UTM – Install Windows Sever 2003 on Apple Silicon QEMU

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Apple Silicon-based Macs, like the M1 and M2, are known for their impressive power efficiency and performance. However, these newer machines are based on ARM architecture, which presents challenges when trying to run software designed for Intel-based systems. This includes running older operating systems like Windows Server 2003, which was originally designed for x86 hardware.

Fortunately, with the help of UTM (a virtualization software built on top of QEMU), it’s possible to emulate Windows Server 2003 on Apple Silicon Macs. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the necessary steps to install and run Windows Server 2003 using UTM and QEMU.

Check out my YouTube channel if you prefer video content over written posts. Here’s the link to the video

Why UTM and QEMU?

  • UTM provides a user-friendly front-end for QEMU, a powerful emulator capable of running different architectures, including x86 on ARM.
  • With UTM, you can emulate legacy operating systems (like Windows Server 2003) on your Apple Silicon Mac, even though it’s not natively supported.

Let’s dive into how to set up this environment.

Prerequisites:

  1. Apple Silicon Mac (M1/M2/M3) with macOS installed.
  2. UTM installed on your Mac.
  3. Windows Server 2003 ISO image (make sure it’s a genuine and legal copy). Hints: you can find one on https://archive.org)
  4. Windows Server 2003 product key (if required).
  5. A bit of patience, as emulation can be slow and resource-intensive.

Step 1: Install UTM

First, we need to install UTM on your Mac, which is available for free on the Mac App Store.

  1. Open the Mac App Store and search for UTM.
  2. Click Install to download and set up UTM on your Mac.

Alternatively, you can download the latest release of UTM directly from their official GitHub repository.

Step 2: Set Up the Virtual Machine in UTM

  • Download the VM Template from https://bit.ly/4jsK5XZ and keep the zip file in the Download folder.
  • Extract Windows_Server_2003.utm.zip to ~/Library/Containers/com.utmapp.UTM/Data/Documents/:
tar -xvf ~/Downloads/Windows_Server_2003.utm.zip -C ~/Library/Containers/com.utmapp.UTM/Data/Documents/
  • Open Windows_Server_2003.utm
open ~/Library/Containers/com.utmapp.UTM/Data/Documents/Windows_Server_2003.utm

Step 3: Adjust Advanced Settings

  1. Information Settings (optional):
    You can choose a Windows logo under Operating System or Load your Custom Logo
  2. Drives Settings:
    • Select first IDE Drive
    • Choose Browse to select the Windows Server 2003 that you downloaded.
    • The default VM template is set at 20GB for storage; select the second IDE Drive and resize it if your setup requires more storage.
  3. Other Settings:
    Use the default setting if not mentioned.

Step 4: Boot Windows Server 2003

Now that your virtual machine is set up, it’s time to install Windows Server 2003.

  1. Select your VM and click Start in UTM.
  2. The machine should boot from the Windows Server 2003 ISO.
  3. Proceed with the installation process as you would on a typical x86 machine. Follow the on-screen prompts, select a partition, format it, and continue the installation process.
  4. After installation, the virtual machine should slowly boot into Windows Server 2003 due to the emulation.

Step 5: Install Drivers and Final Setup

Once Windows Server 2003 is installed, it’s essential to install additional drivers to ensure everything works correctly.

  1. Press Control + Option + fn + Delete to login.
  2. Select the CD/DVD Drive icon and Eject.
  3. Select Install Windows Guest Tools.
  4. Install QEMU Guest Tools and Drivers: QEMU can emulate some hardware like graphics and network devices. You may need to install QEMU drivers inside Windows Server 2003 to improve performance and compatibility.

Step 6: Optimization and Use

Running Windows Server 2003 on an ARM-based Mac through emulation won’t offer the smoothest experience, especially when it comes to performance. However, for legacy applications, testing, or nostalgia purposes, it can serve as an interesting experiment.

  • Optimize Virtual Machine Settings: Adjust the VM’s CPU and RAM settings based on performance, especially if you notice it running too slowly.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • No Bootable Device: If the virtual machine shows an error about no bootable device, double-check that your ISO is properly mounted.
  • Performance Issues: Emulation can be slow, especially for older operating systems like Windows Server 2003. Try allocating more RAM or CPU cores if your system supports it.

Conclusion

While running Windows Server 2003 on Apple Silicon via UTM and QEMU is a non-traditional setup, it’s definitely possible with a little patience. UTM offers an accessible and powerful way to emulate older operating systems on ARM-based hardware, making it a fantastic tool for software preservation or simply experimenting with legacy systems.

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