Utm stuck on startup.nsh

[SalishKumar]

I want to install parrot os, i have configured the machine but when I starts it doesn't start installation, it shows startup.nsh

Configuration

• 3.0.2:
• monterey:
• m1

[conath]

Hi. I moved this question to the discussion section since it’s about a guest OS and not about the UTM app itself.

Please download my “Ubuntu Desktop 20.04 (x86_64)” template from my UTM website and try installing Parrot OS in that VM. You can rename it, of course.

[SalishKumar]

@conath STILL SAME output

[conath]

Please add a screen recording of how you are trying to install Parrot OS. Start the recording at the Desktop before you open UTM, please. Here’s how to make a screen recording on Mac.

[SalishKumar]

@conath please have a look "https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NU7ZNYNVLM4_M3_55sJkvPOUcZkypbiw/view?usp=sharing"

[conath]

Ok. You don’t need the Ubuntu ARM VM. Did you choose the installer iso into the CD drive of the VM?

[osy]

Common mistake is using the wrong architecture. Check that it isn’t the case here.

[SalishKumar]

@osy I think architecture is correct

[osy]

It clearly isn't. Look at your screenshot. Your ISO is amd64 while the architecture is arm64

[conath]

It’s incorrect, for an installer with “amd64” choose x84_64 in UTM please.

[thecodemonster1]

It’s incorrect, for an installer with “amd64” choose x84_64 in UTM please.

Thank You So much brother, This is helped me also😊

[SalishKumar]

@conath @osy thanks for your help, i selected wrong architecture and iso file.
following this link solved my issue "https://mac.getutm.app/gallery/ubuntu-20-04"

[SalishKumar]

@conath ubuntu stuck on boot after installation

[conath]

Sounds like #3344. Please close the VM window and remove the CD image, then start the VM again.

[pipiche38]

I have the similar issue, after imported a VM which was created under VirtualBox.
I did an export on VirtualBox and Import on UTM

No issue to do a life recording, but there is not much to see.

[pipiche38]

Unfortunately not better.
On the VirtualBox the Storage Controller Type is: AHCI and the disk is defined as Solid-state Drive on SATA Port 0

[conath]

Please commend with a screenshot of your imported drive selected in the VM config window, and also add a debug log from when you start the VM. How to get Debug Log

[pipiche38]

debug.log

[conath]

I see, you imported the OVA file. Unfortunately UTM doesn’t know to extract this file for you, you need to do this manually. Here is how to import the hard drive file from the OVA: #3540 (comment)

[fortran01]

Not sure what's happening. I switched to the version mentioned above “Standard PC (q35…) (pc-q35-6.2)” and switched back to the default (Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009) (alias of pc-q35-10.0) (q35). It worked.

[ststst4]

I have a similar issue when I tried to boot a windows vm can you help me out?

[ststst4]

I made the vm on the arm64 architecture and with the qemu 7.0 arm vm

[ststst4]

i got the windows 10 iso from microsofts website.

[conath]

Alright so you've got an X64 ISO there and made an "ARM64" VM. This is not compatible, you need to make a "x86_64" emulated VM, or you need to get a Windows 11 ARM file from Microsoft (provided in VHDX format, which UTM can convert).

[ststst4]

I did that and it still didn't work

[conath]

If you want to make a fast Windows VM on your Mac, follow this guide. If you want a slow (because emulating on M1), "classic" x86_64 Windows VM on your Mac, follow this video guide.

[egladman]

For what it's worth....I got a similar error on startup when loading a Fedora variant. I had to disable uefi boot.

[vysecurity]

I'm trying to make it emulate x64 Ubuntu, but it keeps saying startup.nsh or if I disable UEFI boot it gives me no bootable device. What do I do?

[conath]

Please check the guide: https://mac.getutm.app/gallery/ubuntu-20-04

For X64 Ubuntu you need to choose "Emulate" instead of "virtualize".

[vysecurity]

That’s ARM though. I got AMD working now but yah it’s mega slow.

…

On Wed, 27 Jul 2022 at 20:09, CONATH ***@***.***> wrote: Please check the guide: https://mac.getutm.app/gallery/ubuntu-20-04 — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#3470 (reply in thread)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AA3N7UTMIHHNUJMSAYNCQ23VWERG3ANCNFSM5LZN5V6A> . You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[ny8wolf]

Same issue on M1 - ARM64 Win11 ISO from the link on UTM guide.

[invokermoon]

same issue

[Qhilm]

the following command is not working for me: FS0:\EFI\BOOT\BOOTAA64.EFI

It does reboot, but it goes back to the Shell> prompt... (I did try multiple times).

