> ⚠️ Please note > This is a work in progress guide, created to crowdsource information, following up on this github issue.
This post is meant to be a wiki-style page consolidating user experience about using Windows in Qubes, most likely with Qubes Windows Tools ("QWT").
To avoid clutter please use the "feedback template" below and put it in the relevant Windows version sections. Specific notes about a given Windows/QWT combination like detailed instructions, workarounds, hints/tips, user workflow, ... should be posted to a a separate post and linked to this page in order to keep potential questions and answers threads in their own post and allowing the post's author to use whatever layout and amount of information he/she sees fit.
This template is meant to be improved ! (before editing t please discuss any non-trivial changes in the comments section first). It isn't exhaustive by any means and most of the fields aren't mandatory. It's OK to add terse info when adding a report to this page.
Windows: - installed from scratch, or migrated from an older Qubes OS release ? - build/iso (eg. '21H1', 'ameliorated 20H1', ...) - disk space required by the installer (if known) - ram used when installing (doesn't mean it is the required amount) - ram usage after install - if known. - disk space usage after install - if known. - windows update status (eg. enabled, date last updated, ...) - display resolution ?
QWT (optional):
- first installation or migration/re-installation over an older version ?
- installed just after windows' first boot, or after a full windows update ?
- features selected during installation if not the default choice (eg. Xen PV drivers).
- features removed during installation if not the default choice (eg. UAC).
- features that were tested to work (delete line that aren't relevant/not tested):
- copy/paste between qubes
- copy files between qubes
- attaching devices to the qube
- networking
- time/clock synchronization
- XEN PV disk driver
- XEN PV network driver
- user migration from c: to the qubes' private volume (to be able use the qubes as a TemplateVM).
- features that don't work (possibly with workarounds): ...
Summary / notes (if any):
Link to a specific post - if any: ... (free form post: it could have detailed instructions, known issues, workarounds, hints/tips, description of the author's workflow, productivity tips, ...)
Windows ISOs can be downloaded directly from Microsoft (eg. here for Win10).
Unofficial "debloated" ISOs from projects like reviOS, ameliorated can be found over the net, although obviously you should consider them even "unsafer" than MS provided ISOs. Alternatively, once could download an official ISO and apply patches before installation. Some of the "tweaks" might end up being too much though (eg. for ameliorated, no appx functionality - so no Windows Store apps).
Simple Windows install (gui based): community doc
Or use @elliotkillick's qvm-create-windows-qube scripts (note: works on Qubes OS R4.0 but maybe not on R4.1.
Don't forget to qvm-clone your qubes from times to times. Windows being Windows, it's easy to do something that makes the qube unusable (BSOD).
Getting and installing: thanks to the great work of @jevank, QWT can be used or R4.x. There are no binaries though (yet - this should change) so it needs to be built; the process is straightforward and doesn't take much time - just copy/paste the instructions.
QWT main features:
- copy/paste between qubes
- copy files between qubes
- attaching devices to the qube
- automatically set up networking
- automatically set up time/clock synchronization
- XEN PV drivers (some of them optional)
- optional user migration from c: to the qubes' private volume (to be able use the qubes as a TemplateVM).
QWT changelog/commits are here
Meant to optimize resources for use in virtual machine as "vanilla" version of Windows are always bloated. Generally, disable/remove stuff you don';t need.
Examples:
if possible install QWT with the XEN PV disk and network drivers ticked.
set up Windows for best performance (this pc -> advanced settings -> ...)
think about Windows' page file: is it needed ? should you set it with a fixed size ? maybe on the private volume ?
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Windows: - installed from scratch - build/iso: ameliorated 21H1 (downloaded ISO).
disk space required by the installer: min 16GB
ram usage after install: <1GB
QWT: - first installation - installed just after windows' first boot (windows AME has windows update disabled anyway). - features selected during installation: Xen PV drivers - features that were tested to work: - copy/paste between qubes - copy files between qubes
attaching devices to the qube (attached a USB device ; however there is no 'eject' functionality, maybe because of AME tweaks so one has to make sure data was sync'ed before detaching).
networking
c: wasn't migrated (again, maybe because of AME tweaks).Summary: windows AME is really snappy and works well so far but it lacks features like appx (windows store) that could make it a no-go for some.
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