this post was submitted on 02 Feb 2026
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Self-hosting paradox: Windows for specifically MS word (lemmy.world)
submitted 4 months ago by TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world to c/selfhosted@lemmy.world
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Hey Home-labbers/ self hosters.

This weekend my 10 year old processing machine finally bit the dust (RIP ๐Ÿ—ฟ ๐Ÿ’€ ; old system76 laptop, won't even post, not the topic of this thread but if you've got ideas, I'm all ears), and as part of figuring out what happened and coming to the realization its time for a new machine. And as part of getting/ pricing a new machine (not looking forward to the consequences of the RAM-pocalypse), I've been reviewing/ thinking about the "structure" of what we as a household currently use our self-hosted/ home-labbed system for.

Myself and my partner are researchers, and as such, we regularly collaborate/ work together on manuscripts, and the reality is, we rely on windows because we're also collaborating with other authors who also rely on MS word to write in. Now I'm a 100% FOSS advocate, but this is a sticking point my partner has had, and I agree with them, at least in practice that realistically, we need a windows machine laying around specifically for this one, particular use case.

Now my thinking here is to use proxmox to spin up a windows machine as a VM, something we can remote into. Is there any best practice for something like this? How would this work with licensing? I personally haven't installed windows on something since like windows 7, and I know they've enshittified beyond recognition.

I personally don't want windows on my machines. But realistically, I recognize its necessity for this one particular use case. Thoughts?

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[โ€“] curbstickle@anarchist.nexus 5 points 4 months ago (1 children)

So its not Word for me, but some manufacturer specific applications that dont play well in Wine or other scenarios.

So I start the VM when I need it, use the app I need, shut it back down. The VM has no internet access, only a designated VLAN with no outbound, and any documents going to or from I use a thumb drive. Excessive, yeah, but its how things work for me.

[โ€“] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

So I start the VM when I need it, use the app I need, shut it back down. The VM has no internet access, only a designated VLAN with no outbound, and any documents going to or from I use a thumb drive. Excessive, yeah, but its how things work for me.

This was my thinking, but office suite, and the documents would get saved to the NAS. How do you manage it as a VM? Are you using proxmox or similar? Do you use a setup script of somekind? What version of microsoft? Keys?

[โ€“] curbstickle@anarchist.nexus 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I'm using windows 10 mostly, but I have another one made recently for win 11 because of another stupid manufacturer with stupid requirements.

Once I made the first VM, I made a clone. The clone is what gets the software installation, the original just stays stored on my NAS so I can clone again as stupid manufacturers distribute stupid software that requires windows. I name each VM based on the app its going to run.

Some are a suite of apps and companion applications, some are just a singular application.

[โ€“] Jayb151@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

Op, This is the best answer. I've set up a Windows server using this method. I was blown away by how easy proxmox makes the whole thing.

I use rust desk too btw when I need to remote on for maintenance, etc.