From 303b526eddfe426dcd8075b241f21dddf5bf49ca Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Thomas Waldmann Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2018 17:24:00 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] Windows 10 Qube for Dummies The motivation to write this down was not that it is very complicated (obviously it is not), but rather that the docs I have read (before just trying it) somehow left a bad impression about Windows on Qubes. I had the impression that: - if one wants Windows, one must use Windows 7 (which is EOL 1/2020, so only a short term option, if any) - newer Windows don't work or are unstable because the tools needed are not tested / not working on them. Both is not true IF one can live with a live with a very basic featureset, which I also described. --- managing-os/windows/windows-vm.md | 58 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 58 insertions(+) diff --git a/managing-os/windows/windows-vm.md b/managing-os/windows/windows-vm.md index 9fabcfba..43bee5dd 100644 --- a/managing-os/windows/windows-vm.md +++ b/managing-os/windows/windows-vm.md @@ -8,6 +8,64 @@ permalink: /doc/windows-vm/ Installing a Windows VM ======================= +Simple Windows 10 install (Qubes 4.0) +------------------------------------- + +If you just want something simple and you can live without some features. + +Works: +- display (1440x900 or 1280x1024 are a nice fit onto FHD hw display) +- keyboard (incl. correct mapping), pointing device +- network (emulated Realtek NIC) + +Does not work: +- copy & paste (the qubes way) +- copying files into / out of the VM (the qubes way) +- assigning USB devices (the qubes way via the tray applet) +- audio output and input +- PCI device 5853:0001 (Xen platform device) - no driver +- all other features/hardware needing special tool/driver support + +Installation procedure: +- Have the Windows 10 ISO image (I used the 64-bit version) downloaded in some qube. +- Create a new Qube: + - Name: Win10, Color: red + - Standalone Qube not based on a template + - Networking: sys-firewall (default) + - Launch settings after creation: check + - Click "OK". +- Settings: + - Basic: + - System storage: 30000+ MB + - Advanced: + - Include in memory balancing: uncheck + - Initial memory: 4096+ MB + - Kernel: None + - Mode: HVM + - Click "Apply". + - Click "Boot from CDROM": + - "from file in qube": + - Select the qube that has the ISO. + - Select ISO by clicking "...". + - Click "OK" to boot into the windows installer. +- Windows Installer: + - Mostly as usual, but automatic reboots will halt the qube - just restart + it again and again until the installation is finished. + - Install on first disk. + - Windows license may be read from flash via root in dom0: + + `strings < /sys/firmware/acpi/tables/MSDM` + + Alternatively, you can also try a Windows 7 license key (as of 2018/11 + they are still accepted for a free upgrade). + + I first installed Windows and all updates, then entered the license key. +- Afterwards: + - In case you switch from `sys-network` to `sys-whonix`, you'll need a static + IP network configuration, DHCP won't work for `sys-whonix`. + - Use `powercfg -H off` and `disk cleanup` to save some disk space. + + Qubes 4.0 - importing a Windows VM from R3.2 -------------------------------------------