Virtualization technology has revolutionized the way we experience and utilize operating systems, offering unparalleled flexibility and functionality within a single hardware environment. For enthusiasts seeking to explore the latest in operating systems like Windows 11 while harnessing the power and versatility of Unraid, the prospect of running Windows 11 within a virtual machine (VM) presents an enticing opportunity. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the step-by-step process of installing Windows 11 on an Unraid VM, providing insights, tips, and essential considerations to help you embark on this exciting technological journey.

If you have other VMs running on your UNRAID server, you likely already have the CPU virtualisation enabled within your motherboard BIOS settings. In that case, you can completely skip this step.

But if this is your first time or you have recently reset your BIOS settings to default then you need to refer to your motherboard or system manufacturer’s manual and enable the virtualization.

The CPU virtualisation goes by different names, generally Vt-x or Vt-d for Intel Systems and SVM for AMD Systems. Asus has nicely put together a guide for their systems and you can find it here.

Login to your Unraid Server using a web browser

Navigate to “Settings” from the navigation pane and select VM Manager.

If this is your first time and you have not enabled VMs then you can enable the same by selecting “Yes” from the drop-down menu.