Win11 on Qemu/m2

My experience with using Qemu to run Windows 11 for ARM. Please read all notes below before trying any of this.

The result is a working installation of Windows 11 for ARM, including network and sound. No 3D acceleration. The performance is ok for basic desktop applications. Youtube video works but may lack sound.

Host used:

Mac Mini (M2) macOS Sequoia version 15.3.1
QEMU emulator version 9.2.2 from Homebrew.

Command to create disks:

  dd if=/dev/zero of=vars-pflash.raw bs=1M count=64

  qemu-img create -f qcow2 Win11.qcow2 60G

Command to run qemu:


  qemu-system-aarch64 -M virt -cpu host -accel hvf -m 6G -smp 4 -device ramfb -bios /opt/homebrew/Cellar/qemu/9.2.2//share/qemu/edk2-aarch64-code.fd  -device qemu-xhci -device usb-kbd -device usb-tablet -drive file=./Win11_24H2_EnglishInternational_Arm64.iso,media=cdrom,if=none,id=inst -device usb-storage,drive=inst -drive file=./virtio-win-0.1.266.iso,media=cdrom,if=none,id=iso -device usb-storage,drive=iso -drive file=./Win11.qcow2,if=virtio -nic user,model=virtio-net-pci,mac=2A:50:A7:4E:D9:C4 -audiodev coreaudio,id=coreaudio,out.frequency=48000 -audio coreaudio -device usb-audio

Notes

Use Windows install Iso directly from Microsoft Windows for ARM or Windows for ARM.
For network MAC use a random value. Random MAC
Optionally: During boot change resolution from 800x600 to 1024x768. When Tiano Core Start boot option is shown, press F2, select Device Manager, OVMF platform configuration, Change Preferred Resolution, Commit changes and exit. Wait till after Windows is installed to do this.
If UEFI (bios) stops at prompt try "exit" to continue to boot menu or Windows. If stops at a boot menu select UEFI Misc Device (or 2) to start install.
Qemu may hang during boot or shutdown while installing and need a forced shutdown to restart.
During Windows install there is a step to select where to install to. You have to select browse and add driver for virstor from the virtio CD.
Network requires a cable connection, wifi won't work.
Remove -nic user... during install if you want no network at that time. Be ready to run OOBE\BYPASSNRO when asked for network. May need to be repeated once or twice.
Be ready to set BypassTPMCheck and BypassSecureBootCheck in registry when asked to select Home or Pro edition of Windows or when you get a message about this PC is not able to run Windows.
When Windows is installed also install other drivers from virtio CD by running the virtio-win-guest-tools application.
After install, add an extra display to get more than 1024x768:qemu-system-aarch64 -M virt -cpu host -accel hvf -m 6G -smp 4 -device virtio-gpu-pci -bios /opt/homebrew/Cellar/qemu/9.2.2//share/qemu/edk2-aarch64-code.fd -device qemu-xhci -device usb-kbd -device usb-tablet -drive file=./Win11_24H2_EnglishInternational_Arm64.iso,media=cdrom,if=none,id=inst -device usb-storage,drive=inst -drive file=./virtio-win-0.1.266.iso,media=cdrom,if=none,id=iso -device usb-storage,drive=iso -drive file=./Win11.qcow2,if=virtio -nic user,model=virtio-net-pci,mac=2A:50:A7:4E:D9:C4 -device ramfb -audiodev coreaudio,id=coreaudio,out.frequency=48000 -audio coreaudio -device usb-audio
After install, CDs are not required:qemu-system-aarch64 -M virt -cpu host -accel hvf -m 6G -smp 4 -device virtio-gpu-pci -bios /opt/homebrew/Cellar/qemu/9.2.2//share/qemu/edk2-aarch64-code.fd -device qemu-xhci -device usb-kbd -device usb-tablet -drive file=./Win11.qcow2,if=virtio -nic user,model=virtio-net-pci,mac=2A:50:A7:4E:D9:C4 -device ramfb -audiodev coreaudio,id=coreaudio,out.frequency=48000 -audio coreaudio -device usb-audio

References

lysweb3@jonass.user.lysator.liu.se

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