Creating a VM is an easy enough task that can be left to defaults a lot of the time. But if you want the best performance/options under Proxmox, you will have to go through a few minor hoops as Windows Server 2022 (or prior) does not have the drivers needed for everything built in.
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Click on Create VM to get the dialog box. First click on Advanced if it is not already checked.
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Give the VM a name (2), ID (1), Start on boot (3), and order/delay (4) as desired. Then hit Next.
- Everything below the line is hidden if you have not checked Advanced.
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Choose your ISO and Guest OS Type, then hit next.
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Since you specified a modern version of Windows, Proxmox automatically uses UEFI and you will need to specify EFI and TPM storage locations.
- I always keep them on the same disk that will house the boot storage.
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By default, it will use VirtIO for storage, you want this, but will have to add a driver during the Windows install itself. Also enable the Qemu Agent, again the guest agent will have to be installed after Windows setup completes.
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Change the default IDE disk to SCSI (1), set the storage location (2), and your desired disk size (3).
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Assign the number of cores you need.
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Set your max memory (1), minimum memory (2), and ensure Balooning device (3) remains checked.
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Change the network adapter model to VirtIO (1). You will not have a working network on boot up. The VirtIO drivers will need installed first.
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Review and hit finish. Do not check Start after created.
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Select the VM and click on Hardware (1) and then Add (2)
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Choose CD/DVD
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Add the virtio-win ISO, you will need this mounted to add the storage driver during install.
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You can verify your boot order if you want, but it should still be correct.
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Open the Console
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Click Start Now
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Click in the window and press a key, because Microsoft still thinks all of us are fucking stupid.
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Set your options and hit Next.
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Hit install now.
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Choose your OS options and hit next.
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Accept the license and hit next.
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Choose Custom since Microsoft thinks a new install is an advanced task.
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Finally, you can load the VirtIO driver (1)
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Click Browse.
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Expand the virtio CD Drive
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Expand amd64 folder (1), click on 2k22 (2), and click OK (3)
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Click on Next and it will rescan for the disk, no need to click on rescan yourself.
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Now the disk is available, click next
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Windows will finish the install like normal and reboot.
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wait for it..... It will reboot again
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Create a password for the account you will delete anyway and click Finish. Because you don't leave Administrator do you?
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This example uses the Desktop Experience, so login and wait for the desktop. Close Server Manager and the WAC pop up.
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Open Device Manager
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You will see three things to fix.
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Right click and choose update driver for the Ethernet Controller.
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Choose Browse
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Browse again
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Expand the virtio ISO disk (1), expand netkvm (2), and select 2k22 (2), then click OK.
*Hit next and it will install the driver.
