A similar discussion has been initiated a while ago here SYSTEM THREAD EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED - Page 2 - VMware Technology Network VMTN. If adding hpet0.present = "TRUE" to the vmx file did not help, hence the cascade of constellations [Host os release and patch status, software drivers, VMware Workstation release, virtual hardware release, guest os settings, guest os, guest os software drivers, vmware tools] isn't interesting but if it does not work, it must be carefully considered.
Have you already tried to add the Hyperv feature and enable the "Virtualize IOMMU" in the guest os settings?
The following setup works and the performance is good.
- laptop Yoga Pro i9 / latest fw
- Windows 11 version 10.0.22631.3296
- VMware Workstation 17.5.1
- virtual hardware 21
- guest os settings Windows Server 2022 / number of processors=4, number of cores per processor=1 / 8gb ram / NVMe harddisk / cd/dvd sata, usb controller compatibility 3.1 / soundcard, display 2 monitor with accelerate 3d graphics, 8gb graphics memory
- Microsoft Windows Server 2025 preview with built-in drivers
It starts successfully with processor=1 core=1 as well.