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Windows Server Installation in Proxmox VE

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This guide walks you through how to prepare a clean Windows Server installation in Proxmox VE and convert it into a reusable template — ideal for fast, repeatable VM deployments in lab environments.

This is part one of a two-part series. Once Windows is fully installed, continue with the next guide which covers Sysprep, generalization, and final template preparation.

Video Guide

Requirements

  • Proxmox VE 7.x or 8.x
  • Windows Server ISO downloaded
  • VirtIO drivers ISO downloaded from fedorapeople.org

Step 1 – Create the Virtual Machine

  1. Click “Create VM” in the top right corner of the Proxmox interface
  2. Under General – set a name for your VM and adjust the VM ID if needed
  3. In the OS tab:
    • Select your Windows Server ISO
    • Set the OS type and version
    • Check “Add additional drive for VirtIO drivers” and select your VirtIO ISO
  4. In the System tab:
    • Choose storage for the VM
    • Check “Qemu Agent”
    • Specify TPM storage (optional but recommended)
  5. Under Disks:
    • Set Bus/Device to VirtIO Block
    • Set disk size to 50 GiB (or as preferred)
  6. Under CPU:
    • Set number of cores (e.g. 2 or 4)
    • Set CPU type to Host
  7. In the Memory tab:
    • Set desired RAM in MiB (e.g. 4096 for 4 GB)
  8. Under Network:
    • Adjust if needed (e.g. assign to a specific VLAN)
  9. Review settings under Confirm and click Finish

Step 2 – Start the VM and Begin Installation

  1. Select your new VM and open the Console tab
  2. Click Start Now
  3. When prompted with “Press any key to boot from CD or DVD…” — press any key to begin

Step 3 – Install Windows Server

  1. Choose your preferred language, time and keyboard layout, then click Next
  2. Click Install Now
  3. Select your Windows Server edition (e.g. Standard or Datacenter) and click Next
  4. Accept the license terms and click Next
  5. Choose “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)”

Step 4 – Load VirtIO Drivers

Without loading the VirtIO drivers, Windows will not detect the virtual disk. Follow these steps:

  1. Click “Load Driver” (the icon next to the CD)
  2. Click Browse and select the VirtIO ISO
  3. Navigate to the folder: 
    amd64 → [version matching your Windows edition]
    For example: 2k22 for Windows Server 2022, w11 for Windows 11
  4. Click OK
  5. Select Red Hat VirtIO SCSI Controller and click Next
  6. After a moment, your storage drive will appear
  7. Click Next to begin the Windows installation

What’s Next

Once Windows Server has finished installing, continue with Part 2 — Sysprep, generalization, and converting the VM into a reusable Proxmox template.

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