"Thanks for sharing. It's not like any of us had any real say in the acquisition.
I'm just trying to do the best I can with the situation. I don't have control over almost any of this, so all I can really do is raise the issue and stress the importance of resolving it. I'm just trying to help with what little influence I have these days."
I'm sorry - none of my ranting was meant as a personal attack on you, Michael - I know that while you're the product manager, you are still likely quite low on the food chain in the corporation. Unfortunately, there seems to be no way to let the folks who actually need to know at Broadcom that these problems exist... and all of their decisions from day one of the acquisition have been driving customers away by the truckload. It has been extremely frustrating seeing your former company, once great - the absolute leader in the virtualization environment - being decimated by corporate raiders (or whatever the actual story is - that's what it appears like to us outsiders, though). I've been a loyal customer since 2003... and even renewed my support contract in 2022, even though I had no desire to upgrade to version 17... I figured the company was still worth supporting with my dollars. Unfortunately the way things are looking, I'm seriously rethinking if I will renew it when it expires next year (if that will even still be an option under the Broadcom umbrella). It's sad.
Original Message:
Sent: May 24, 2024 01:49 PM
From: Michael Roy
Subject: How I Do Download The Freeware Edition from VMware Workstation Pro for Windows ?
Thanks for sharing. It's not like any of us had any real say in the acquisition.
I'm just trying to do the best I can with the situation. I don't have control over almost any of this, so all I can really do is raise the issue and stress the importance of resolving it. I'm just trying to help with what little influence I have these days.
In the mean time... you can still download the bits from the 'for personal use' group (again... LITERALLY the same bits...)...
I was just trying to do a good thing for the community by making Pro free for personal use, I had no idea the entitlements were going to be an issue...
Original Message:
Sent: May 24, 2024 01:20 PM
From: RDPetruska
Subject: How I Do Download The Freeware Edition from VMware Workstation Pro for Windows ?
"1) Did you click the 'I agree to the EULA' checkbox?
2) Are you viewing the 'For Personal Use' download and not the 'regular' one?"
No, actually I have been attempting to download the 'regular' one - since I have a license key. And honestly, since I am sticking with 16.1.2 because you guys broke, then removed, the most important feature I need for my work after that, I'm only looking to download the binaries for archival purposes. It appears that nobody who actually owned VMware products, and therefore should be entitled to still GET them, actually can, between reading all the posts here as well as my own experience.
What is MUCH more concerning to me, however, is that this wonderful Broadcom portal under my dashboard shows I have no contracts - when I most certainly DO (or at least DID with VMware!) - #30023446, most recently renewed on 06Sep2022, so I should have more than a complete year left on it! If this is how the company is treating paying customers, it's no wonder they can't handle the free ones.
I honestly do not understand why you guys sold your souls to the devil, and why you couldn't just own yourselves. Every single part of the company has been absolute crap since Broadcom took over - and more and more customers are jumping off the ship every day. It's sad that, being a customer since 2003, I find myself having an extremely tough time recommending your products any longer.
Original Message:
Sent: May 24, 2024 12:41 PM
From: Michael Roy
Subject: How I Do Download The Freeware Edition from VMware Workstation Pro for Windows ?
1) Did you click the 'I agree to the EULA' checkbox?
2) Are you viewing the 'For Personal Use' download and not the 'regular' one?
Entitlements for accounts that don't have an active contract (SnS) are a bit behind for the 'regular' one, but every approved account (regardless of other entitlements) should have access to all the "For Personal Use" bits.
They're the same bits, so if you have a commercial key you can use it to license it for commercial use.
Original Message:
Sent: May 24, 2024 08:12 AM
From: RDPetruska
Subject: How I Do Download The Freeware Edition from VMware Workstation Pro for Windows ?
Michael -
I've followed the instructions on your blog post to get to the appropriate page in the support section of the website. However, I am unable to actually download anything - the cloud/arrow icon is greyed out, and if I hover over it, it says "not entitled". I have older VMware licenses - as well as a current Silver subscription - and on this @#$&*%#$@( Broadcom site, all it says is "not entitled".... DEFINITELY horrible customer service and NOT a good way for this new parent company to attract new customers as it pisses off existing ones!
Original Message:
Sent: May 23, 2024 01:48 PM
From: Michael Roy
Subject: How I Do Download The Freeware Edition from VMware Workstation Pro for Windows ?
Have you (and others) tried following the steps I outlined over on my blog?
https://www.mikeroysoft.com/post/download-fusion-ws/
Summary
- Go to broadcom.com
- In the upper right corner, select 'Support Portal'
- Either log in by clicking 'Go To Portal' or 'Register' for a basic Broadcom account Quick link to the registration form
- Once logged in, go to support.broadcom.com if you're not redirected there
- Click the dropdown to choose the VMware Cloud Foundation division
- On the left, click 'My Downloads'
- Search for either Fusion or Workstation
- Click the product name (VMware Fusion or VMware Workstation Pro )
- Notice the dropdown for the Personal Use edition (it is the exact same binaries as the Commercial one)
- Select 17.5.2 or 13.5.2
- Download and install
Original Message:
Sent: May 23, 2024 04:34 AM
From: Andrew Macaulay
Subject: How I Do Download The Freeware Edition from VMware Workstation Pro for Windows ?
Is this working? Just posted a reply and not showing....
I'm having the same problem. Have registered user name on Broadcom (not especially happy being forced to do this) but still can't get at any downloads for VMWare Workstation Pro for personal use!
Have searched knowledgebase and nothing. Have submitted case to support so will see what happens there.
Not a very user-friendly experience for non-enterprise customers!
Original Message:
Sent: May 22, 2024 04:08 PM
From: robnicholsonmalt
Subject: How I Do Download The Freeware Edition from VMware Workstation Pro for Windows ?
Ahh you have to open the link first, not look on this page. And the option is to the left of your name.