VM SCSI Controller VMware PVSCSI to VirtIO BSOD

ESXi
  • A Windows 2025 VM migrated from ESXi to Proxmox 9.1.9 via the Veeam Backup and Restore method.  The application is in service.
  • SCSI Controller Type is VMware PVSCSI
  • 1st disk is C:\ 50GB (OS Boot)  scsi0 in proxmox / disk0 in windows
    2nd disk is E:\ 75GB disk drive.   scsi1 in proxmox / disk1 in windows
    Both disk are on the VMware PVSCSI.
  • VirtIO 0.1.285 was installed with the NIC is using the VirtIO model.   Hardware version 10.1 for i440fx
  • Goal – Change the SCSI Controller type from VMware PVSCSI to VirtIO SCSI single
  • Issue – Windows boots to a BSOD – INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE
  • Cause – From reading some blogs (Link 1, Link 2), Windows needs be booted up and have another Disk using the VirtIO in order to initialize the VirtIO disk driver in order to be used for the C:\ windows drive bootup.

High Level

  • Another blog – A single disk VM, edit to SATA, then add a 2nd disk to be VirtIO to initialize the driver.
  • This blog – The VM has 2 disk drives.  I did not find a need change from VMware PVSCSI to SATA since windows boots up fine.  The 2nd disk was used to initialize the VirtIO driver vs hot adding a 3rd drive.
  • Shut down the VM.
  • Detach the 2nd disk scsi1 (75GB)
  • Pick the “Unused Disk 0” and Click Edit.
  • Change the the Bus/Device to VirtIO Block 1  (pick 1 since this was scsi1)
  • virtio0 is now the 75Gb disk
  • Power On the VM and login to windows and open Disk Manager.
  • “Online” the 2nd 75GB disk. Windows now sees the 75GB drive.
  • Device Manager shows the Red Hat VirtIO SCSI Controller Event install request timestamp as today.
  • Shut down the VM.
  • Change the SCSI Controller type from VMware PVSCSI to VirtIO SCSI single
  • Detach the 1st disk (50GB) “scsi0”
  • Pick the “Unused Disk 0” and Click Edit.
  • Change the the Bus/Device to VirtIO Block 0 (zero) and click Add.
  • Options / Boot Order / Check the box for the virtio0 device and move to the top.
  • Power on the VM and login to windows.
  • Device manager now shows 2 Red Hat VirtIO SCSI Controllers.
  • Disk Management matches the disk # with the virtio# on the hard disk on the VM.
  • You will have to online the 2nd disk