What the Community Reported
A custom-PC user reported that Windows 11 24H2 installation inside ZVM stayed indefinitely on a spinning progress indicator. The short thread did not establish a verified root cause, so the useful next step is diagnosis rather than assuming Windows 24H2 itself is always incompatible.
Check the VM Before Replacing the ISO
Confirm CPU virtualization is enabled in firmware, allocate enough memory and storage, verify the ISO checksum/source, and check whether the virtual disk and firmware mode match the guest's expectations. Microsoft's Windows 11 download page is the safest source for installation media.
Do Not Use Unofficial Stripped Windows Builds as a First Fix
A reply suggested older or stripped-down Windows variants, but unofficial modified images can remove drivers, services, security features, or update components. For troubleshooting, use an official Microsoft image first so the test has a known baseline. Microsoft's Windows 11 requirements provides the supported baseline.
Separate a ZVM Problem From a Guest-OS Problem
If another known-good guest installs normally with the same ZVM configuration, the Windows media or guest requirements become more likely suspects. If every guest hangs, investigate the host's virtualization support, storage path, and logs. Review the ZimaOS installation guide and ZimaOS community use cases for broader host context.
