I used to be able to install a Windows 11 VM without network. During the installation process at some point I was able to choose to install with 'limited' support and create a local Windows account. After finishing installation I could load the network drivers in the VM and go from there.

 

The new Windows installation does not seem to allow that anymore. It just tells you you need internet to finish installation. There is no way to load the network driver. Or none that I see... Anyone got around this?

Edited November 13, 20223 yr by ErikH

15 minutes ago, ErikH said:

The new Windows installation does not seem to allow that anymore.

https://www.ghacks.net/2022/05/13/how-to-bypass-the-microsoft-account-requirement-during-windows-setup/

 

16 minutes ago, ErikH said:

There is no way to load the network driver.

https://forums.unraid.net/topic/129806-windows-11-vm-unable-to-boot/?do=findComment&comment=1182249

 

Oh! Didn't see that. Network type to e1000 did the job! Thanks :)

Shift-F10

OOBE\BYPASSNRO

 

can install drivers later

On 1/21/2023 at 9:54 AM, Brad H said:

Shift-F10

OOBE\BYPASSNRO

 

can install drivers later

Hello,

But how to send this sequence in through the QUEMU noVNC windows ?

Click the accessibility option at the bottom and enable on screen keyboard.

 

I know this reply is well after this thread, but I just did a Windows 11 install with the latest Windows 11 ISO as of March 2, 2025.

 

Here is the steps I used, hopefully it may help someone else :)

1. Set up the VM, and set all the normal settings for OS ISO, vdisk etc
2. In the VM settings, toggled to XML view and removed my network section. For me that was:
   
   <interface type='bridge'>
         <mac address='52:54:00:cd:b2:76'/>
         <source bridge='br0'/>
         <model type='virtio-net'/>
         <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x01' slot='0x00' function='0x0'/>
       </interface>
    
3. I used SPICE for the virtual graphics, but VNC should work fine.
   
   TIP: You could also create a custom Windows 11 VM template if you wanted to recall it in future
    
4. Started the VM
5. On the very first install page where it asks for your country, click the little keyboard icon in bottom right and make sure your keyboard layout and language is correct 
6. Press `SHIFT + F10` to open a command prompt. If you're on a Mac you may need to do `Fn + SHIFT + F10`
7. In command prompt type `OOBE\BYPASSNRO` and press enter, the install will restart
8. Go through the country and language selection
9. When it gets to the network section, you should now have a new option at the bottom "I don't have an internet connection" - Select that
10. Create your local username and password, and go through the rest of the install items
11. Once Windows 11 is finished installing, you can add your network info back into the XML and should be good to go

TIP: You could also take a VM snapshot at this in case you wanted to just rollback to post install at any time etc.

 

 

 

How do you connect to the server after that? I would like to use remote connection for a offline VM. Can I setup it with Tailscale or something similar. I need quick workflow with this VM. Is there any tutorial online, I havent found one really