VMware Workstation/ESXi BIOS/EFI SLIC Mod

Discussion in 'Virtualization' started by pantagruel, Aug 26, 2015.

  1. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    600
    2,271
    30
    The procedure is the same. If you follow the steps in the included "OEMSLP 2.x Guest Activation Setup.txt" you should be OK.

    Capture2.PNG
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  2. simkard

    simkard MDL Junior Member

    Aug 26, 2007
    80
    7
    0
    I tried multiple possibilities in the VMX file but never saw any SLIC table showing up in RWeverything // See attached screenshot

    My VMX file contains this :
    • virtualHW.version = "21" >>>>> So let's assume I need the EFI20-64.ROM modded ROM file
    • firmware = "efi" >>>>> Entry was already present in the VMX file
    • efi64.filename = "EFI20-64.ROM" >>>>> I have added this line to get ESXi to load the necessary ROM file
    Any idea ?
    I'm pretty sure this is the reason why I'm not getting the SLIC table and/or the activation successful in Windows Server 2025
     
  3. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    600
    2,271
    30
    #403 pantagruel, Jul 4, 2025
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2025
    (OP)
    I just noticed:

    efi64.filename = "EFI20-64.ROM"

    it should be

    efi20-64.filename = "EFI20-64.ROM"
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  4. simkard

    simkard MDL Junior Member

    Aug 26, 2007
    80
    7
    0
    Hello and MANY thanks !
    Surely a careless mistake from me ... sorry for that.
    + I went to read the instructions (PDF file) again and found out that I just misread.

    ESXi - SLIC table ok.png

    WS2025 - Activation ok.png
     
  5. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    600
    2,271
    30
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  6. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    600
    2,271
    30
    #406 pantagruel, Jul 18, 2025
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2026
    (OP)
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  7. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    600
    2,271
    30
    #407 pantagruel, Jul 22, 2025
    Last edited: Jan 18, 2026
    (OP)
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  8. CocoNuts974

    CocoNuts974 MDL Novice

    Aug 26, 2018
    7
    2
    0
    Hello, I would like to know if it's possible to install my old recovery CDs from an HP Pavilion DV6-3022EK running Windows 7 Home Premium on VMware. If so, what is the procedure for adding information such as the version, model, serial number, etc. to VMware? Thank you in advance.
     
  9. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    600
    2,271
    30
    #409 pantagruel, Oct 16, 2025
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2025
    (OP)
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  10. abbodi1406

    abbodi1406 MDL KB0000001

    Feb 19, 2011
    18,610
    100,025
    340
    They hijacked Windows versions scheme, lol
     
  11. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    600
    2,271
    30
    No AV flags in the archive here, but I went ahead and added a password anyway - download links and hashes are updated.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  12. PudgeEnjoyer

    PudgeEnjoyer MDL Novice

    Dec 2, 2025
    3
    0
    0
    Hey, wanted to ask. How do I change manufacturer name and other stuff inside VMware Workstation 17? Googled alot and now I'm here. As I understood - the method with patching 6006.ROM isn't working now. I need to change the info inside Win10 machines, could you help please ?
     
  13. PudgeEnjoyer

    PudgeEnjoyer MDL Novice

    Dec 2, 2025
    3
    0
    0
    I tried changing BIOS.440.ROM via Phoenix Bios Editor and editing .vmx file using
    firmware = "bios"
    bios440.filename = "BIOS.440.ROM"

    What am I doing wrong ? Does VMware 17 and Win10 even support this type of bios ?
     
  14. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    600
    2,271
    30
    Yes, you can run Win10 in a BIOS.440 VM. I tried a smbios edit:

    Code:
    smbios.reflectHost = "FALSE"
    smbios.addHostUUID = "FALSE"
    smbios.addHostSerialNumber = "FALSE"
    smbios.custom.systemManufacturer = "MyCustomMaker"
    smbios.custom.systemProductName = "MyCustomModel"
    smbios.custom.systemVersion = "1.0"
    smbios.custom.systemSerialNumber = "1234567890"
    but no luck.

    According to ChatGPT:

    Why your overrides aren’t reflected

    1. VMware Workstation does not fully allow SMBIOS spoofing on modern Windows VMs.

    2. Windows 10 reads the Type 1 SMBIOS fields (System Manufacturer / Model) directly from the VMware virtual platform, which is hard-coded.

    3. smbios.custom.systemManufacturer and .systemProductName only affect very old hardware versions (HW <= 10) and even then not reliably on Windows 10+.

    4. Upgrading to HW12+ (required for Workstation 17) blocks most SMBIOS overrides for anti-spoofing / integrity reasons.

    5. Only Type 0 (BIOS) fields and custom serial numbers reliably override Windows-readable info.

    And what you can do:

    1. Use Linux for full SMBIOS overrides

    Linux tools (dmidecode) are more forgiving, and smbios.custom.* can be read correctly.

    2. Use QEMU / VirtualBox if you need full manufacturer spoofing

    VMware Workstation 17 intentionally prevents changing Type 1 fields. No edits will make Windows see a different manufacturer.

    ChatGPT is often wrong about things, maybe someone else can offer you a better solution.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  15. PudgeEnjoyer

    PudgeEnjoyer MDL Novice

    Dec 2, 2025
    3
    0
    0
    Thank you anyway for your answer !
     
  16. Fress

    Fress MDL Novice

    Jan 8, 2026
    1
    0
    0
    Did you find a way edit these settings? Would love to hear from you.
     
  17. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    600
    2,271
    30
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  18. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    600
    2,271
    30
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  19. LuCeR0

    LuCeR0 MDL Novice

    Aug 16, 2012
    43
    24
    0
    Where can I find this ISO?

    VMware ESX 9.0.2.0 | 20 JAN 2026 | Build 25148076