How to Run Mac OS X Mavericks on Windows PC with VMware and VMDK
Mac OS X Mavericks VMDK Download: A Complete Guide
Are you interested in trying out Mac OS X Mavericks, the tenth major version of Apple's desktop operating system, on your Windows PC? If so, you might want to download a VMDK file that contains a pre-installed version of Mac OS X Mavericks that you can run on VMware, a popular virtualization software. In this article, we will explain what Mac OS X Mavericks and VMDK are, how to download and install them on VMware, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of using Mac OS X Mavericks on a virtual machine.
Mac Os X Mavericks Vmdk Download
What is Mac OS X Mavericks and what are its features?
Mac OS X Mavericks is the tenth major release of Apple's desktop operating system, which was launched in October 2013 as a free upgrade for users of Mac OS X Snow Leopard or later. It introduced several new features and improvements, such as:
Finder Tabs and Tags: Finder, the file manager of Mac OS X, now supports tabs for browsing multiple folders in one window, and tags for organizing files by color-coded labels.
Multiple Displays: Mac OS X Mavericks enhances the support for multiple monitors, allowing users to use full-screen apps, Mission Control, Dock, and menu bar on each display independently.
Maps and iBooks: Maps and iBooks, two popular apps from iOS, are now available on Mac OS X Mavericks, allowing users to access maps, directions, bookmarks, notes, and books across their devices.
iCloud Keychain: iCloud Keychain is a new feature that securely stores and syncs passwords, credit card information, Wi-Fi network names, and other personal data across devices using iCloud.
Safari: Safari, the default web browser of Mac OS X, gets a new sidebar that shows bookmarks, reading list, and shared links from social media. It also improves performance, security, and battery life.
Power Management: Mac OS X Mavericks introduces new technologies that reduce power consumption and extend battery life for laptops. These include App Nap, Timer Coalescing, Compressed Memory, and more.
These are just some of the highlights of Mac OS X Mavericks. For more information, you can visit Apple's official website.
What is VMDK and why would you want to download it?
VMDK stands for Virtual Machine Disk, which is a file format that describes containers for virtual hard disk drives. It is an open format developed by VMware, a leading company in virtualization software. A VMDK file contains all the information of a virtual machine, such as the operating system, applications, settings, files, etc.
Downloading a VMDK file can be useful for several reasons. For example:
You want to try out a different operating system without affecting your current one.
You want to test or develop software for a different platform or environment.
You want to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on one computer.
How to download Mac OS X Mavericks VMDK file
If you want to run Mac OS X Mavericks on VMware, you need to download a VMDK file that contains a pre-installed version of the operating system. There are several websites that offer such files, but you need to be careful and choose a reliable and trustworthy source. Some of the factors that you should consider are:
The size and quality of the file. A good VMDK file should be around 6 GB and have a high resolution and performance.
The compatibility and security of the file. A good VMDK file should be compatible with the latest version of VMware and not contain any malware or viruses.
The feedback and reviews of the file. A good VMDK file should have positive feedback and reviews from other users who have downloaded and used it.
One of the websites that we recommend for downloading Mac OS X Mavericks VMDK file is Geekrar, which is a reputable and popular site for downloading various operating systems and software. Here are the steps to download the file from Geekrar:
Go to Geekrar's website and search for Mac OS X Mavericks VMDK.
Select the link that says "Download macOS X Mavericks 10.9 VMDK File (Google Drive)".
You will be redirected to a Google Drive page where you can see the file name, size, and date modified.
Click on the download icon on the top right corner of the page and choose "Download anyway".
Wait for the download to complete. The file will be saved in your default download folder as "Mac OS X Mavericks.vmdk.zip".
After downloading the file, you need to verify its integrity and extract it. To verify the integrity, you can use a tool like WinMD5Free, which can calculate and compare the MD5 checksum of the file. The MD5 checksum is a unique code that identifies the file and ensures that it has not been corrupted or tampered with. The MD5 checksum of the file from Geekrar is "e0c3f9f1c0b4b9e4c6d1f0d4f7c3f7b3". You can compare this code with the one generated by WinMD5Free and make sure they match.
To extract the file, you can use a tool like WinZip, which can unzip compressed files. Here are the steps to extract the file using WinZip:
Right-click on the downloaded file "Mac OS X Mavericks.vmdk.zip" and choose "Open with WinZip".
You will see a window showing the contents of the zip file, which is a single file named "Mac OS X Mavericks.vmdk".
Select this file and click on "Extract" on the top menu bar.
Choose a destination folder where you want to save the extracted file. You can create a new folder or use an existing one.
Click on "Extract" again and wait for the process to finish. The extracted file will be saved in your chosen folder as "Mac OS X Mavericks.vmdk".
