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🪟 Install Windows 11

This guide explains how to create a Windows 11 VM on Proxmox VE 8.2.2. It’s based on a working setup and may require adjustments for different hardware or environments.

info

This is a practical walkthrough, not an official best‑practice guide. Use it as a baseline and validate with your own requirements.

Prerequisites​

  • ✅ Proxmox VE 8.2.2 already installed
  • ✅ Windows 11 ISO downloaded
  • ✅ VirtIO driver ISO downloaded
  • ✅ Sufficient CPU/RAM/storage for Windows 11
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Windows 11 requires UEFI + TPM 2.0. Make sure those options are enabled during VM creation.

Download the ISOs​

Windows 11 ISO​

  1. Go to the Windows 11 download page.
  2. Under Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) choose Windows 11 (multi‑edition ISO for x64).
  3. Select language → Confirm → 64‑bit Download.

VirtIO Drivers ISO​

  1. Open the virtio-win GitHub releases page.
  2. Under Variant 1, download virtio-win.iso.

Upload ISOs to Proxmox​

  1. In Proxmox, select local (pve).
  2. Go to ISO Images → Upload.
  3. Upload the Windows 11 ISO, then the VirtIO ISO.

Create the VM​

Click Create VM and follow these settings:

General​

  • Name: choose a VM name
  • Leave Node, VM ID, Resource Pool as default

OS​

  • Select the Windows 11 ISO
  • Check Add additional drive for VirtIO drivers
  • Select virtio-win.iso

System​

Set these options:

  • Graphics: Default
  • Machine: q35
  • BIOS: OVMF (UEFI)
  • Add EFI Disk: checked
  • EFI Storage: local-lvm
  • Pre-Enroll keys: checked
  • SCSI Controller: VirtIO SCSI single
  • Qemu Agent: checked
  • Add TPM: checked
  • TPM Storage: local-lvm
  • TPM Version: v2.0

Disk​

  • Disk size: at least 64GiB
  • Leave other defaults

CPU​

  • Cores: as needed
  • Type: host

Memory​

  • Assign RAM based on your workload

Network​

  • Leave defaults

Confirm​

  • Uncheck Start after created
  • Click Finish

Install Windows 11​

  1. Start the VM → open Console.
  2. Boot from the ISO when prompted.
  3. Choose Windows 11 Pro if you plan to use Remote Desktop.

Load VirtIO Storage Driver​

At the Install Location screen, disks may be missing. Load the VirtIO driver:

  1. Click Load Driver → Browse
  2. Open \amd64\w11 on the VirtIO ISO
  3. Select Red Hat VirtIO SCSI pass-through controller → Install

Disks should appear. Continue installation.

Install Full VirtIO Drivers​

After Windows finishes installing and reaches the network setup step:

  1. Press Shift + F10 to open Terminal
  2. Run: 
    D:\virtio-win-guest-tools.exe
  3. Install using defaults
  4. Close Terminal and continue setup

Network should now work.

Post‑Install​

Optional next steps:

  • Enable RDP for remote access
  • Verify Qemu Agent actions (Shutdown/Restart from Proxmox)

Completion​

✅ Windows 11 VM is ready!

Next steps:

  • Install updates and drivers
  • Create a snapshot
  • Configure backups