• UTM 4.3.5 (87)
• macOS 13.5
• ISO grabed using CrystalFetch: 22621.1_MULTI_ARM64_EN-US.ISO

[Qhilm]

Ignore, I had to press a key when it said "press any key to boot from CD or DVD" (duh...). It worked! Thanks.

Command can be simplified in a one liner: FS0:\EFI\BOOT\BOOTAA64.EFI

[hontz1]

i had downloaded 2 iso of win 11 arm. tiny is working without problems. the other ran also into this error, bootaa64.efi also not working. I should try the official.

[rogeliogomezusb]

That u, that command really work for me. I had the same issue @Qhilm

[0xvoila]

Thank you, it worked for me as well.

[DJAKLSJDLKA]

Who can help me with this problem, or is it unsolvable?

[emrekocan]

I get this warning when I try to install utm

Macbook m1

[emrekocan]

[mijorus]

Just sharing how I fixed it:

1. Go into the VM settings > QEMU > Reset EFI Variables
2. Boot the machine
3. Press Enter repeatedly until you see the white spinner under the UTM logo

[motorzen]

This was the fix for me - I didn't actually change/reset any QEMU settings, but the clue for me was to simply hit a key when "press any key to boot from CD or DVD" displays in the process the first time.

It goes against what I expected, which is - I am installing from an image on a hard drive, rather than a CD/DVD.

[aysilsimgekaracan]

Thank you, this worked for me too

[kokoskiwi]

hi how to solve this? i downloaded Tails .iso and am stuck in this terminal too....

[sos5]

help SOS (MAC)
I want to install ubuntu by utm , i have configured the machine but when I starts it doesn't start installation, it shows startup.nsh

[hontz1]

for win 11 UTM i used some bad iso, found on web (archive). then I got these problems, too. because crystal fetch aborted. downloading the official iso might solve your problems, too. I used https://github.com/mattieb/download-windows-esd
with this tool, you can resume download, if your internet-connection times out.

[silverlining2242]

type "exit" and then choose continue. it will start to install windows in GUI

[reiz166u90]

Screen.Recording.2024-05-03.at.03.07.05.mov

help me
macos version sonoma 14.3.1
chip Apple m2

[silverlining2242]

I type "exit" and press enter to escape the issue of stuck in the UEFI shell while booting win11 installation.
btw, when set up the virtual machine disk for win11 make sure assign enough space, otherwise it will create another pain to expand the disk size...

[MoThor25]

THANK YOU GODDDD

[scott-joe]

Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here, but I've downloaded Fedora 40 ARM64, which comes as a Fedora-Workstation-40-1.14.aarch64.raw.xz. For whatever reason, it's not available as an ISO and the various tools I've attempted to use to convert the raw.xz file into an .iso were unsuccessful. When loading it into UTM under ARM64 Linux, it gives me that UEFI Interactive Shell people are showing...

Thanks in advance.

[rv2215]

Trying to Run Windows 11 and it is stuck in SHELL mode.

[Behinder]

I tried to boot SteamDeckOS on emulating x86 architecture and it's the same. Tested on machine 7.2,7.1,7.0,6.2

[Gnomecromancer]

Same issue but I’m 90% sure my architecure is correct

[rawrbw]

For anyone like me that didnt press a key at this screen, thats your solution... ;)

[triumph1-ably]

so it was it.. I just had to press enter (or any key)!!! thanks!

[leo00-opes]

Me too windows 11 vm
Macbook Air M1,2020 , macos sequoia 15.4

[thecodemonster1]

Make sure you’re using the ARM64 version of Windows—Apple Silicon doesn’t support x86/x64.

It works, but the MacBook Air can get quite hot (no cooling fan), so it’s okay for light, occasional use.

[pavlotsyhanok]

If your Windows VM on UTM isn’t booting and just shows a blank screen or doesn’t seem to load the installer, here’s the fix:

As soon as the VM window opens, immediately press any key (e.g., Enter).

The Windows installation ISO only gives a very short window to detect a key press (“Press any key to boot from CD or DVD…”). On Apple Silicon Macs, the display sometimes lags slightly, so by the time you see that message, it might already be too late.

Once I pressed Enter right after the VM window appeared, the installer booted normally.
No other settings needed to be changed, I kept all defaults.

[dhlavaty]

Any tips how to run Raspberry Pi OS ( it is ARM64 downloaded from https://downloads.raspberrypi.com/raspios_arm64/images/raspios_arm64-2025-11-24/2025-11-24-raspios-trixie-arm64.img.xz ) on Macbook M4 Apple Silicon ? I've tried .img.xz and also uncompressed .img file. Tried all tips found here and other discussions in this github repo. I always end up in UEFI Shell.