Virtualization and Windows 11 - Info so far .

Windows 11 will not run without major hacking in a Virtual Machine.

I have learned that VirtualBox 7 (not ready yet) will have a TPM 2.0 emulation to allow Windows 11 to install (but only in secure boot - not BIOS)

I have no idea on how QEMU, KVM or Xen will be able to run Windows 11 with the TPM 2.0 requirement.

I got this answer from OpenSUSE’s VirtualBox maintainer:

In “https://www.techradar.com/news/dont-worry-oracle-virtualbox-vms-actually-will-run-windows-11”, the following statement occurs:

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Oracle has confirmed it is working on a new version of its VirtualBox VM software that will adhere to the new Windows 11 requirements.

Speaking to TechRadar Pro over email, an Oracle spokesperson explained the company is currently working on a “virtual TPM emulation feature” for VirtualBox 7, which will allow the software to run Windows 11 in a virtual machine.

Oracle could not say precisely when the new version will be ready, but wanted to assure customers that the necessary work is underway and that future VirtualBox releases will support Microsoft’s new operating system (which is set to launch on October 5).

Separately, Oracle also appears to be developing a new driver that could act as a workaround of sorts. By passing through the TPM on a host machine, VirtualBox could remain in line with Windows 11 requirements without providing a fully-fledged virtual TPM.

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As we are currently at Version 6.1.26, they are planning a new release of 7.0.x to have this feature. If you really want Windows 11 earlier, the Web is full of articles on how to override the TPM 2.0 requirement. Note that full Windows 11 also requires secure boot.

HiQEMU/KVM libvirt/virt-manager has TPM 2.0 TIS support, not needed in the BIOS.

I have received a report that current vmware does run Windows 11.

Can anyone confirm that the release 10/05/2021 version does work in vmware.

I have the pre-release windows 11 running under VirtualBox but not the final release.

I have Windows 11 running on QEMU/KVM. A software emulation of TPM 2.0 is available. The only problem, I encountered, was to find a working UEFI BIOS from the list of available ones.

Moby replied:

Yes, I am running Windows 11 on a VM on ESXi 6.7. I had to setup pykmip
(on Leap 15.3) to serve as the key provider for VMware vCenter, which
then allowed me to encrypt the VM which then allowed me to add a virtual
TPM to the windows VM and install Windows 11 on it.

So does this mean you have to encrypt Windows 11 for this to work?

markus kossmann sent this link on how to run Windows 11 in vmware

For vmware there is this recipe : https://pureinfotech.com/enable-tpm-secure-boot-vmware-install-windows-11/

Hi
Take the opportunity for a no fuss libvirt install, no modules to compile (or wait to compile) after a kernel update…

Many of the restrictions to run Win11 are not applicable when running as a VM. My windows insider program win10 would not upgrade to win11 and I assumed it was the restrictions - actually turned out to be that win11 insists on UEFI not legacy boot which is what I had setup.

Since then I have had it running on VMware 14 with TPM 2.0 emulation and had to encrypt the hard drive. But now have had it running without TPM on VMware and also have it running on Virtual Box 6.1 currently. On the latter it complains that it does not meet the requirements in update but it still runs and updates fine.

Found the reason that CloneVDI failed - if you see an unknown in the list instead of NTFS,NTFS,FAT32,NTFS - that partition will fail and the clone will not boot.
gparted and fix issues will fix whatever CloneVDI saw wrong.

I think the method in the 1st part is the better way to do it.

I have been using CloneVDI 2.51 and it’s great with MBR disks. I found problems when I moved to a GPT formatted disk but then found CloneVDI 4.01 which handles GPT disks fine.

This is a link to the CloneVDI discussion on the VirtualBox forums. Root post says a lot and has a link:
https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=22422l

I have got windows 11 home version working on virtualbox since the original leaked build. I had problems with virtualization of windows 11 PRO version

Was I lucky or is it supposed to be that way ( I installed win11 home twice , once for the leaked build and once for the stable release this october and it was fine)

Cheers!
Quesslol!

Think that is how it’s meant to be. As I said in my post it insists on UEFI but not secure boot in my experience when running as a VM.

I have the MS insider builds (Think that’s Pro) and no issues. What did you find as problems?

A quick PS. I believe the leaked version would install with legacy boot and had very few, if any, restrictions.

The pre-release did allow BIOS as well as UEFI. You cannot upgrade it to Oct 5 - a full reinstall is required.
The Oct 5 does not.