diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e9f120f..ff43762 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ This project demonstrates automated Windows Server VM management including:
 
 ## Quick Start
 
+**New to this project?** See [QUICKSTART.md](QUICKSTART.md) for a complete step-by-step guide from fresh Hyper-V install to running VMs.
+
 ### Development Environment
 
 ```bash
@@ -117,12 +119,26 @@ ansible-playbook playbooks/sync-cmdb.yml
 
 ## Documentation
 
+- **[HANDOFF.md](HANDOFF.md)** - Project status, next steps, and quick reference
+- **[QUICKSTART.md](QUICKSTART.md)** - Complete step-by-step guide from scratch
 - [CLAUDE.md](CLAUDE.md) - Architecture and development guidelines
 - [playbooks/README-provision.md](playbooks/README-provision.md) - VM provisioning guide
 - [templates/autounattend.xml.j2](templates/autounattend.xml.j2) - Windows unattended install template
 
 ## Common Tasks
 
+### First-Time Setup
+
+```bash
+# 1. Configure fresh Hyper-V host
+ansible-playbook playbooks/provision-hyperv-host.yml
+
+# 2. Verify switches are available
+ansible-playbook playbooks/list-hyperv-switches.yml
+
+# 3. Upload Windows ISO to D:\ISOs\ on Hyper-V host
+```
+
 ### Provision a VM
 ```bash
 ansible-playbook playbooks/provision-vm.yml -e vm_name=WEB01 -e vm_ip_address=192.168.1.101
diff --git a/ansible.cfg b/ansible.cfg
deleted file mode 100644
index 404c949..0000000
--- a/ansible.cfg
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
-[defaults]
-inventory = /home/ptoal/Dev/inventories/toallab-inventory
-host_key_checking = False
-retry_files_enabled = False
-roles_path = roles
-collections_path = collections
-interpreter_python = auto_silent
-timeout = 30
-
-[ssh_connection]
-pipelining = True
diff --git a/group_vars/hyperv_hosts.yml b/group_vars/hyperv_hosts.yml
index 3f056b4..a60dd14 100644
--- a/group_vars/hyperv_hosts.yml
+++ b/group_vars/hyperv_hosts.yml
@@ -4,15 +4,16 @@
 # Default VM settings
 default_vm_cpu_count: 2
 default_vm_memory_gb: 4
-default_vm_disk_size_gb: 60
+default_vm_disk_size_gb: 20
 
 # Network settings
 default_vm_switch: "Internal Switch"
 default_vm_vlan: 100
 
 # VM storage paths
-vm_storage_path: "D:\\VMs"
-iso_storage_path: "D:\\ISOs"
+vm_storage_drive: "C:"
+vm_storage_path: "C:\\VMs"
+iso_storage_path: "C:\\ISOs"
 
 # Windows Server ISO
 windows_server_iso: "{{ iso_storage_path }}\\Windows_Server_2022.iso"
diff --git a/playbooks/provision-vm.yml b/playbooks/provision-vm.yml
index a399684..7a491e1 100644
--- a/playbooks/provision-vm.yml
+++ b/playbooks/provision-vm.yml
@@ -24,18 +24,58 @@
   gather_facts: false
 
   vars:
-    # Use defaults from group_vars if not specified
-    vm_cpu_count: "{{ vm_cpu_count | default(default_vm_cpu_count) }}"
-    vm_memory_gb: "{{ vm_memory_gb | default(default_vm_memory_gb) }}"
-    vm_disk_size_gb: "{{ vm_disk_size_gb | default(default_vm_disk_size_gb) }}"
-    vm_switch: "{{ vm_switch | default(default_vm_switch) }}"
-
     # Derived paths
     vm_path: "{{ vm_storage_path }}\\{{ vm_name }}"
     vm_vhd_path: "{{ vm_storage_path }}\\{{ vm_name }}\\{{ vm_name }}.vhdx"
     autounattend_path: "{{ vm_storage_path }}\\{{ vm_name }}\\autounattend.xml"
 
   pre_tasks:
+    - name: Set VM configuration with defaults
+      ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+        vm_cpu_count: "{{ vm_cpu_count | default(default_vm_cpu_count) }}"
+        vm_memory_gb: "{{ vm_memory_gb | default(default_vm_memory_gb) }}"
+        vm_disk_size_gb: "{{ vm_disk_size_gb | default(default_vm_disk_size_gb) }}"
+        vm_switch: "{{ vm_switch | default(default_vm_switch) }}"
+
+    - name: Get available Hyper-V virtual switches
+      ansible.windows.win_shell: |
+        Get-VMSwitch | Select-Object Name, SwitchType | ConvertTo-Json
+      register: available_switches
+      changed_when: false
+      tags: [create, verify]
+
+    - name: Parse available switches
+      ansible.builtin.set_fact:
+        switch_list: "{{ available_switches.stdout | from_json }}"
+      when: available_switches.stdout | trim | length > 0
+      tags: [create, verify]
+
+    - name: Display available switches
+      ansible.builtin.debug:
+        msg:
+          - "Available Hyper-V switches:"
+          - "{{ switch_list | default([]) | map(attribute='Name') | list }}"
+          - ""
+          - "Configured switch: {{ vm_switch }}"
+      tags: [create, verify]
+
+    - name: Validate virtual switch exists
+      ansible.builtin.assert:
+        that:
+          - switch_list is defined
+          - switch_list | selectattr('Name', 'equalto', vm_switch) | list | length > 0
+        fail_msg: |
+          Virtual switch '{{ vm_switch }}' not found on Hyper-V host.
+          Available switches: {{ switch_list | default([]) | map(attribute='Name') | list | join(', ') }}
+
+          To fix this:
+          1. Update the vm_switch variable: -e vm_switch="<switch_name>"
+          2. Or update default in group_vars/hyperv/vars.yml
+          3. Or create the switch on Hyper-V host:
+             New-VMSwitch -Name "{{ vm_switch }}" -SwitchType Internal
+        success_msg: "Virtual switch '{{ vm_switch }}' is available"
+      tags: [create]
+
     - name: Validate required variables
       ansible.builtin.assert:
         that: