How to Install Kali Linux 2021.

1 in VMWare Workstation 16 Pro

Step 1 – Download Kali Linux ISO image

To install the Kali Linux, we will have to first get the installer ISO image file. You can get it
by visiting the official download page. Please download the 64 bit or 32 bit image
depending on the system you have.

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 Kali Linux official download page

Step 2 – Locate the downloaded file

You can find the downloaded image file in the downloads folder, if you have not changed
the default settings. The filename would be something like kali-linux-2021.1-installer-
amd64.iso and would be around 4.0 GB. If you have downloaded through torrent, the ISO
file will be downloaded in a folder, folder name would be something like kali-linux-2021.1-
installer-amd64.iso.

Step 3- Open VMWare Workstation

Open VMware Workstation from Windows Start menu or from you desktop if you have
VMware Workstation icon there.

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 VMware Workstation 16 Pro Home Screen

Step 4 – Launch VMware Workstation New Virtual

Machine installation wizard.
To launch the wizard to create a new virtual machine, Click on Create a New Virtual
Machine or File -> New Virtual Machine. Welcome to the new Virtual Machine Wizard
dialog box will open. Select typical and click on next.

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 VMware workstation – create a new virtual machine screenshot

Step 5- Welcome to the new Virtual Machine Wizard

dialog box appears
This is where you get a chance to select the way virtual machine will be created. Typical
is predefined or mostly the defaults. Custom is where you get to set advanced options
such as compatibility with older Virtual Machines, SCSI controller type, etc. We will go
with the default options. Select Typical and click Next.

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 VMware workstation – create a new virtual machine wizard

Step 6- Select installation media or source

In this dialog box you will have to browse to the downloaded ISO file and click next.
Generally, VMware Workstation detects the OS automatically and initiates what they call
as the Easy Install. But in the case of Kali Linux this is not the case and you will see a
warning(yellow triangle). Please ignore that and click next to continue.

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Kali Linux Installation – Select Guest Image

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 VMware Workstation Player 16 – Select Guest Operating System

Step 7- Select Guest Operating System

In this dialog box, you will be asked to select the Guest Operating System. Select Guest
operating system as Linux and Version as Debian 10.x 64-bit or 32 bit depending on your
system.

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 VMware Workstation Player 16 – Select Guest Operating System

Step 8- Provide Virtual machine name

In this dialog box, you will be asked to provide the name of the virtual machine. You can
provide any name you like. You can also change the location of the virtual machine. By
default it is place in the Documents/Virtual Machine folder. Leaving it as the default is
also fine.

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 Kali Linux Installation – Name of VM

Step 9- Specify disk capacity

This dialog box asks you to specify the disk capacity. This is the maximum amount of
disk space it will utilize once the Virtual Machine is created. You can leave it to the
default but if you are running low on disk space, you can reduce it to 20 GB. This is
generally sufficient if you are not planning to install heavy disk using software’s such as
Photoshop. Such software’s reduce the performance of your Virtual Machine if your
Computer is not powerful enough.

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Check Split Virtual Disk into multiple files. This is the default option. Say if you specify 60
GB, all of 60 GB will not be utilized or say 60 GB will not be blocked at once. These
Virtual Disks expand according to the usage with a Maximum size you specifed as the
disk capacity. On a fresh install normally it takes 10 GB of space which will grow
according to the software’s you install in the VM.

Kali Linux Installation – Specify Disk Space

Step 10- Ready to create Virtual Machine Dialog Box

This is the final dialog box and what you see is all the options you have selected in
previous dialog boxes.
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 Kali Linux Installation – Ready to create virtual machine

Customise Hardware – Normally I increase the RAM and memory before clicking finish.
This helps to finish the installation process faster. If you have sufficient RAM and CPU on
your host Windows machine, I suggest even you should increase RAM and CPU. To
increase the RAM, before clicking Finish, click on customise hardware. Increase the
memory using the slider.

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 Kali Linux Installation – Customise Hardware – Memory

To increase the CPU, Enter the number of cores. I normally enter 4. Based on your CPU
you can enter the number of cores.Click on Finish to start the installation process.

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 Kali Linux Installation – Customise Hardware – Processor

Click on Display to change the display settings. Check Accelerated 3D Graphics, Use
host settings for monitor.