You have now successfully downloaded and extracted Mac OS X Mavericks VMDK file. You can proceed to install it on VMware.
How to install Mac OS X Mavericks on VMware
To install Mac OS X Mavericks on VMware, you need to have VMware Workstation Player or Pro installed on your Windows PC. VMware Workstation is a virtualization software that allows you to create and run multiple virtual machines on one computer. You can download VMware Workstation from VMware's official website. You also need to have a patch tool that enables VMware to support Mac OS X guests. You can download this tool from this link.
Before installing Mac OS X Mavericks on VMware, you need to check your system requirements and compatibility issues. Here are some of the things that you should consider:
Your PC should have at least 4 GB of RAM, 20 GB of free disk space, and a processor that supports virtualization technology.
Your PC should have a compatible graphics card that supports DirectX 10 or later.
Your PC should have a stable internet connection for downloading and updating Mac OS X Mavericks.
Your PC should have a compatible BIOS or UEFI firmware that allows booting from a virtual disk.
Your PC should have a compatible keyboard and mouse that work with Mac OS X Mavericks.
After checking your system requirements and compatibility issues, you can follow these steps to install Mac OS X Mavericks on VMware:
Run the patch tool that you downloaded earlier as an administrator. This will enable VMware to support Mac OS X guests.
Open VMware Workstation and click on "Create a New Virtual Machine".
Select "Custom (advanced)" and click on "Next".
Select "Workstation 10.x" and click on "Next".
Select "I will install the operating system later" and click on "Next".
Select "Apple Mac OS X" as the guest operating system and "Mac OS X 10.9" as the version. Click on "Next".
Enter a name and a location for your virtual machine. Click on "Next".
Select the number of processors and cores that you want to assign to your virtual machine. Click on "Next".
Select the amount of memory that you want to allocate to your virtual machine. We recommend at least 2 GB. Click on "Next".
Select "Use network address translation (NAT)" as the network type. Click on "Next".
Select "LSI Logic SAS" as the SCSI controller type. Click on "Next".
Select "Use an existing virtual disk" and click on "Next".
Browse to the location where you saved the extracted VMDK file and select it. Click on "Next".
Click on "Finish" to create your virtual machine.
Right-click on your virtual machine and select "Settings".
Click on "Options" and select "General". Change the guest operating system to "Microsoft Windows" and the version to "Windows 8 x64". Click on "OK".
Click on "Hardware" and select "Display". Check the box that says "Accelerate 3D graphics". Click on "OK".
Power on your virtual machine and wait for Mac OS X Mavericks to boot up.
Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Mac OS X Mavericks. You can choose your language, keyboard layout, Apple ID, iCloud, etc.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed Mac OS X Mavericks on VMware.
How to install VMware Tools and optimize the performance
After installing Mac OS X Mavericks on VMware, you might notice that some features are not working properly or that the performance is not optimal. To fix these issues, you need to install VMware Tools, which is a set of drivers and utilities that enhance the functionality and performance of your virtual machine. Here are the steps to install VMware Tools:
Power on your virtual machine and log in to Mac OS X Mavericks.
Click on the VMware menu bar at the top of the screen and select "Install VMware Tools".
You will see a pop-up window asking you to confirm the installation. Click on "Install".
You will see a disk image named "VMware Tools" mounted on your desktop. Double-click on it to open it.
You will see a package file named "Install VMware Tools". Double-click on it to launch it.
You will see a welcome screen for the VMware Tools installation wizard. Click on "Continue".
You will see a license agreement screen. Read it carefully and click on "Continue".
You will see a destination select screen. Choose your Macintosh HD as the destination disk and click on "Continue".
You will see an installation type screen. Choose the default option of "Typical" and click on "Continue".
You will see an installation summary screen. Click on "Install" to start the installation.
You will be prompted to enter your administrator password. Enter it and click on "OK".
The installation will begin and you will see a progress bar showing the status.
When the installation is complete, you will see a confirmation screen. Click on "Restart" to restart your virtual machine.
Your virtual machine will reboot and you will see a VMware Tools icon on your menu bar. This means that VMware Tools is installed and running.
Installing VMware Tools will improve the performance and functionality of your virtual machine. Some of the benefits of VMware Tools are:
It enables the drag-and-drop and copy-and-paste features between your host and guest operating systems.
It improves the graphics and sound quality of your virtual machine.
It synchronizes the time and date of your virtual machine with your host system.
It provides better mouse and keyboard integration with your virtual machine.
It allows you to adjust the screen resolution and color depth of your virtual machine.
It enables the shared folders feature, which allows you to share files and folders between your host and guest operating systems.
