To upgrade a VM to Windows 11 follow these steps:
1) If the drive is in VHD format, use Disk2vhd to create a new VHDX
2) Convert the Disk to GPT from the host OS
a) Mount the VHDX from the host by running this PowerShell:
Mount-VHD -Path "D:\VMs\Win10.vhdx" -ReadOnly:$false
b) Find the Disk number (x) in Disk Management, then run this CMD:
mbr2gpt /convert /disk:X /allowFullOS
3) Create a new Generation 2 Virtual Machine with these security settings:
- Security: Enable Secure Boot (Template: Microsoft Windows)
- Security: Enable Trusted Platform Module (Host hardware must support this)
- Firmware: Boot from File (Value: bootmgfw.efi)
- Processor: Minimum 4 Cores
The VM should now boot to Windows.
4) Verify the upgrade can then be installed: https://aka.ms/GetPCHealthCheckApp
Initiate the upgrade on the VM: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11