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 Kali Linux Installation – Customise Hardware – Display

Click on OK and Finish to start the installation process

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 Kali Linux Installation – Ready to create virtual machine

Step 11 – Power on Virtual Machine

Now you will have to click on play virtual machine to start the process.

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 VMware Workstation – Power on Virtual Machine

Step 12 – Select Graphical Install from Boot Menu

Here you will see many options. Select Graphical Install using the down arrow key and
click continue.

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 Kali linux installation boot menu screenshot

Step 13 – Select a Language

In this dialog box you will be asked to select a language. Please select a language and
continue. This option sets your language in the Kali Linux Operating system. Default is
English.

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 Install Kali Linux 2021 – Select a Language Screenshot

Step 14 – Select Location

In this dialog box you will be asked to select a Location. Please select a location and
continue. This option sets your Location in the Kali Linux Operating system. later on, you
will be able to set the time zone based on the location you choose here.

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 Install Kali Linux 2021 – Select Location Screenshot

Step 15 – Configure the Keyboard

In this dialog box you will be asked to select the keyboard layout. Please select a
Keyboard layout using the arrow keys and click continue. This option sets your Keyboard
in the Kali Linux Operating system. By default it is set to American English.

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 Install Kali Linux 2021 – Configure keyboard Screenshot

After you click continue, you will see the installation progresses for some them you see
the Network Configuration dialog box, which is the next step.

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 Install Kali Linux 2021 – Installation progress Screenshot

Step 16 – Configure the Network – Enter Hostname

In this dialog box you will be asked to enter the hostname for your system. This being a
home network, we can set anything. Enter any anything and click continue.

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 Install Kali Linux 2021 – Configure the Network Screenshot

Step 17 – Configure the Network – Enter domain name

In this dialog box you will be asked to enter the domain name for your system. This being
a home network, we can set anything like example.com

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 Install Kali Linux 2021 – Configure the Network- Enter Domain Name Screenshot

Step 18 – Set User account and password

In this dialog box you will be asked create an account other than the root user. Please
note that this is the user other than the root user. Please type your name and click
continue

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 Install Kali Linux 2021 – Set up Users account Screenshot

Now you will be asked to provide the user name again. I use the same name as the
account name in the previous screen.

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 Install Kali Linux 2021 – Set up Users name Screenshot

You will be asked to setup a password of the user you created. Enter the password. We
will login with this username and password once the installation completes.

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 Kali Linux Installation – set user password

Step 19 – Partition Disk

In this dialog box you are asked how you would like to partition your disk. Select Guided
– Use entire disk and click continue. This is the default option.

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 Install Kali Linux 2021 – Select Disk to Partition Screenshot

In this dialog box you are asked to select a disk to partition. Select sda, VMware Virtual
disk. There should be only one option. Click Continue.

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 Install Kali Linux 2021 – Select Disk to Partition Screenshot

Step 20 – Select partition scheme

In this dialog box you are asked to select a scheme for disk partition. Select the default,
All files in one partition and click Continue.

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 Install Kali Linux 2021 – Disk Partitioning Scheme Screenshot

Step 21 – Disk partition Overview

In this dialog box you are see the summary of your disk partition. Select the Finish
Partitioning and Write changes to disk which should be selected by default. All you have
to do is to click continue.

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 Install Kali Linux 2021 – Disk Partition Overview Screenshot

Step 22 – Disk partition Confirmation

In this dialog you are asked to confirm Write changes to disk. Select yes and click
continue.

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 Install Kali Linux 2021 – Disk Partition Confirmation Screenshot

Step 23 – Installation starts

Now the actual installation starts. Wait for Configure the Package Manager Dialog box to
appear.

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 Kali Linux – Installation begins

Installation process will continue. Wait for sometime and let the process continue.

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 Kali Linux Installation

Installation will continue… please have patience.

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 Kali Linux 2020 Installation progress

Installation will continue. Wait for the process to complete. This can take a long time. So
have patience.

Step 24 – Software Selection

In this screen, you will have to specify what software you want to install. I accept the
large, that is install all that is a part of default and additional tools. Click continue to
proceed.

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 Kali Linux 2021 installation – Software selection

This step will take some time to complete. So have patience

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 Kali Linux Installation progress

After all the files are retrieved, the installation will begin as shown in the below
screenshot.

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 Kali Linux Installation progress

Step 25 – Install GRUB boot loader

In this dialog box you will be asked if you would like to install the GRUB boot loader.
Select Yes and click Continue.

