The Idiot installs Windows 10 on Proxmox

A fool-proof guide on how to install a Windows 10 VM on Proxmox VE the right way, using VirtIO drivers.

A (hopefully) fool-proof guide on how to install a Windows 10 installation on Proxmox VE. The right way.

Given

Instructions

  • Upload both the Windows 10 and VirtIO ISOs to your node’s local storage.

  • Click Create VM.

Create VM button

  • Assign a VMID and Name, click Next to go to the OS tab.

  • Select Windows 10/2016, click Next to go to the CD/DVD tab.

  • Select your Windows 10 ISO, click Next to go to the Hard Disk tab.

ISO selection

  • Choose VirtIO as your Bus. Specify your storage location and size. Minimum storage is 16 GB for 32-bit or 20 GB for 64-bit. Under Cache, select Write back (increases performance, slightly riskier). Click Next to go to the CPU tab.

Hard disk settings

  • Assign sockets and cores as your environment permits. 2 cores and 2 sockets is often optimal. Enable NUMA. Click Next to go to the Memory tab.

  • Assign RAM as needed. Minimum is 1 GB for 32-bit, 2 GB for 64-bit. Click Next to go to the Network tab.

  • Select VirtIO (paravirtualized) as the Model. All other settings are subject to your environment. Click Next to go to the Confirm tab.

  • Confirm all settings and click Finish.

  • After your new VM appears on the left, go to its Hardware settings.

  • Add a second CD/DVD drive and select the VirtIO ISO as the image.

VirtIO ISO attached

  • Boot the VM and open the console.

  • The VM should boot from the Windows 10 ISO.

Windows 10 boot screen

  • Proceed with the installation as normal. When you reach “Which type of installation do you want?”, select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).

  • You’ll get a notice that Windows can’t detect a hard drive due to missing storage drivers.

Storage driver error

  • Select Load Driver, then browse to the VirtIO CD. Drill down to viostor > w10 > amd64 and click OK.

VirtIO storage folder

  • Windows will detect the Red Hat VirtIO SCSI controller driver. Click Next. The hard drive will now appear. Partition the drive as you see fit, or just click Next.

  • Windows will begin the installation process. Depending on your environment, this may take a few minutes.

  • The installation will reboot. At this point you may remove the Windows 10 ISO (or the entire CD/DVD drive) via the Hardware tab in Proxmox — but keep the VirtIO ISO. You’ll need it for networking and memory balloon drivers.

  • Continue setting up Windows. When the “Connect to a network” screen appears, there will be no options available. That’s expected.

  • Once you have a desktop, open Device Manager. You’ll see two devices with missing drivers: the Ethernet Controller (VirtIO Network Card) and a PCI Device (Memory Ballooning).

Device Manager with missing drivers

  • Update the Ethernet Controller driver: navigate to the VirtIO CD, drill down to NetKVM > w10 > amd64, and click OK. Windows will install the Red Hat VirtIO Ethernet Adapter. Your VM should now have network access.

  • Update the PCI Device driver: navigate to the VirtIO CD, drill down to Balloon > w10 > amd64, and click OK. Windows will install the VirtIO Balloon Driver.

  • You can now remove the VirtIO CD (or the CD/DVD device) in the VM’s Hardware tab on the Proxmox GUI. Note: you can detach the ISO immediately; removing the device requires a VM shutdown.

Storage view after cleanup

That’s it — you have a fully functional Windows 10 VM running on Proxmox with proper VirtIO drivers.

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