VMware Fusion Support Center FAQs

To license VMware Fusion you simply need to enter a purchased product activation code (license key) into the software. VMware Fusion will prompt you during product installation to enter your serial / license key. Alternatively, you can enter your serial / license key from the "VMware Fusion" drop down menu in the product. Choose "License" in the drop down menu and then enter the license key and choose "OK."

In order to receive the complimentary email support that is included with your license purchase, you need to ensure that the license key has been registered in your VMware Account.

You must register your product (no matter where from you purchased it) to gain access to your complimentary email support. You create an account profile and register your serial / license key from this page: www.vmware.com/registernow. Please ensure to complete all the required fields and then click "Continue". If you are an existing customer, you will only need to login using your existing account and enter your new license key as all your address information will be pre-populated in the form.

For new customers, you will receive an email confirmation that your VMware Account has been created. Please check your junk-mail folder if you do not receive it right away.

If you purchased a retail box, the license key can be found on a small white "registration card" inside the box.

If you purchased an electronic software download (ESD) version, your license key can be found in your order confirmation email.

Please wait at least 30 minutes, for the order confirmation email to be sent to you. If you have still not received your order confirmation email after 30 minutes, please check your Junk or Spam Folder.

If you already entered your serial / license key upon software installation, you can see your key from the "VMware Fusion" drop down menu in the product. Choose "License" in the drop down menu. The serial / license key will be displayed in the software licensing dialog.

If you purchased VMware Fusion directly from the VMware (Direct Sales or Online Store) or have already registered your purchased product with VMware, you can find your serial / license key by looking it up in our systems.

Login to your account from this page: www.vmware.com/accounts/ and choose "Find Serial Numbers" from the drop down menu on the left hand side of the page. Then choose "Purchased/Registered" from the License Category drop down menu and then click on Search.

If the above options do not work please contact VMware Customer Service and provide your email address/order number.

The VMware Fusion Activation Code is a character alpha-numeric code. For VMware Fusion 1.x and 2.x this code is 20 digits and for VMware Fusion 3.x this code is 25 digits.

• VMware Fusion 3 EXAMPLE: AALYG-20HVE-WHQ13-67MUP-XVMF3

A VMware Fusion license is valid on a single machine. If you wanted to run VMware Fusion on ten machines, you would need ten individual licenses (or a single license that covers 10+ licenses).

You can review the End User License Agreement(s) from this page: www.vmware.com/download/eula/

Problems with registration could be caused by varying factors. First, double check your serial / license key for typographical errors. All characters that look like a "0" are a numeric "zero" and not the letter "O".

Verify that the code you are trying to register is a VMware Fusion serial number. It should be a character alpha numeric code, 20 digits for VMware Fusion 1.x and 2.x and 25 digits for VMware Fusion 3.x (Example: AALYG-20HVE-WHQ13-67MUP-XVMF3).

If your product is already registered, you cannot register it again. To confirm your registration, login to your account from this page: www.vmware.com/accounts/ and choose "Find Serial Numbers" from the drop down menu on the left hand side of the page. Choose "Purchased/Registered" from the License Category drop down menu and then click on Search.

If you continue to have difficulty, please contact VMware Customer Service and provide your serial / license key and error message you are receiving.

First, double check your serial / license key for typographical errors. It should be a character alpha numeric code, 20 digits for VMware Fusion 1.x and 2.x and 25 digits for VMware Fusion 3.x (Example: AALYG-20HVE-WHQ13-67MUP-XVMF3). All characters that look like a "0" are a numeric "zero" and not the letter "O".

Before contacting customer service please try uninstalling, re-downloading and re-installing the software. You can download VMware Fusion from: www.vmware.com/download/fusion/

After you install the software, you can find your existing virtual machine by following these steps:

1. File > Open
2. Navigate to the Virtual Machine folder
3. Drag the Virtual Machine bundle to VMware Fusion's Virtual Machine Library

VMware Fusion is available as a free trial. You do not need a license to try VMware Fusion for 30 days. You can register to download a free trial here: www.vmware.com/go/tryfusion.

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Customers who purchased VMware Fusion 2 between October 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009 are eligible for a free downloadable upgrade to VMware Fusion 3. If you purchased VMware Fusion 2 between October 1^st and October 26^th from VMware’s Online Store, you will automatically be sent an email informing you where to go to get your new license key(s) and where you can electronically download the software.