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 Install GRUB Boot Loader Screenshot

Step 26 – Select device for GRUB boot loader

Installation
In this dialog box you will be asked to select boot loader device for GRUB installation.
Select /dev/sda and click Continue.

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 Select GRUB Boot Loader Device

Installation will continue. Wait for the process to complete.

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Kali Linux Installation progress

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Kali Linux Installation progress

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 Kali Linux Installation progress

Step 27 – Installation Complete

Installation will continue and now you will see Installation complete dialog box. Click
continue to finalize the installation and wait for the VM to reboot. After reboot you will
see the boot loader screen.

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 Install Kali Linux 2021 – Installation Complete Screenshot

Process Complete
After the VM starts, you will see the Grub boot loader. Select Kali GNU/Linux.

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 Kali Linux – Grub loader

Login with your credential you created. Enter your username and Password

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 Kali Linux login screen

You will be logged into Kali Desktop 2021.

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 Kali Linux Desktop

Step 28 – Create root user

By default, only user account is setup during the installation stage. After installation you
have to setup the root account by setting upa password for the root account.

1. Open Terminal
2. Type command sudo su and enter password to gain root access
3. Type command passwd root and enter the password for the root user. You can set
the password of your choice

That’s it, you should be able to login as root user.

Kali Linux – change root password

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Install VMware Tools (Optional for VMware 16 – Skip
if you are able to switch to full screen automatically)
In VMware Player 16, VMware tools gets installed automatically. Manual steps for
installing VMware tools is not required. You should automatically be able to switch to
the full screen mode. Try to switch to full screen first. It should work, If not, follow the
below steps, else ignore.

If you have internet connection, try this

Only this method of installing VMware tools will work for modern Operating
systems. VMware now only supports Open VM tools.

1. Open Terminal
2. Execute the command

sudo apt-get install open-vm-tools-desktop fuse

3. Enter your password

4. Enter your password, if asked
5. Enter Y to accept whenever asked
6. Wait for the process to complete and restart. You are done. Login and now you will
see the desktop in full screen mode

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 Install VMware tools

You can check the version of installed VMware Tools. In terminal, execute the command

vmware-toolbox-cmd -v

. This will show you the version number.

If you don’t have internet connection, you can install VMware tools directly from the
VM. If you have internet connection, follow the next instruction which is easier.

VMware Tar Tool for Linux virtual machine is feature-frozen at version 10.3.10, so
the tar tools (linux.iso) included in Workstation Pro is 10.3.10 and will not be
updated. Due to this change, the Install/Update/Reinstall VMware Tools menu is
disabled. Below steps worked in older versions of VMware Workstation. This will

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 not work now for latest releases of Linux operating systems such as Redhat 8, Kali
Linux 2021 etc… Please ignore the below steps for VMWare Workstation Player 16.

1. Goto VM-> Install VMware Tools

2. You will see VMware tools Icon on the desktop. If you don’t, then click on Places in
the menu, Places->VMwre Tools. Double click to open.
3. Copy the file with the file name something like this VMware-tools….tar.gz to the
desktop.
4. Right click on this file on the desktop and click Extract here. You will see that the file
is extracted to the folder vmware-tools-distrib.
5. Open terminal by going to System Tools -> terminal
6. Goto the folder vmware-tools-distrib on desktop by entering the command cd
/Desktop/vmware-tools-distrib
7. Now run this command:

sudo ./vmware-install.pl -d

8. Enter your password and press Enter. You will be asked if you want to proceed with
the legacy installer. Enter Y and press Enter.
9. Now you will be asked series of questions, just accept the default by pressing Enter
for all and wait for the installation to complete.
10. Wait for the installation to complete. You will see more prompts, except the defaults
by clicking enter. Once completed, restart your VM by going to VM->Power->Restart
Guest
11. Once the system restarts, you will be prompted to login. Once you login, you can see
the desktop in full screen mode which stretches up to the complete screen.

Process Complete
You are done, You can start working on Kali Linux 2021. Thanks for Visiting my blog.
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 Kali Linux Desktop

Previous Post: What is the purpose and use of Software Repository, Package Manager
and Source List in Linux based Operating System

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Shailesh Jha
Underneath a boring IT professional lies a passionate student of computer science. I
love computers and this blog is about everyday computer issues that a common man
faces. Through this blog I try to reconnect with my long forgotten self.

