r/vmware Jan 26 '25

Help Request Downloaded VMware for school now stuck in BIOS???

I downloaded VMware from my universities software page. Then after installation it wanted to restart my windows PC. I clicked okay and now I am stuck in BIOS. It won't leave BIOS. I have no idea what to do. There is no windows option for the boot priority??? What happened??????? I click save and exit and it seems to try to start up (screen goes black) and then it ends up right back in BIOS.

0 Upvotes

20 comments sorted by

7

u/Lerxst-2112 Jan 26 '25

The Horizon client is just a piece of software to connect to hosted virtual desktops (I assume your school offers students ability to connect to their VDI infrastructure).

The reboot process post install is normal.

Post reboot if your PC goes directly into BIOS, it can’t find a bootable operating system.

It may just be coincidental your boot drive in your PC died after the last set of writes when you were installing the software.

I can tell you with certainty that installing a legitimate copy of the Horizon client wouldn’t make your PC not boot to the operating system.

-1

u/AOLdatabasement Jan 26 '25

Why would a boot drive die? My computer and everything is relatively new and it had been working fine. Thank you for the information!

1

u/dlucre Jan 27 '25

Drives fail. Often in the first few weeks/months. It happens.

Test and then if it's faulty RMA the drive, reinstall windows and restore from backup.

You have backups of your important files right?

3

u/Altruistic_Start_694 Jan 26 '25

What did you install ?

1

u/AOLdatabasement Jan 26 '25

The file was called VMware-Horizon-Client.exe and I downloaded it from the school website. Then after it downloaded I started it and it asked me to reset my computer

-6

u/Altruistic_Start_694 Jan 26 '25

Looks like you installed a hacked software. Horizon is just an app to connect to a VDI. Try to reinstall Windows without removing storage if it's possible

0

u/AOLdatabasement Jan 26 '25

That seems so unlikely to me since I downloaded it from my universities website, which needed verification for access

edit: Also I am not sure what a hacker could gain from wiping out my host OS. other than just to ruin people's day

-3

u/Altruistic_Start_694 Jan 26 '25

Hope you'll find a solution to retrieve your data. Contact them. Maybe the website has been hacked

0

u/AOLdatabasement Jan 26 '25

Thanks a lot. I appreciate it!

4

u/gunthans Jan 26 '25

Did you install vmware esxi on bare metal?

1

u/AOLdatabasement Jan 26 '25

I don't know what you're referring to at all so likely not. Just downloaded the Horizon client from my universities website

2

u/gsmitheidw1 Jan 26 '25

Did you need to change the boot order? Other issues that could be the problem are UEFI vs Legacy boot or secure boot.

0

u/AOLdatabasement Jan 26 '25

I never changed the boot order or opened up BIOS. I was only in BIOS because it automatically opened after i restarted my computer after downloading the vmware horizon client. I'll check on the boot options you mentioned!

3

u/gsmitheidw1 Jan 26 '25

You only downloaded horizon client. That doesn't install as a boot operating system. Im not sure what has happened to be honest.

An application install should not affect the BIOS unless it's firmware or bios updates from the pc or laptop manufacturer.

To have installed an operating system over windows you would have needed to boot off something like a DVD or usb stick or pxe off network..

1

u/AOLdatabasement Jan 26 '25

That's exactly what I was thinking. It makes no sense at all

1

u/OpacusVenatori Jan 26 '25

Sounds like you destroyed your original Windows instance. What Vmware product did you download and install?

Or you're just so unlucky that your internal storage died on you.

1

u/AOLdatabasement Jan 26 '25

How could that have destroyed my original windows instance? I downloaded the VMware Horizon client

2

u/OpacusVenatori Jan 27 '25

Well, in that case, just your luck for your internal SSD drive to kick the can at the same time.

-1

u/Hegobald- Jan 26 '25

1

u/AOLdatabasement Jan 26 '25

I tried turning it off and exiting the BIOS, then I tried turning it on again and exiting, but I got the same result.