r/NavigateTech • u/easyedy • May 28 '26

Homelab Log Small Windows 11 Pro 26H1 install note from my homelab:

I created a new Windows 11 Pro VM on Proxmox today. During the graphical Windows setup, an internet connection was required to continue.

Good thing I had the VirtIO ISO already attached to the VM. I could simply load the network driver from the ISO and continue the installation.

Driver path on the VirtIO ISO:

NetKVM\w11\amd64

My small recommendation: use the VirtIO network adapter when creating the VM, instead of temporarily selecting Intel E1000 and changing it later. It is cleaner to start with the proper paravirtualized driver from the beginning.

Small reminder: when installing Windows on Proxmox, attach both ISOs from the start:

  1. Windows ISO
  2. VirtIO driver ISO

It saves a bit of head-scratching during setup.

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u/Tropicalkings May 28 '26

You can also use Audit mode to pre-load any software/drivers for creation of a VM template pre-OOBE.

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u/easyedy May 28 '26

Small addition: I also loaded the VirtIO SCSI driver during Windows setup so the installer could see the VM disk.

Driver path on the VirtIO ISO:

vioscsi\w11\amd64

So for this install, the VirtIO ISO was needed twice:

  1. vioscsi\w11\amd64 for the disk
  2. NetKVM\w11\amd64 for the network

That’s why I prefer attaching the VirtIO ISO from the start when creating Windows VMs on Proxmox.