Run Windows 11 on Raspberry Pi 5: Install Guide with Botspot Virtual Machine

Running Windows 11 on your Raspberry Pi 5 isn’t science fiction—it’s more like science fun! Enthusiasts and tinkerers now have a streamlined way to experience Windows 11 through the Botspot Virtual Machine (BVM) on Raspberry Pi 5, complete with a surprisingly simple installation process that blends terminal wizardry with optional GUI ease. While the performance might not see you conquering triple-A titles, it opens up a playground for retro games, productivity experiments, and tech adventures.

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A New Frontier: Windows 11 on Raspberry Pi 5​

The evolution of Raspberry Pi hardware has always inspired creative projects, and running Windows 11 on ARM is no exception. Botspot’s BVM offers a modern twist to the classic challenge, providing both automated installation routines and user-friendly settings. In a few commands, you can turn your Raspberry Pi 5 into a compact Windows workstation. This breakthrough builds on past experiments with Windows on the Pi 4 and earlier iterations of the Pi 5, where varying degrees of success led to this refined solution.

Key Highlights​

• Streamlined Installation: Most of the process is automated via terminal, making the initial setup as smooth as a gentle breeze.
• Dual Interface Options: Whether you prefer the power of command-line instructions or a friendlier GUI, BVM has you covered.
• Hardware Flexibility: Though you can technically run the VM on a 2GB Raspberry Pi 5, a 4GB model (or higher) is recommended—especially when paired with an NVMe SSD or USB 3 drive for improved speed over micro SD performance.
• Peripheral Support: From network connectivity (Ethernet/Wi-Fi) to USB passthrough and audio, Windows 11 interacts seamlessly with the host’s resources.
• Emulation Capabilities: Thanks to ARM’s Prism emulator, x86 and x64 apps have a fighting chance in this virtualized environment, though consistency may vary between applications.

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Breaking Down the Requirements​

Before diving into the commands, ensuring you have the right hardware and setup is crucial. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Raspberry Pi 5 Board (4GB minimum, though 16GB is ideal)
• Raspberry Pi OS installed on a high-performance storage medium, such as a 128GB Makerdisk PCIe Gen 3 NVMe SSD connected via a Pineboards HatDrive! Nano.
• Active Cooling: Keeping your Pi cool is essential for smooth operation, especially under sustained workloads.
• At Least 50GB Free Storage: This is necessary for Windows 11 files and the associated drivers, with room left over for further tweaks.
• Optional: USB devices for passthrough testing, e.g., a USB DVD writer, which demonstrates how peripheral integration can be enabled.

Using premium storage (NVMe SSD or USB 3 drive) over traditional micro SD cards results in a much-improved performance, compensating for some of the inherent speed limitations of virtualization on ARM.

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Step-by-Step: Setting Up Windows 11 with Botspot Virtual Machine​

The installation process, while straightforward, packs a lot of power behind a few clever commands. Here’s a guided breakdown:

• Clone the Repository:
  Open a terminal and clone Botspot’s BVM repository by running:
  git clone [url="https://github.com/Botspot/bvm2%5B/url%5D%5B/ICODE"]https://github.com/Botspot/bvm2[/url][/ICODE[/url] This fetches all the required scripts and configurations for the VM. [*][B]Initial Setup and Dependency Installation:[/B] Run the help command to ensure all dependencies are installed: [ICODE]bvm/bvm help
  This initial run automatically installs all necessary packages to support the virtual machine’s operation.
• Create a Windows 11 Virtual Machine Configuration:
  Use the command:
  bvm/bvm new-vm ~/win11
  This creates a configuration file where you can later adjust settings such as username, password, language, VM disk size, and even the remote desktop connection port.
• Download Windows 11 and Drivers:
  Execute:
  bvm/bvm download ~/win11
  This step downloads the Windows 11 ARM installation package along with requisite drivers to ensure compatibility.
• Prepare the System for the First Boot:
  Run the preparation script:
  bvm/bvm prepare ~/win11
  This organizes the downloaded files and sets up configurations for a smooth first boot.
• Launch the Installation:
  Finally, start the VM’s installation by running:
  bvm/bvm firstboot ~/win11
  The automated setup then takes over in a window that eventually closes once the installation is complete.
• Headless Mode for Enhanced Performance:
  For those looking to optimize resource usage, boot Windows 11 in headless mode using:
  bvm/bvm boot-nodisplay ~/win11
  Once booted, connect via Remote Desktop (RDP) to interact with the Windows 11 desktop environment.
• Using the GUI Frontend (Optional):
  If terminal commands aren’t your cup of tea, launch the GUI frontend with:
  bvm/bvm gui
  This provides a visual interface that runs the same backend commands while making the process a bit more accessible.

