/Downloads/Yosemite (uncompressed).dmg'. type=2 remote=0
2015-08-12T09:44:42.587+01:00| vcpu-0| I120: CDROM: Checking initial physical media state...
2015-08-12T09:44:42.587+01:00| vcpu-0| I120: CDROM:  initial physical CDROM state is 1 (sense)
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  • How did you convert it to uncompressed? Using hdiutil convert is the best option. I assume the DMG your university provided is actually bootable - have you tried booting it on real hardware?
    – mjturner
    Commented Aug 12, 2015 at 7:50
  • Did not try to boot with is as I do not have a physical CD-ROM. Is there another way to check if the image is bootable?
    – Matteo
    Commented Aug 12, 2015 at 7:53

2 Answers 2

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It doesn't matter what type the DMG is as VMware Fusion cannot install OS X Yosemite by booting it or even booting the Install OS X Yosemite.app downloaded from Apple as that's not how it works in VMware Fusion. VMware Fusion must first make an Installer Image from the Install OS X Yosemite.app and install from the Image it creates.

Have a look at: Installing OS X 10.10 Yosemite as a guest operating system in VMware Fusion (2082109).

To install Mac OS X 10.10 in a virtual machine using the Yosemite app download:

  1. Select File > New from the Fusion menu bar.
  2. Select Install from disc or image and click Continue.
  3. Drag and drop the Install OS X Yosemite application into Use operating system installation disc or image dialog box.
  4. Click Continue.
  5. Fusion should automatically discover the Guest Operating System. If not, ensure that the Operating System is set to Apple Mac OS X and that the version is set to Mac OS X 10.10. Click Continue.
  6. If you want to modify any of the settings, such as memory (RAM), CPU, or hard disk size, click Customize Settings and specify the non-default values.
  7. Click Finish. The installation starts.
  8. When prompted, select Reinstall Mac OS X and click Continue.
  9. Click Continue.
  10. Agree to the license agreement and follow the prompts to begin the installation.

After the installation completes, you must install VMware Tools on the virtual machine. To do this, first eject the Mac OS installation disc image from within the new virtual machine. For more information, see Installing VMware Tools in a Mac OS Guest (1032440).

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  • What if you don't have the .app file? Can you drag and drop the .pkg or .dmg file?
    – gonzobrains
    Commented May 20, 2020 at 18:21
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The solution from @user3439894 did not worked for me while installing OS X 10.11 El Capitan using a dmg file. I created a bootable ISO to install it on VMware Fusion 8.0.1 by following the below steps as advised here.

# Mount the installer image
hdiutil attach /Applications/Install\ OS\ X\ El\ Capitan.app/Contents/SharedSupport/InstallESD.dmg -noverify -nobrowse -mountpoint /Volumes/install_app

# Create a ElCapitan blank ISO image of 9900mb with a Single Partition - Apple Partition Map
hdiutil create -o /tmp/ElCapitan.cdr -size 9900m -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J

# Mount the ElCapitan blank ISO image
hdiutil attach /tmp/ElCapitan.cdr.dmg -noverify -nobrowse -mountpoint /Volumes/install_build

# Restore the Base System into the ElCapitan blank ISO image
asr restore -source /Volumes/install_app/BaseSystem.dmg -target /Volumes/install_build -noprompt -noverify -erase

# Remove Package link and replace with actual files
rm /Volumes/OS\ X\ Base\ System/System/Installation/Packages
cp -rp /Volumes/install_app/Packages /Volumes/OS\ X\ Base\ System/System/Installation/

# Copy El Capitan installer dependencies
cp -rp /Volumes/install_app/BaseSystem.chunklist /Volumes/OS\ X\ Base\ System/BaseSystem.chunklist
cp -rp /Volumes/install_app/BaseSystem.dmg /Volumes/OS\ X\ Base\ System/BaseSystem.dmg

# Unmount the installer image
hdiutil detach /Volumes/install_app

# Unmount the ElCapitan ISO Image
hdiutil detach /Volumes/OS\ X\ Base\ System/

# Create a sparseimage and auto-size it
hdiutil convert /tmp/ElCapitan.cdr.dmg -format UDSP -o /tmp/ElCapitan
hdiutil resize -size `hdiutil resize -limits /tmp/ElCapitan.sparseimage | tail -n 1 | awk '{ print $1 }'`b /tmp/ElCapitan.sparseimage

# Convert the ElCapitan sparseimage to ISO/CD master
hdiutil convert /tmp/ElCapitan.sparseimage -format UDTO -o /tmp/ElCapitan

# Remove the unwanted images
rm /tmp/ElCapitan.cdr.dmg
rm /tmp/ElCapitan.sparseimage

# Rename the ElCapitan ISO image and move it to the desktop
mv /tmp/ElCapitan.cdr ~/Desktop/ElCapitan.iso
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  • While this link may answer the question, it is better to include the essential parts of the answer here and provide the link for reference. Link-only answers can become invalid if the linked page changes.
    – Tetsujin
    Commented Nov 14, 2015 at 19:48
  • 1
    @Tetsujin I am sorry, I didn't knew this, will keep this in mind in future. I've edited my answer now. Please remove the negative mark now :). Thanks
    – vikas027
    Commented Nov 15, 2015 at 0:02

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