How to fix missing drive installing Windows on VM on Proxmox

If the Windows Setup can't find the hard drive on a Proxmox virtual machine, here's the fix.

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Proxmox fix missing Windows setup drive

On Proxmox, if the system drive is missing during the installation of the client or server version of Windows, you can use these steps to fix the problem.

Sometimes, when installing Windows 11, 10, Server on a new virtual machine, it’s possible that during the setup won’t be able to find the virtual hard drive to install the operating system resulting in the “We couldn’t find any drives. To get a storage driver, click Load driver” message. This error usually happens because the Windows setup may not include the necessary drivers to detect the drive. 

You can quickly resolve this problem by powering down the virtual machine and adding a second virtual CD\DVD drive to mount the VirtIO ISO file with the drivers. Then during the setup, you can load the virtual storage driver from the ISO file.

This guide will teach you the steps to make sure that the Windows setup recognizes the virtual hard drive to install the operating system.

Fix missing drive during Windows install on Proxmox

To fix the system hard drive missing during Windows installation on a Proxmox virtual machine, use these steps:

  1. Open Proxmox (web).

  2. Select the virtual machine from the left pane.

  3. Click the Shutdown button.

  4. Click the Yes button.

  5. Select the server and choose the “local” item.

  6. Click on ISO Images.

  7. Click the “Download from URL” button on the right side.

    Proxmox ISO Images download from URL

    Quick note: You can find the latest version of the virtualization drivers from this repository. Inside the path with the latest drivers, right-click, and copy the link for the “virtio-win-0.x.xxx.iso” file.

  8. In the “URL” setting, confirm the link to download the VirtIO ISO file.

    Proxmox driver download from URL

  9. Click the Query URL button to generate a file name.

  10. Click the Download button.

  11. Close the “Task viewer” page after the download.

  12. Click on the Windows virtual machine from the left navigation pane.

  13. Click the “Add” setting and select the “CD/DVD Drive” option.

    Proxmox add virtual CD/DVD drive

  14. In the “Storage” setting, select the storage containing the ISO file.

  15. In the “ISO image” setting, choose the VirtIO ISO file.

    Proxmox mount VirtIO ISO to VM

  16. Click the OK button.

  17. Click the Start button.

  18. Click the Console button to access the virtual machine.

  19. Click the Next button.

  20. Click the Install Now button.

  21. Click the “I don’t have a product key” option.

  22. Select the version of Windows to install.

    Windows Setup choose version

  23. Click the Next button.

  24. Accept the terms and click the Next button.

  25. Click the “Custom: Install Windows Only (Advanced)” option.

    Windows Setup clean install option

  26. Click the Load driver button.

    Windows Setup load driver

  27. Click the Browse button.

    Windows Setup browse Proxmox drivers

  28. Select the virtual drive with the VirtIO driver files.

  29. Expand the drive and browse through “vioscsi,” select the version of Windows client or server to install, and choose the “amd64” option.

    Windows Setup load Proxmox storage driver

    Quick note: If you’re installing Windows 11, you may choose the “w10” option.

  30. Click the OK button.

  31. Click the Next button.

Once you complete the steps, the Windows 11, 10, or Server setup should be able to recognize the drive, and you can continue with the operating system installation.