How to install Windows 10 OS and Proxmox VE in a separate drive?

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leesd

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May 15, 2025
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Hello, I'd like to keep Windows 10 OS in my main hard drive and install Proxmox VE in a different drive to set up VMs. How can I install to have both but in a different drives?
Will it work if I install proxmox while Windows in on and install the prxomox VE or do I have to shut down the computer and install the Proxmox as dual set up?
 
So you want a dual-boot setup where you can choose at boot time what OS to load? I've never tried but I guess that you better start with Windows, and then install Proxmox. Now, I don't know if Proxmox will detect the other OS, but if not, you'll have to play with grub.
 
mlazzarotto said:
So you want a dual-boot setup where you can choose at boot time what OS to load? I've never tried but I guess that you better start with Windows, and then install Proxmox. Now, I don't know if Proxmox will detect the other OS, but if not, you'll have to play with grub.
Click to expand...
This won't work because the installer of ProxmoxVE will wipe the disc before the install.

The OP has two options:

- Install first Debian, then add ProxmoxVE packages: https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Install_Proxmox_VE_on_Debian_12_Bookworm
- Have two discs, one for Windows, one for ProxmoxVE and configure the Proxmox boot manager (be it systemd-bootmanager or grub) to add a boot entry for the Windows disk

I wouldn't recommend the first option to novices and the second is the one the OP want to do anyway:

leesd said:
Hello, I'd like to keep Windows 10 OS in my main hard drive and install Proxmox VE in a different drive to set up VMs. How can I install to have both but in a different drives?
Will it work if I install proxmox while Windows in on and install the prxomox VE or do I have to shut down the computer and install the Proxmox as dual set up?
Click to expand...

Should work both ways as long as you take care, that you don't accidentially install the second OS on the same drive as the first. The other question is: Why though? If you want to stick with Windows anyhow (which is absolutely nothing to be ashamed for if the main purpose of the machine is gaming or some windows-only application you can't live without!) then something like Microsofts Windows Services for Linux 2 (which is basically a VM manager just for Linux VMs) or Oracle Virtualbox fits your usecase quite better. And if you actually want to run some services on it, then you can't use Windows anymore anyhow (since a reboot would lead to a downtime of the services). So what are you trying to achieve?
 
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mlazzarotto said:
So you want a dual-boot setup where you can choose at boot time what OS to load? I've never tried but I guess that you better start with Windows, and then install Proxmox. Now, I don't know if Proxmox will detect the other OS, but if not, you'll have to play with grub.
Click to expand...
Thank you for reply. Windows and Proxmox cannot detect each other. As soon as I installed proxmox in a drive, Windows cannot see the drive.
 
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gurubert said:
The Proxmox installer is not built for that use case.

You could install Debian alongside Windows, make it dual-boot and then install Proxmox on Debian.
Click to expand...
Let me tell you why I am trying to install Proxmox. I have Hyper V vm and I cannot play a game. The game wouldn't start in hyper V vms anymore. Yes it worked fine until last season. Now I cannot play in the vm. Since Promox enables GPU passthrough I am planning to create 2 x promox vms with winodws in it and play the game. Will the Debian + Proxmox enable GPU passthrough?
 
Johannes S said:
This won't work because the installer of ProxmoxVE will wipe the disc before the install.

The OP has two options:

- Install first Debian, then add ProxmoxVE packages: https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/Install_Proxmox_VE_on_Debian_12_Bookworm
- Have two discs, one for Windows, one for ProxmoxVE and configure the Proxmox boot manager (be it systemd-bootmanager or grub) to add a boot entry for the Windows disk

I wouldn't recommend the first option to novices and the second is the one the OP want to do anyway:



Should work both ways as long as you take care, that you don't accidentially install the second OS on the same drive as the first. The other question is: Why though? If you want to stick with Windows anyhow (which is absolutely nothing to be ashamed for if the main purpose of the machine is gaming or some windows-only application you can't live without!) then something like Microsofts Windows Services for Linux 2 (which is basically a VM manager just for Linux VMs) or Oracle Virtualbox fits your usecase quite better. And if you actually want to run some services on it, then you can't use Windows anymore anyhow (since a reboot would lead to a downtime of the services). So what are you trying to achieve?
Click to expand...
Thank you for the reply. The reason I am doing this is, simply to play a game in one screen and the other screen I can do other tasks or watching Netflix. I was able to do that until last season with Hyper V vms. AFter I accidentally delete the Hyper V vms, I created new Hyper V vms and the game wouldn't start. I tried many different things to make the game run but it wouldn't launch so this is another way to appraoch to solve the issue. If I use Debian, can I run Windows and Proxmox vms at the same time and will the vms have GPU passthrough?
 
I still believe a reinstall of Windows and using a Desktop-Virtualization-Software like Virtualbox will suit your usecase better.
 
gurubert said:
The Proxmox installer is not built for that use case.

You could install Debian alongside Windows, make it dual-boot and then install Proxmox on Debian.
Click to expand...

What would be the benefit of using Debian instead of using Proxmox VE directly? I am considering getting a cheap PC to install a Proxmox VE and connect the PC to another Windows PC. Is it possible to install Proxmox virtual machines (VMs) only to another PC connected by Ethernet?
 
leesd said:
Since Promox enables GPU passthrough I am planning to create 2 x promox vms with winodws in it and play the game.
Click to expand...
Search this forum and you will find that lots of internet connected and/or competitive games don't run in a VM on Proxmox. The games creators, the license and/or the anti-cheat won't allow it.

leesd said:
Will the Debian + Proxmox enable GPU passthrough?
Click to expand...
There is no difference between Proxmox from the installer and Proxmox on top of Debian (except for installing on ZFS).
 
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leesteken said:
Search this forum and you will find that lots of internet connected and/or competitive games don't run in a VM on Proxmox. The games creators, the license and/or the anti-cheat won't allow it.


There is no difference between Proxmox from the installer and Proxmox on top of Debian (except for installing on ZFS).
Click to expand...
Thank you. The game I am playing is not PVP and many people play in VM environment like VMware workstation. What i understand of the reason the game not running is the game doesn't detect video card despite GPU passthrough enabled via GPU passthrough but it was more GPU partitioning in Hyper V and no one can directly install GPU driver in Hyper V vm. But in Proxmox VMs, I heard you can install GPU driver( please correct me if I am wrong), which is what I need.

Using Debian+ Proxmox VE make things easier for new users who don't know Linux? Otherwise I don't see the reason to use Debian.
 
leesd said:
Using Debian+ Proxmox VE make things easier for new users who don't know Linux? Otherwise I don't see the reason to use Debian.
Click to expand...
No, for newbies using the Proxmox VE installer is the easier Route. But it will wipe your disc so backup everything before.
 
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