Installing Windows 7 under Proxmox VE

Here is a guide how to install old good Windows Windows 7 under Proxmox VE.

Please read my PVE Proxmox Tips page to get started with Proxmox VE

Requirements

• working Proxmox VE, tested version (via pveversion command): pve-manager/5.1-41/0b958203 (running kernel: 4.13.13-2-pve)
• having Windows 7 installation ISO in /var/lib/vz/template/iso directory of proxmox

Preparation

We need to get VirtIO Block and other drivers. To get them use following commands on your Proxmox VE server:

cd /var/lib/vz/template/iso
wget https://fedorapeople.org/groups/virt/virtio-win/direct-downloads/stable-virtio/virtio-win.iso
# in my case I got:
# virtio-win-0.1.141.iso

NOTE: unlike XP, there is no need to extract driver floppy (Win7 is able to find drivers on another CD-ROM

Now create and customize script to make XP SP3 VM - create_win7_vm.sh with contents:

#!/bin/bash

set -ex

export INSTALL_ISO=your_win7.iso
export DRIVER_ISO=virtio-win-0.1.141.iso
export VMNAME=VM-Win7
export VMID=120
export DISK_GB=20

qm create $VMID \
   --agent 1 \
   --balloon 0 \
   --scsihw virtio-scsi-pci \
   --bootdisk scsi0 \
   --cores 1 \
   --ide2 local:iso/$INSTALL_ISO,media=cdrom \
   --ide3 local:iso/$DRIVER_ISO,media=cdrom \
   --memory 2048 \
   --name $VMNAME \
   --net0 model=virtio,bridge=vmbr0 \
   --ostype win7 \
   --sockets 1 \
   --scsi0 local-lvm:$DISK_GB

Notes:

• we use newer VirtIO SCSI driver here

Booting Win7:

• Press "Start" button in Proxmox VE
• click Next/Agree until you see warning No drives found
• click on Load Driver
• click on Browse...
• select E:\vioscsi\w7\amd64 folder (unfortunately it is NOT enough to use E:)
• click on OK (or just press ENTER)
• confirm installation of RedHat VirtIO SCSI ... driver
• click Next to confirm installation on Disk 0 Unallocated Space...

Now continue Win7 installation as usual.

When Win7 are completely installed there are needed following changes:

• Installing VirtIO Network driver
• Installing QEMU Agent

After XP install do the following:

• In your Win7 guest run Device Manager:
  • press Start -> Run ...
  • type devmgmt.msc and press ENTER
• to install Network driver:
  • right-click on Other Devices -> ? Ethernet Controller
  • click on Update Driver...
  • select Browse my computer for driver software
  • click Next
  • Expand Computer and select CD Drive (E:) virtio-win-0.1.1
  • click on OK
  • ensure that Include subfolders is selected and click on Next
  • check on Always trust software from RedHat Inc. and click on Install
  • wait until installatio is finished then click on Close
• repeat that process for ? PCI Simple Communications Controller - it should install VirtIO Serial Driver

No we will install QEMU Agent:

• just double-click on E:\guest-agent\qemu-ga-x64.msi

To verify that agent really works type following int your Proxmox VE shell:

export VMID=120 # replace with your VMID
qm agent $VMID info
# list of supported commands  

Before backup please follow next chapter to remove all removable media.

DVD-ROMs

Remove install DVD:

qm set $VMID --ide2 none,media=cdrom

Remove secondary (drivers) DVD-ROM completely:

qm set $VMID --delete ide3