Setting up a virtual machine with Windows

Here is my step-by-step procedure for using VMware Workstation to create a Windows 11 guest VM. The host also happens to be Windows 11, though it hardly matters.

Prepare Host

• Obtain a Windows ISO image and a Windows "Product Key".
  • Since I work as a Software Engineer, I have access to those via "Visual Studio Benefits" (formerly MSDN.)
• If the host is Windows 11, go to "Turn Windows Features on or off" and disable everything virtualization-related.

Create the Virtual Machine

• "VMware Workstation" → "New Virtual Machine..."

• "Type of configuration:" → "Typical (recommended)"

• "Install from:" → "Installer disc image file (iso):"

  • Select the previously downloaded ISO image.
    • For example: en-us_windows_11_business_editions_version_26h2_x64_dvd_16357792.iso

• "Virtual machine name:" → Windows 11

• "Location:" → Enter a location in the host

  • For example D:\virtual-machines\windows11

• "What to encrypt:" → "only the files needed to support a virtual TPM"

• "Encrypted Virtual Machine Password:"

  • Enter a good password and note it somewhere.
  • IMPORTANT: Do NOT remember the password for this virtual machine in Credential Manager!

• "Maximum disk size (GB):" → 128

• "Split virtual disk into multiple files" → Check

• "Customize Hardware..."

  • "Memory:" → 32768 MB (That's 32 GB; my host has twice that.)
  • "Number of processors:" → 2
  • "Number of cores per processor:" → 8

• "VM" → "Settings" → "Options" → "Advanced"

  • "Enable side channel mitigations for Hyper-V enabled hosts" → Uncheck
    • (On second thought, this is probably unnecessary, because we have already disabled Hyper-V on the host.)

• Strangely enough, last time I followed these instructions I was not asked whether I want "Secure boot", and I did not check it, and Windows 11 had no problem with that.

Install Windows

• Note that at any moment during installation:
  • Shift+F10 brings up a command prompt.
  • Ctrl+Alt releases mouse capture from the VM so you can interact with the host.
• Note for next time: when prompted to select regional format, select "English (World)". This is rumored to reduce bloatware.
• "Select Image" → "Windows 11 Pro N"
• "Let's connect you to a network" → "Next"
• "Name your device"
  • Pick a device name and note it somewhere.
• "How would you like to set up this device?"
  • "Set up for work or school" (FUCK YOU MICROSOFT)
• "Let's set things up for your work or school"
  • "Sign-in options" → "Domain join instead" (FUCK YOU MICROSOFT)
• "Who's going to use this device?"
  • Select a user name and note it somewhere.
• "Create a super memorable password"
  • Select a password and note it somewhere.
• "VM" → "Settings..." → "Options" → "Autologin" → "Activate"
  • Enter previously selected user name and password
• "Now add security questions"
  • Pick any 3 questions; for each question:
    • In the answer box, just type some random letters. (FUCK YOU MICROSOFT)
• "Choose privacy settings for your device"
  • Uncheck EVERYTHING
  • Click "Accept" (FUCK YOU MICROSOFT)

Configure Windows

• "Settings" → "System" → "Display" → "Scale"
  • Change from "100%" to "150%"

Activate Windows

• "Settings" → "System" → "Activation"
  • Ignore red text (FUCK YOU MICROSOFT)
  • Click "Change product key"
    • Enter product key.

Enable BitLocker

• Right-click on DVD drive
  • "Disconnect"
• "Control Panel" → "Manage BitLocker"
  • Click "Turn on BitLocker"
  • "How do you want to back up your recovery key?" → "Save to a file"
    • Save the file inside the VM, then open the file and note somewhere the "Computer Identifier" and the "Recovery Key".
  • "Choose how much of your drive to encrypt" → "Encrypt used disk space only"
  • "Choose which encryption mode to use" → "New encryption mode"
  • "Bitlocker system check" → Skip.

Take a Snapshot

• "VM" → "Snapshot" → "Take Snapshot"
  • Name: "After BitLocker"

Further Configuration

• "VM" → "Install VMware Tools"
• "VM" → "Settings..." → "Options" → "Shared Folders"
  • "Always enabled" → Check
  • "Map as a network drive" →Check
  • "Add..."
    • "Host path:" → D:\
    • "Name:" → HostDriveDRoot
• "Settings" → "Network & Internet"
  • "Properties (Public network)"  → "Private network"
  • "Advanced network settings" → "Advanced sharing settings"
  • "File and printer sharing" → Check

For instructions on how to proceed after that, see Setting up Windows.