diff --git a/gns3server/modules/vmware/vmware_vm.py b/gns3server/modules/vmware/vmware_vm.py
index ecd27f26..3bbaa29c 100644
--- a/gns3server/modules/vmware/vmware_vm.py
+++ b/gns3server/modules/vmware/vmware_vm.py
@@ -253,12 +253,17 @@ class VMwareVM(BaseVM):
         for adapter_number in range(0, self._adapters):
 
             # add/update the interface
+            if self._adapter_type == "default":
+                # force default to e1000 because some guest OS don't detect the adapter (i.e. Windows 2012 server)
+                # when 'virtualdev' is not set in the VMX file.
+                adapter_type = "e1000"
+            else:
+                adapter_type = self._adapter_type
             ethernet_adapter = {"ethernet{}.present".format(adapter_number): "TRUE",
                                 "ethernet{}.addresstype".format(adapter_number): "generated",
-                                "ethernet{}.generatedaddressoffset".format(adapter_number): "0"}
+                                "ethernet{}.generatedaddressoffset".format(adapter_number): "0",
+                                "ethernet{}.virtualdev".format(adapter_number): adapter_type}
             self._vmx_pairs.update(ethernet_adapter)
-            if self._adapter_type != "default":
-                self._vmx_pairs["ethernet{}.virtualdev".format(adapter_number)] = self._adapter_type
 
             connection_type = "ethernet{}.connectiontype".format(adapter_number)
             if not self._use_any_adapter and connection_type in self._vmx_pairs and self._vmx_pairs[connection_type] in ("nat", "bridged", "hostonly"):