40 COMMENTS
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Akshe Rocket Link Reply

Excellent screenshots, Marvellous english, Outstanding simplicity, This article is TOP

NOTCH. Great work Shailesh.

Theodore Link Reply

Thank you so much, I had no idea having kali would be easy again but with this article
and the reply I am on the fast track. Once again, Thanks man.

Theodore Shayan Link Reply

Great article Shailesh, thanks for the simplicity. Anyways, I want to set up kali again but
should I open kali ISO download before installing with VMware

Shailesh Jha Link Reply

If you have setup Kali Linux previously, just copy the folder to the new machine and open
it in VMware. Login with credentials you setup earlier.

vijay Link Reply

At the login page i am unable to login as root user.and only able to login as user,which
was created previously as you shown.can you please help me sir

moein Link Reply

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Hi, thank you for the comprehensive article
I translated your article into Persian along with several other articles and also mentioned
the link to your source
‫ نصب کالی لینوکس در‬VMware
best regard

Prashant Link Reply

Sir, I have virtual box latest version and kali linux latest version but i am not able to install
kali on my laptop after following all the things. Please help me.

Sireesha Link Reply

Sir, I installed Kali Linux on VMware workstation 15 player with debian 7.x 64 bit version.
Can u please tell me the next step,what can I do after login to Kali linux sir.

Godwin Effiong Link Reply

I’m stocked at where it can’t copy file from Component CD. What should I do? I’m
installing with an iso I downloaded from kali website.

Shailesh Jha Link Reply

Hi Godwin,

Its not easy to fix these issues. Try to setup Kali using the official image. Please follow
my blog post: https://shaileshjha.com/use-kali-linux-official-image-to-install-kali-linux-in-
vmware-virtualbox/

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Thanks,
Shailesh

bhavin Link Reply

hi there
i have installed kali on vmware and its working fine thanks to you i got a notification that
there is a new update available
should i update or there is an other method

Shailesh Jha Link Reply

Yes you can update it. Also, to be on the safer side, please make a copy of the Kali Linux
VM machine folder. Its the same you provided during installation. if anything goes wrong,
you will have a backup copy. To can open the VM from the backup, open the .vmx file.

Irfan Saeed Link Reply

hello sir . i install kali but i cant acces to internet . i tried both NAT and Bridge .i am using
kali on vmware workstation pro 15 . can you please give me any suggestion ?

Mwaura Link Reply

Great! Thanks.

Aquib Link Reply

Thanks man…………………..i have been looking for this for all over the internet
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Luis Link Reply

Great tutorial very helpfull ! Thanks a lot!

Michel Link Reply

Great tutorial, I enjoyed it and everything is running fine!

hemanth soma Link Reply

how to fix load installer components from cd ..

Deeraj Link Reply

Thank you, really appreciated for the detailed step by step tutorial on Kali OS Installation
process _/\_ _/\_.

Shailesh Jha Link Reply

Thanks a lot

Tamizh Link Reply

Hi,
After i installed kali linux i couldn’t install any softwares. i am getting errors on every
time. i guess repository file content are wrong because while run this cmd “apt-get
update” some url’s are not connecting and also getting error. so kindly help me to resolve
these problem .

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And, I need some guidelines to use kali linux.

Shailesh Jha Link Reply

Are you connecting to Kali Linux using wifi or Cable. WiFi can be a problem some times.
Connect through cable and check the internet connection in Kali. Open the browser and
open some page to see if it loads.

Lets check if you have the repository correctly setup.

Go to terminal and enter: vi /etc/apt/sources.list

Vi editor will open up and show you the contents of the file sources.list. Do you see this
entry or is it blank?

If it is blank add the following lines: deb https://http.kali.org/kali kali-rolling main non-
free contrib

Save and quit.

Now try to run apt-get update. It should update.

Let me know how it goes.