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Advanced Features: USB Passthrough and Drive Mounting​

Beyond just running Windows 11, the Botspot Virtual Machine offers intriguing additional features:

USB Device Passthrough​

This feature lets you use host-attached USB devices directly in your Windows 11 guest environment. The process involves:

• Connecting Your USB Device:
  Attach the device you intend to use (e.g., a USB DVD writer).
• Identifying the Device ID:
  Run the lsusb command in the terminal to list all connected USB devices and note the device ID.
• Editing the Configuration:
  Open the BVM configuration file with:
  nano ~/win11/bvm-config
  Locate the usb_passthrough entry and replace its ID value with that of your device.
• Restart Your VM:
  Reboot the Windows 11 session in headless mode and connect via RDP. The USB device should now appear within Windows, allowing you to use it just as you would on a standard Windows system.

Mounting Windows 11 as a Drive on the Host​

This handy trick enables you to mount your Windows 11 virtual drive onto Raspberry Pi OS, making file sharing between the two systems a breeze:

• Unmounted Installation:
  Ensure that Windows 11 is not running.
• Mount the Drive:
  Execute:
  bvm/bvm mount ~/win11
• Access Files:
  Navigate to /media/pi/bvmmount using your file manager. Here, you can read, write, and swap files seamlessly.
• Eject When Finished:
  Unmount the drive through the file manager's eject function before rebooting the VM.

These additional functionalities extend the VM’s usability, empowering you to customize the experience further or integrate it into a larger workflow between Linux and Windows environments.

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Performance Considerations and Real-World Use​

While the Botspot Virtual Machine on a Raspberry Pi 5 promises a neat Windows 11 experience, it’s important to note a few performance caveats:

• Not Built for High-End Gaming:
  Despite KVM’s efficiency, the virtualization process means you shouldn’t expect the performance needed for modern, resource-intensive games. Instead, think of this environment as perfect for older titles, casual gaming, and web-based applications.
• Emulation Overhead:
  Windows 11 on ARM uses Prism to emulate x86 and x64 applications. Although this expands compatibility, it also implies that not all apps will run flawlessly—your mileage will depend on the specific software.
• Resource Allocation:
  While you can hack away with a 2GB Raspberry Pi 5, ensuring at least 4GB (or even more) guarantees a smoother experience, especially if you plan to multitask or use advanced features like USB passthrough.

Real-world users have found this experiment to be an enjoyable blend of modern computing and retro hardware tinkering. It not only demonstrates the versatile capabilities of the Raspberry Pi but also challenges the traditional boundaries between Windows and ARM-based systems.

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Concluding Thoughts​

The journey of installing Windows 11 on a Raspberry Pi 5 via the Botspot Virtual Machine is a testament to innovative, community-driven exploration in tech. This project bridges the world of ARM-based computing with the familiarity and flexibility of Windows 11, offering enthusiasts an opportunity to experiment, learn, and perhaps even integrate this setup into niche applications.
In summary, the BVM installation process is:

• Largely automated but flexible enough for manual tweaks.
• Equipped with additional features such as USB passthrough and drive mounting.
• A practical experiment for those who appreciate the intersection of high-tech functionality and accessible, low-power hardware.

Whether you’re an IT hobbyist, a developer seeking a testbed for Windows updates and applications, or simply a curious mind eager to try something new, this project underlines that innovation is about exploring unexpected pathways—sometimes, even from a seemingly modest Raspberry Pi.
Feel free to share your experiences, tweak the setup to best fit your needs, and enjoy the blend of modern Windows convenience with the charm of ARM experimentation. Happy tinkering!

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Source: Tom's Hardware Run Windows 11 on Raspberry Pi 5 with Botspot Virtual Machine