Setting Up a Windows 11 Virtual Machine on Proxmox 8: A Comprehensive Guide

Abstract

Creating a virtual machine for Windows 11 on Proxmox 8 can seem daunting, but this guide will walk you through each step to make the process as smooth as possible. By the end of this guide, you'll have a fully functional Windows 11 VM running with optimal performance thanks to VirtIO drivers and the QEMU Guest Agent.

Step-by-Step Guide

Download Windows 11 VM

1. Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO)

   • Visit the Microsoft Windows 11 download page.
   • Choose the "Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices" option.
     

2. Download VirtIO Drivers

   • Download the VirtIO drivers from Proxmox Wiki.
   • These drivers enable direct access to devices and peripherals for virtual machines, offering better performance compared to emulated devices.

Upload ISO Images to Proxmox

1. Upload ISO Images
   • In Proxmox, navigate to Local -> ISO Images -> Upload.
   • Upload the Windows 11 ISO and the VirtIO drivers ISO to your Proxmox storage.
     

Create Your VM

1. Create a New VM

   • Right-click your Proxmox node and select 'Create VM'.
     
   • Provide a name for your VM and click 'Advanced' for more options if needed.
     

2. Configure the OS

   • In the OS tab, select your Windows 11 ISO image and set the Type to 'Microsoft Windows'.
     

3. System Settings

   • In the System tab, set your EFI Storage location (recommended to be the same as your VM storage).
   • Set SCSI Controller to 'VirtIO SCSI'.
   • Enable QEMU Agent.
   • Add a TPM chip by selecting 'Add TPM' and choosing the same storage location.
     

4. Configure Disks

   • In the Disks tab, set Bus/Device to 'VirtIO Block'.
   • Specify the disk size (e.g., 64GB).
     

5. CPU Configuration

   • In the CPU tab, allocate the number of cores you want for your VM (e.g., 4 cores). !!! note Allocating cores means these are the maximum available to the VM when needed.
     

6. Memory Allocation

   • In the Memory tab, specify the amount of memory for your VM (e.g., 8192MB).
     

7. Network Settings

   • In the Network tab, leave the default settings unless specific changes are needed.
     

8. Final Review and Adjustments

   • Review all settings in the final confirmation screen.
   • Uncheck 'Start after created' as we still need to add VirtIO drivers.
     

Add VirtIO Drivers

1. Add CD/DVD Drive

   • Go to your VM -> Hardware -> Add -> CD/DVD Drive.
     
   • Select the VirtIO drivers ISO.
     

2. Start the VM

   • Start the VM by clicking 'Start' at the top right.
   • Use Console -> noVNC to connect to the VM.
     

Install Windows 11

1. Begin Installation

   • Press any key when prompted to boot from the ISO.
   • Follow the Windows Setup instructions, until you reach the drive section. You won't see any drives to install Windows on because we have not installed any VirtIO drivers yet. To do so, select 'Load driver'.
     
   • Click browse, and navigate to the CD Drive virtio -> amd64 -> w11 -> Press OK.
     
   • Press Next.
     
   • The driver will install and our 64Gb drive show up.
     
   • Continue with the installation process.

2. Bypass Microsoft Account Requirement

   • When prompted to sign in with a Microsoft account, press Shift + F10 to open a command prompt.
   • Type ncpa.cpl to open Network Connections, then disable all connections.
   • Close the Network Connections window and type oobe\bypassnro in the command prompt. This will reboot the system.
   • After reboot, choose 'I don't have internet' and 'Continue with limited setup'.
     

3. Complete Installation

   • Finish the Windows installation process.

4. Install VirtIO Drivers

   • Once on the Windows desktop, navigate to the VirtIO drivers CD drive.
   • Run virtio-win-gt-x64 to install all necessary drivers.
     

5. Re-enable Network Connection

   • Re-enable your network connection through Network & Internet settings.
     
   • Check for Windows updates and install them.

Install QEMU Guest Agent

1. Install QEMU Guest Agent
   • Download the QEMU Guest Agent installer from Proxmox Wiki.
   • Run the installer (either qemu-ga-x86_64.msi for 64-bit or qemu-ga-i386.msi for 32-bit).
     

You are now ready to use your Windows 11 VM on Proxmox 8 with optimal performance and full feature support.