If you purchased from a retailer any where in the world, you can request your free copy by using a special form.

The form is available at: www.vmware.com/go/freefusionupgrade. The typical processing time to verify that your purchase has been authorized to receive a free product upgrade and receive a new the license key for VMware Fusion 3 via email is 10-14 business days. You will receive an email from a company called Medius with your new license key(s) and where you can electronically download the software.

VMware Fusion 2.x to VMware Fusion 3.x is a paid upgrade unless you have a non-expired contract for Desktop Standard Support contract (formally known as Site Support) or a VMware Fusion Subscription Services contract.

If you are a VMware Fusion customer with an active Desktop Support Contract (formally known as Site Support) or Subscription Service contract, you will receive an e-mail around October 27, 2009 with instructions on where to obtain your new license key(s) that can be used to activate your free electronic copy of VMware Fusion 3. Just download the product from www.vmware.com/download/fusion, enter your new license key when prompted.

Please be patient. You may not receive your email the day or even the week the product has been declared generally available (GA). If you do not hear from us three weeks after the product has been released, then please contact VMware Customer Service and provide your email address.

Normally you would no longer qualify for a free upgrade since the subscription term has expired. However, VMware would like to thank you for your loyalty and will be sending you an e-mail with a special discount code to be used towards 50% off the purchase of an upgrade to VMware Fusion 3. Please look for this email in your email box soon. Please be patient. You may not receive your email the day or even the week the product has been declared generally available (GA). If you do not hear from us three weeks after the product has been released, then please contact VMware Customer Service and provide your email address.

If you purchased VMware Fusion 2 before October 1, you need to pay for an upgrade. Upgrades are a 50% discount off the full new license price of VMware Fusion. This is definitely worth the price to access more than 50 new features!

If you have an active support and subscription contract for VMware Fusion, you will automatically receive an email explaining how to access VMware Fusion 3.

If you are a customer without a support and subscription contract, you can purchase an upgrade for VMware Fusion 3 for a reduced price. You will just need to have registered a valid serial / license key for VMware Fusion 1.x / 2.x before or at time of upgrade purchase.

Upgrades are available from the VMware Online Store.

VMware Fusion 2.x to VMware Fusion 3.x is a paid upgrade unless you have a non-expired contract for Desktop Standard Support contract (formally known as Site Support) or a VMware Fusion Subscription Services contract.

If you are a customer without a support and subscription contract, you can purchase an upgrade for VMware Fusion 3 for a reduced price. You will just need to have registered a valid serial / license key for VMware Fusion 1.x / 2.x before or at time of your upgrade purchase. For more information, visit www.vmware.com/go/buyfusion.

Once you have purchased the upgrade, download the latest version of VMware Fusion from www.vmware.com/download/fusion/. When prompted for the serial / license key, enter your new key will be located in your order confirmation e-mail.

An existing VMware Fusion 1.x license key will work with VMware Fusion 2 and for upgrades to VMware Fusion 3.

Shortly after purchase you will receive an order confirmation email with instructions on how to download. This email will also include your serial / license key.

After you download, the installation of the software will prompt you to enter your license key included in your email. Please wait up to 30 minutes for the order confirmation email to be sent to you. If you have still not received your order confirmation email after 30 minutes, please check your Junk or Spam Folder.

Since purchased VMware Fusion 3 directly from VMware, you can find your serial / license key by looking it up in our systems. Login to your account from this page: www.vmware.com/accounts/ and choose "Find Serial Numbers" from the drop down menu on the left hand side of the page. Then choose "Purchased/Registered" from the License Category drop down menu and then click on Search.

If the above options do not work please contact VMware Customer Service and provide your email address/order number.

Yes, academic pricing for VMware Fusion is $19.99 USD. Students, faculty and staff from academic institutions can purchase from the VMware Online Academic Store. In order to qualify for this discount, you must be a student, parent, faculty or staff member at a qualifying academic institution.

No, minor updates are free (EX: VMware Fusion 2.0.1 to VMware Fusion 2.0.5.). You can download these updates from the VMware Fusion main download page: www.vmware.com/download/fusion/

You should first uninstall the Beta version first with the included Uninstall VMware Fusion application before upgrading to the final released version.

No. When you uninstall the beta version and install the final released version of VMware Fusion, all of the virtual machines you created using the beta will remain intact.

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