To optimize the performance of your virtual machine, you can also do some tweaks and adjustments, such as:
Disable unnecessary startup programs and services on your Mac OS X Mavericks.
Update your Mac OS X Mavericks to the latest version and install security patches.
Clean up your Mac OS X Mavericks by deleting unwanted files, emptying the trash, and running disk utility.
Adjust the power settings of your Mac OS X Mavericks to balance performance and battery life.
Close any unused applications and tabs on your Mac OS X Mavericks.
Advantages and disadvantages of Mac OS X Mavericks on VMware
Running Mac OS X Mavericks on VMware has its advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of them:
Advantages
You can try out Mac OS X Mavericks without buying a Mac or replacing your Windows PC.
You can run Mac OS X Mavericks and Windows simultaneously on one computer and switch between them easily.
You can test or develop software for Mac OS X Mavericks without affecting your Windows system.
You can backup or restore your Mac OS X Mavericks easily by copying or moving the VMDK file.
You can customize and configure your Mac OS X Mavericks according to your preferences and needs.
Disadvantages
You may experience some performance issues or glitches when running Mac OS X Mavericks on VMware, especially if your system is not powerful enough.
You may encounter some compatibility issues or errors when using some applications or features on Mac OS X Mavericks on VMware, especially if they require hardware access or drivers.
You may violate Apple's terms and conditions when running Mac OS X Mavericks on VMware, as Apple does not allow installing its operating system on non-Apple hardware.
You may not get the full experience and feel of using a real Mac when running Mac OS X Mavericks on VMware, as there are some differences in the user interface and functionality.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained what Mac OS X Mavericks and VMDK are, how to download and install them on VMware, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of using Mac OS X Mavericks on a virtual machine. We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you want to try out Mac OS X Mavericks on VMware, you can follow the steps that we have provided in this article. However, you should also be aware of the potential issues and challenges that you may face when doing so. You should also respect Apple's terms and conditions when using its operating system. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Mac OS X Mavericks VMDK download and installation:
Q: Can I run Mac OS X Mavericks on VirtualBox instead of VMware?
A: Yes, you can run Mac OS X Mavericks on VirtualBox, which is another popular virtualization software. However, the process may be more complicated and difficult than running it on VMware. You may need to use different tools and settings to make it work. You can find some tutorials online that show you how to do it.
Q: Can I upgrade my Mac OS X Mavericks to a newer version of Mac OS X?
A: Yes, you can upgrade your Mac OS X Mavericks to a newer version of Mac OS X, such as Yosemite, El Capitan, Sierra, etc. However, you may need to download a new VMDK file that contains the newer version of Mac OS X. You may also need to update your VMware Workstation and patch tool to support the newer version of Mac OS X. You can find some tutorials online that show you how to do it.
Q: Can I use Mac OS X Mavericks on VMware for commercial or professional purposes?
A: No, you cannot use Mac OS X Mavericks on VMware for commercial or professional purposes, as it violates Apple's terms and conditions. Apple only allows installing and using its operating system on Apple hardware. If you want to use Mac OS X Mavericks for commercial or professional purposes, you should buy a Mac or use a Mac cloud service.
Q: How can I share files and folders between my Windows host and my Mac OS X Mavericks guest?
A: One of the ways to share files and folders between your Windows host and your Mac OS X Mavericks guest is to use the shared folders feature of VMware Workstation. This feature allows you to create a folder on your host system that can be accessed by your guest system. Here are the steps to enable and use the shared folders feature:
Power off your virtual machine and go to its settings.
Click on "Options" and select "Shared Folders".
Check the box that says "Enable Shared Folders".
Click on "Add" to create a new shared folder.
Browse to the folder on your host system that you want to share and select it.
Enter a name for the shared folder and choose the access mode (read-only or read-write).
Click on "Finish" to add the shared folder.
Power on your virtual machine and log in to Mac OS X Mavericks.
Open Finder and go to "Go" > "Connect to Server".
Type in "smb://vmware-host/Shared Folders" and click on "Connect".
You will see a list of shared folders that you have created. Select the one that you want to access and click on "OK".
You will see the shared folder mounted on your desktop. You can now open, copy, move, or delete files and folders between your host and guest systems.
Q: How can I uninstall Mac OS X Mavericks from VMware?
A: If you want to uninstall Mac OS X Mavericks from VMware, you can simply delete the virtual machine that contains it. Here are the steps to delete the virtual machine:
Power off your virtual machine and close VMware Workstation.
Go to the location where you saved your virtual machine and delete the folder that contains it.
Empty your recycle bin to permanently remove the virtual machine.
You have now successfully uninstalled Mac OS X Mavericks from VMware. dcd2dc6462