Try this book. Officially released by Kali.org

https://kali.training/downloads/Kali-Linux-Revealed-1st-edition.pdf

ugi Link Reply

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Thankyou so much it’s very helpfull for me my scalling issues is done:). but in the middle
of process i want login after install using:

username:root
password:toor
still can’t login

but after try some keyword finally i can login:

username:root
password:(password when input in the process of installation)
just sharing my experience 🙂

balu Link Reply

HI,
I tried to install Kali Linux as u said. I followed the steps exactly. I got an error showing
GURB boot loader is not installing. Please give any solution.

jayaram Link Reply

Hi,
I installed the VM after the login page with correct credentials given i get a black screen.
what would be the problem?

uday Link Reply

i have vmware 9and windoes 7 32bit os …and when i set a password while installing kali-
linux-light-2017.2-i386 at the last step of installation again a pop up windows appear
asking for username and password but error is occuring saying that wrong password..
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Shailesh Jha Link Reply

VMware 9 is too old. Start using VMware 14, the latest one. Try to login as user root and
password you set during installation. if you have forgotten the password, you will have to
start the process again.

Ayo Agunbiade Link Reply

Failed to launch Settings. Failed to Fork (Cannot Allocate Memory)

Hi,

I follwed all the instructions on your blog as regards installing Kali Linux.

I installed Kali-linux-2017.3-amd64 on VMWare Workstation 14 Player.

Debian 9.x 64-bit

The tools do not open when I try to launch them.

I clicked Settings and I am receiving this error message “Failed to launch Settings. Failed
to Fork (Cannot Allocate Memory)”

Could you advise of what I can do to resolve this error?

Thank you

Shailesh Jha Link Reply

I am not sure about the exact cause. Something is eating your memory and system is
running out of it.
How much memory did you allocate while turning on the Kali VM. Can you increase it to
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2GB and try again.
Have you enabled Inter VT in your system?
Try that and let me know how it goes.

Brad Link Reply

I have Kali 2007-1 installed on VMware workstation. I want to upgrade to Kali 2017-
3(latest version)
How can I do it without having to remove the Kali or the VMWare.
I am sure there is a line of code I can use to upggrade.

Thanx
Brad

Shailesh Jha Link Reply

Hi Brad,

Use the command as the root user. Kali will upgrade to the latest version.

apt update && apt full-upgrade

KISHOR JADHAV PATIL Link Reply

Power on this virtual Machine

This host supports Intel VT-x, but Intel VT-x is disabled.
Intel VT-x might be disabled if it has been disabled in the BIOS/firmware settings or the
host has not been power-cycled since changing this setting.
(1) Verify that the BIOS/firmware settings enable Intel VT-x and disable ‘trusted
execution.’
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(2) Power-cycle the host if either of these BIOS/firmware settings have been changed.
(3) Power-cycle the host if you have not done so since installing VMware Workstation.
(4) Update the host’s BIOS/firmware to the latest version.
This host does not support “Intel EPT” hardware assisted MMU virtualization.
Module ‘CPUIDEarly’ power on failed.
Failed to start the virtual machine
So please help me

Shailesh Jha Link Reply

Hi Kishor

Looks like Intel VT-x is disabled in BIOS. Follow my post on how to enable it.

https://shaileshjha.com/step-by-step-guide-to-enable-intel-vt-x-or-amd-v-in-bios-or-uefi-
in-windows-10-and-windows-8/

Intel VT is required for 64 bit OS. You can try to download 32 bit version of Kali Linux
instead of 64 bit. 32 Bit Kali should work fine. But first try to enable Intel VT and see what
happens.

HUnter Link Reply

i installed it but there was no username and password tab…so after installation i can’t
sign in. what should i do?

Gk Link Reply

username root
password toor
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Ken N. Link Reply

Hmm still having window scaling issues after installing vmware tools. Was able to
scale/Drag the guest window to whatever size, now after the dist upgrade it can only be
set in the system display settings. Anyone have a fix plx respond.

Shailesh Jha Link Reply

May be you are not using the latest version of VMware tools. Kali Linux 2017 is based on
Debian 8. Please check the version of installed vmware tools by using the command
vmware-toolbox-cmd -v in terminal. Reinstall the latest version of VMware tools using
the command sudo apt-get install open-vm-tools-desktop fuse

sri Link Reply

error is comming

Jerry Weir Link Reply

I dont know what I enjoyed more, the tutorial or your bio paragraph. Haha. Thanks for
breaking it down in a simple and easy to follow format. I have been playing arou d with
Kali for a little over a month through a live usb boot and also on my android through vnc.
Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Thought I would give this a shot and see
if it fixes the issues I am having with the other 2 before I just go ahead and run a dual
boot install on my machine. Thanks again man. Be heard but not seen.

Isaiah Forson Link Reply

Great tutorial. Thank you

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