[SUCCESS] Virtualize Windows 10 for ARM on M1 with Alexander Graf's qemu hypervisor patch

[campodoro74]

I don't think there is a Ubuntu Desktop ARM version, I have only found a download for Ubuntu Server ARM:

I got this desktop version of Ubuntu and it's running perfectly:

https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/focal/daily-live/20201214/focal-desktop-arm64.iso

 

[UCDHIUS]

Ill have to retry, when I forced the update yesterday it made the VM unbootable.

Tried it again and no dice, I’ll boot one time after the dev channel update and then won’t boot after that.

I’ll get stuck on a infinite famous “automatic start up repair”.

Has anyone had luck with running the latest dev channel version with x64 emulation?

 

[ollv]

Tried it again and no dice, I’ll boot one time after the dev channel update and then won’t boot after that.

I’ll get stuck on a infinite famous “automatic start up repair”.

Has anyone had luck with running the latest dev channel version with x64 emulation?

Have you tried to convert the Windows image to qcow2 first? Since I converted my image I had no issues with corrupted disk again. Don't know if this is a coincidence/luck or a workaround, you can use the included qemu-img of ACVM.app:

/Users/ollv/Applications/ACVM.app/Contents/Resources/qemu-img convert -O qcow2 /Users/ollv/Documents/VirtualMachines/Windows10_InsiderPreview_Client_ARM64_en-us_20231.VHDX /Users/ollv/Documents/VirtualMachines/win.qcow2

You will have to change the paths according to your system.

I could add my Windows VM to dev channel and install the version 21277 afterwards and even install German language pack with a lot of reboots without any corruption again:

 

[UCDHIUS]

Have you tried to convert the Windows image to qcow2 first? Since I converted my image I had no issues with corrupted disk again. Don't know if this is a coincidence/luck or a workaround, you can use the included qemu-img of ACVM.app:

/Users/ollv/Applications/ACVM.app/Contents/Resources/qemu-img convert -O qcow2 /Users/ollv/Documents/VirtualMachines/Windows10_InsiderPreview_Client_ARM64_en-us_20231.VHDX /Users/ollv/Documents/VirtualMachines/win.qcow2

You will have to change the paths according to your system.

I could add my Windows VM to dev channel and install the version 21277 afterwards and even install German language pack with a lot of reboots without any corruption again:

View attachment 1693610

I’ll try in the morning, thanks !

 

[ollv]

Seems logical. I tried it but cannot connect:
- RD enabled in Windows. Windows network is working.
- added hostfwd=tcp::12345-:3389 to NIC options
- rebooted
- In RD localhost:12345 is not connecting, neither is 127.0.0.1
- Firewall is off

Any ideas?

No idea, I could also open the SMB connection after adding the SMB port to "NIC Options":

hostfwd=tcp::12345-:3389,hostfwd=tcp::12346-:445

You will find the forwarding example for ssh in the QEMU documentation:

Documentation/Networking - QEMU

wiki.qemu.org

under "Network HOWTOs" - "How to get SSH access to a guest" you will find the infos for SSH access. They use option "hostfwd=tcp::5555-:22" for SSH access and you should connect via "ssh localhost -p 5555".

Because of port forwarding you should be able to connect to "localhost" not the IP address of the VM.

Edit: I have tested SSH access to a Ubuntu 21.04 desktop VM now, you can connect to linux with the given QEMU documentation via "ssh localhost -p 5555":

 

[Susurs]

Could someone, please, explain why virtio-gpu option cannot be used to launch W10 (black screen).

P.S. Any chances of using HiDPI directly?

 

[ollv]

Could someone, please, explain why virtio-gpu option cannot be used to launch W10 (black screen).

P.S. Any chances of using HiDPI directly?

There is no build in driver for virtio-gpu in Windows. The same applies to the NIC, that's why you have to install the NIC driver with virtio-win-0.1.190.iso. I don't know if there is a Windows driver for virtio-gpu available.

 

[ollv]

Just an FYI, but I posted an updated version:

Release v1.5 · ubenmackin/ACVM

Enhancements added ability to add a second CD image added a device, virtio-rng-pci

github.com

Mostly just some clean ups, but you can see the release notes on Github. This version also adds Sparkle for auto updates.

Thanks! The headless option is great if you use RDP/SSH to access the VMs!

It would be nice if you could add a "File" menu option to convert disk images from VHDX/qcow2/raw to raw/qcow2.

 

[anonymous888]

Thanks! The headless option is great if you use RDP/SSH to access the VMs!

It would be nice if you could add a "File" menu option to convert disk images from VHDX/qcow2/raw to raw/qcow2.

I have converted VHDX into qcow2 with your command. Installed the netkvm drivers, internet is working. But whenever I click on "Get Started" inside Windows Insider Program I get the error "Something went wrong".

The existing windows defender and cumulative updates are also stuck at 0%.

Can you try some games to see how well it runs? Will it run better than crossover?

 

[kupan787]

Thanks! The headless option is great if you use RDP/SSH to access the VMs!

It would be nice if you could add a "File" menu option to convert disk images from VHDX/qcow2/raw to raw/qcow2.

