Installing the Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows on Existing Microsoft Windows guests

To install the Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows on existing Microsoft Windows guests, perform the following procedures.

Configuring Policies for Device Installation

Configure Microsoft Windows policies to let you install the Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows. If these policies aren't configured, you might see the following error when installing:

The installation of this device is forbidden by system policy. 
Contact your system administrator. 

To configure policies for installation, complete these steps:

1. Open the Microsoft Windows virtual machine on which you want to install the Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows.

2. From the Start menu, select Run.

3. Enter gpedit.msc and then click OK.

   The Local Group Policy Editor is displayed.

4. From the Console Tree, display the list of device installation restrictions (Device Installation Restrictions) as follows:

   1. Expand Computer Configuration, and then expand Administrative Templates.

   2. Expand System, and then expand Device Installation.

   3. Select Device Installation Restrictions.

5. Edit the policy settings so that no device installation restrictions are configured.

   Alternatively, review each policy setting to determine the correct configuration for your business needs.

6. Close the Local Group Policy Editor.

7. Restart the Microsoft Windows virtual machine.

When you are finished configuring the policy settings for device installation, you can proceed with the installation of the Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows.

Installing Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows

Before You Begin

Before you start installation, do the following:

• Obtain the Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows from Oracle Software Delivery Cloud or MOS. See Downloading the Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows.

• Review the list of supported Microsoft Windows operating systems and any prerequisite hotfixes. See Supported Guest Operating Systems.

• Configure system policies to allow the installation. See Configuring Policies for Device Installation.

Note:

If you're migrating Microsoft Windows guests to OCI, the installer copies the Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows files, installs the drivers on the guest, and configures the guest to support migration to OCI. Migration source environments include OCI Classic, Hyper-V, VMWare, and so on.

You can install the Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows using the graphical installation program or by performing a silent installation. Use the graphical installation program if you are installing a single instance. If you need to silently install multiple instances, run the installation program in a command line window on at least one Microsoft Windows guest to create a response file, then use this file for silent installations on your other instances.

To install the Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows, complete the following steps:

1. Copy the Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows installation program Setup.exe to the guest.

2. Start the installation by running Setup.exe in one of the following ways:

   • To install a single system, double-select Setup.exe to start the Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows installer.

   • To create a response file for automated installations on multiple systems:

     1. Open a command line window.

     2. Go to the directory where you stored Setup.exe.

     3. Run Setup.exe -r to start the installer and generate a response file for silent installations.

3. If prompted, select Yes in the User Account Control dialog to allow the installer to continue.

   The Welcome window appears.

4. Select Next.

   The Start to install Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows Release 2.3.1 window appears, displaying information about your selection.

5. Select Install to begin the installation.

   The installer copies the Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows files and installs the drivers on the guest.

6. After the installation completes, select Finish.

   The virtual machine restarts.

   Note:

   If you're migrating Windows guests to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, shut down the Windows guest VM in the source environment and then start the Windows guest VM in the OCI environment.

The Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows are installed in the following directory:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Oracle Corporation\Oracle Windows VirtIO Drivers

If you used the -r option in the command line, the installation program creates a response file in the C:\Windows directory. You then use the response file, setup.iss, to perform silent installations on other Microsoft Windows guests. See Silently Installing or Upgrading the Oracle VirtIO Drivers for Microsoft Windows.