# Windows VM Install #### All the options used are for optimal performance and compatibility. I got this information from the official [Proxmox wiki](https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/QEMU/KVM_Virtual_Machines). If planning on changing settings or more info is needed would recommend reading it. ### Upload the needed ISOs #### 1. Choose the local storage and choose ISO. Then choose to upload your ISO. [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/LAeoCyMs9u0MFTyA-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/LAeoCyMs9u0MFTyA-image.png) #### 2. Browse and pick the ISO you want to upload and wait for it to upload [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/CzO1bGi7oEBeh0uo-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/CzO1bGi7oEBeh0uo-image.png) #### 3. Now choose to **Download from URL** [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/5NtO85vvunWkdr4p-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/5NtO85vvunWkdr4p-image.png) #### 4. In the URL paste link below and choose **Query URL**. Then choose **Download** and wait for it to finish. These are drivers for windows. [https://fedorapeople.org/groups/virt/virtio-win/direct-downloads/stable-virtio/virtio-win.iso](https://fedorapeople.org/groups/virt/virtio-win/direct-downloads/stable-virtio/virtio-win.iso "Virtio Driver Link") [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/5ohcpGWzJDAkuGFK-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/5ohcpGWzJDAkuGFK-image.png) ### Create the Windows VM #### 1. Choose Create new VM in the top right. I recommend checking the **Advanced** option and checking **Start on boot.** Click next after the general info is filled out. [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/kIARzKjP7qrCOGE3-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/kIARzKjP7qrCOGE3-image.png) #### 2. Choose the ISO to boot with on the left and change the guest type on the right to match it. Make sure to check the **Add additional drive for VirtIO drivers** and choose the **virtio-win.iso**. Click Next [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/oPqsbwX9c3OBTDF5-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/oPqsbwX9c3OBTDF5-image.png) #### 3. Choose the drives for the EFI and TPM and then make sure the rest of the settings match and click next. [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/OEMdYYFNyoGDYhwe-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/OEMdYYFNyoGDYhwe-image.png) #### 4. Change the Disk Size to the size you need and make sure to check IO thread and make sure the rest matches. [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/Gr9p5DFwMPegsEOc-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/Gr9p5DFwMPegsEOc-image.png) #### 5. Choose the number of cores you will need. The rest of the settings are unchanged. #### I recommend choosing **host** for the Type for most installs as a single node VM. #### If you plan on needing to use it live migration or using it on multiple nodes I would choose something like x86-64-v2-AES. Documentation and Details [Here](https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/QEMU/KVM_Virtual_Machines) under the CPU Type section. [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/fzvJpjVA1qIdUTpQ-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/fzvJpjVA1qIdUTpQ-image.png) #### 6. Choose Memory [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/2HQk6Fpv44qSvqYZ-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/2HQk6Fpv44qSvqYZ-image.png) #### 7. Pick a network interface and VirtIO as the model [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/gv9UVrgq2dwGgRVh-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/gv9UVrgq2dwGgRVh-image.png) #### 8. Finish [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/jTaCKdRCSasDpiYK-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/jTaCKdRCSasDpiYK-image.png) #### 9. Choose the VM in the left and then Click the little arrow next to console and choose NoVNC to see the VM [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/1RbOVq6JsBxoPlXt-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/1RbOVq6JsBxoPlXt-image.png) #### 10. Start the VM. If it does not load the windows boot media hard restart the VM and spam the Enter key until it boots to windows. #### 11. Follow through with the standard windows install. When you choose a disk make sure to choose **Load Driver** and then press OK. Any of the options should work. You can now pick the drive. [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/7mz1fonj6u1AMEx1-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/7mz1fonj6u1AMEx1-image.png) [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/GBaSDnkeoXBN9ObV-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/GBaSDnkeoXBN9ObV-image.png) [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/T63wrEpS5oolNa2P-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/T63wrEpS5oolNa2P-image.png) [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/3OFkNKhcv1vHtdqq-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/3OFkNKhcv1vHtdqq-image.png) #### 12. Continue with the windows install. After logging in go to the VirtIO Drive and run the **virtio-win-guest-tools**. Click next through all the dialogue. Restart after finishing [![image.png](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/YyXEV3Gnpnr3MH4J-image.png)](https://bookstack.archfox.org/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/YyXEV3Gnpnr3MH4J-image.png)