I’ll add it to my list.

 

[haralds]

I think you need to use the IP of the Windows Guest (in my case it is 10.0.2.15...your's might be different).

I tried both the host forwarding and direct access to 10.0.2.15 (mine is the same as yours.) Did not work. Profile is set to private. Weird.
Is there a way to force a different display size?

 

[Gnattu]

I tried both the host forwarding and direct access to 10.0.2.15 (mine is the same as yours.) Did not work. Profile is set to private. Weird.
Is there a way to force a different display size?

Did you try to change to another port like 12450 on host? If another port works then there may be some other applications listening on that port already.

 

[haralds]

I tried both the host forwarding and direct access to 10.0.2.15 (mine is the same as yours.) Did not work. Profile is set to private. Weird.
Is there a way to force a different display size?

I scanned 10.0.2.15 with nmap - no ports listed. Tried the -Pn option. Host is up but ports are filtered.

 

[haralds]

Did you try to change to another port like 12450 on host? If another port works then there may be some other applications listening on that port already.

I did a localhost port scan, no conflicts.

This is really weird.

 

[kupan787]

I tried both the host forwarding and direct access to 10.0.2.15 (mine is the same as yours.) Did not work. Profile is set to private. Weird.
Is there a way to force a different display size?

I think the max screen size you can set is 1024x768, and it has to be done in bios pre-boot.

I’m on mobile right now, and forget the exact screen (OVF Settings??), but you can set the display size here. I think someone posted it a few pages back.

 

[ollv]

I have converted VHDX into qcow2 with your command. Installed the netkvm drivers, internet is working. But whenever I click on "Get Started" inside Windows Insider Program I get the error "Something went wrong".

The existing windows defender and cumulative updates are also stuck at 0%.

Can you try some games to see how well it runs? Will it run better than crossover?

I don't think that you will have success with playing games on the QEMU Windows VM. I was curious and tried to install Steam and I was able to install Steam and a demo of Shadow of the Tomb Raider but Tomb Raider only starts with a black screen and then crashes. And there is only support for a resolution of 1024x768 as far as I know or you will have to use RDP.

There is no DirectX driver/support at the moment...

An older game I tried to install could not run because .NET Framework 3.5 could not be installed.

 

[Susurs]

I heard there is some kind of openGL compatibility pack, I think, for Insiders ( ? ). Does it help for graphics?

 

[ollv]

I tried both the host forwarding and direct access to 10.0.2.15 (mine is the same as yours.) Did not work. Profile is set to private. Weird.
Is there a way to force a different display size?

You will have to press ESC key at startup to get into BIOS/UEFI menu, there you can change the resolution:

Select "Device Manager":

Select OVMF Platform Configuration:

Maximum resolution is 1024x768, you will have to press F10 to save:

You can select "Continue" in the first menu to boot into Windows and you will have to reboot the VM a second time to get the higher resolution active.

 

[Stromos]

I heard there is some kind of openGL compatibility pack, I think, for Insiders ( ? ). Does it help for graphics?

I haven't been able to launch Store to try it. Crashes on the VHDX and on a clean ISO install.

 

[haralds]

I imagine bridged networking is not currently possible due to lack of a driver?

 

[Susurs]

I haven't been able to launch Store to try it. Crashes on the VHDX and on a clean ISO install.

Store version is for Photoshop only as far as I understand. There seem to be another version on Insider (haven’t tried that).

Announcing the OpenCL™ and OpenGL® Compatibility Pack for Windows 10 on ARM - DirectX Developer Blog

The OpenCL and OpenGL mapping layers to DirectX 12 are now available in the Microsoft Store as the OpenCL™ and OpenGL® Compatibility Pack.

devblogs.microsoft.com

 

[Gerdi]

Store version is for Photoshop only as far as I understand. There seem to be another version on Insider (haven’t tried that).

Announcing the OpenCL™ and OpenGL® Compatibility Pack for Windows 10 on ARM - DirectX Developer Blog

The OpenCL and OpenGL mapping layers to DirectX 12 are now available in the Microsoft Store as the OpenCL™ and OpenGL® Compatibility Pack.

devblogs.microsoft.com

When you are running insider version of Windows, you automatically getting the OpenGL compatibility pack from the Store which works with all apps and games.
In any case, key is, that there is a D3D12 driver available. Microsoft provides software rendering via D3D WARP adapter. So in theory games should run, albeit slowly.

 

[davemen]

I haven't been able to launch Store to try it. Crashes on the VHDX and on a clean ISO install.

Has anyone been able to get the Store to open? I'm surprised that Store apps aren't working as I think the Store and the apps are x64 native.

I'm having the same issues as @Stromos

 

[supak111]

any way to get shared local files mac/win10 like in parallels and vm fusion?

 

[Gerdi]

Has anyone been able to get the Store to open? I'm surprised that Store apps aren't working as I think the Store and the apps are x64 native.

I'm having the same issues as @Stromos

The Store itself is ARM32 - which gives you an idea why it is not working on M1. Apps in the Store could be anything x86, x64, ARM32, ARM64.