diff --git a/COMPATIBILITY.md b/COMPATIBILITY.md
index b5860e5265..3a25cf8840 100644
--- a/COMPATIBILITY.md
+++ b/COMPATIBILITY.md
@@ -4,6 +4,17 @@ Web Console preserves compatible API paths, schema and resource names, action na
 
 Visible branding, product-owned assets, icon identifiers, package metadata, and operator documentation use PastureStack. Historical identifiers remain only where they are server data or protocol contracts and must not be mechanically replaced.
 
+Candidate `1.6.174` changes VM image guidance and defaults only: it does not
+implement a VM runtime or image whitelist. Existing/custom/last-used VM images,
+ordinary container defaults and required validation remain supported. Shared
+image-required errors are localized in English and Traditional Chinese, with
+the existing English fallback for other locales. Backend capabilities,
+payloads, permissions and authentication contracts are unchanged; dependency
+versions and the graph are unchanged. The five added Ember regressions and
+formal release gates remain pending; 817 is only an expected test count.
+Historical releases and HOLDs are not promoted, and the full matrix remains
+INCOMPLETE. See the [candidate release note](docs/releases/web-console-1.6.174.md).
+
 Published `1.6.173` reads native ProjectTemplate card labels from the model's
 existing `name`, not `localizedName`, which native ProjectTemplate does not implement.
 Name-dependent sorting, rename reactivity and exact-ID selection remain native;
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9ba2929097..5ba5834a82 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,6 +8,19 @@ PastureStack is an independent community effort to preserve, audit, and moderniz
 
 ## Project status
 
+Candidate `1.6.174` removes the ordinary-container default and quick picks from
+the VM image field. Custom images, existing image values and the last-used VM
+image remain supported; ordinary container defaults are unchanged. A blank
+image still blocks the existing save lifecycle. VM boot-image guidance and
+required errors for both VM and container images use reviewed English and
+Traditional Chinese copy with the existing English fallback.
+Dependency versions and the dependency graph are unchanged. Five added Ember
+regressions have not yet run; 817 total tests is an expectation, not a result.
+Exact-source CI, reproducible artifacts, signed publication, Server packaging
+and packaged VM acceptance remain pending. Historical releases and HOLDs are
+unchanged; the full matrix remains INCOMPLETE. See the
+[candidate release note](docs/releases/web-console-1.6.174.md).
+
 Published `1.6.173` repairs empty environment-template choice labels. These
 choices are native `ProjectTemplate` resources, not Catalog templates: their
 authoritative label is `name`, and selection remains bound to the template ID.
diff --git a/app/components/form-image/component.js b/app/components/form-image/component.js
index 07e4499f70..0713b4c53e 100644
--- a/app/components/form-image/component.js
+++ b/app/components/form-image/component.js
@@ -6,10 +6,11 @@ import ManageLabels from 'ui/mixins/manage-labels';
 
 // Remember the last value and use that for new one
 var lastContainer = 'ubuntu:26.04';
-var lastVm = 'ubuntu:26.04';
+var lastVm = null;
 var lastWindows = 'microsoft/nanoserver';
 
 export default Component.extend(ManageLabels, {
+  intl: service(),
   settings: service(),
   projects: service(),
 
@@ -44,10 +45,12 @@ export default Component.extend(ManageLabels, {
 
     if ( !initial )
     {
-      if ( this.get('projects.current.isWindows') ) {
+      if ( this.get('isVm') ) {
+        initial = lastVm;
+      } else if ( this.get('projects.current.isWindows') ) {
         initial = lastWindows;
       } else {
-        initial = ( this.get('isVm') ? lastVm : lastContainer);
+        initial = lastContainer;
       }
     }
 
@@ -83,11 +86,11 @@ export default Component.extend(ManageLabels, {
     }
     else if ( input && input.length )
     {
-      if ( this.get('projects.current.isWindows') ) {
-        lastWindows = input;
-      } else if ( this.get('isVm') )
-      {
+      if ( this.get('isVm') ) {
         lastVm = input;
+      } else if ( this.get('projects.current.isWindows') )
+      {
+        lastWindows = input;
       }
       else
       {
@@ -105,13 +108,13 @@ export default Component.extend(ManageLabels, {
     this.validate();
   }.observes('userInput'),
 
-  validate() {
+  validate: function() {
     var errors = [];
     if ( !this.get('value') )
     {
-      errors.push('Image is required');
+      errors.push(this.get('intl').t(this.get('isVm') ? 'formImage.vm.bootImageRequired' : 'formImage.container.imageRequired'));
     }
 
     this.set('errors', errors);
-  },
+  }.observes('intl._locale'),
 });
diff --git a/app/components/form-image/template.hbs b/app/components/form-image/template.hbs
index 28bf9ea8e1..c89d6c34b5 100644
--- a/app/components/form-image/template.hbs
+++ b/app/components/form-image/template.hbs
@@ -10,17 +10,8 @@
 <div class="row">
   <div class="col-xs-12">
     {{#if this.isVm}}
-      <div class="input-group">
-        {{input type="text" value=this.userInput placeholder=(t 'formImage.vm.placeholder') class="form-control"}}
-        <div class="input-group-btn">
-          <button type="button" class="btn btn-default dropdown-toggle" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" aria-expanded="false"><i class="icon icon-chevron-down"></i></button>
-          <ul class="dropdown-menu dropdown-menu-end" role="menu" style="min-width: 250px; max-height: 300px; overflow-y: auto;">
-            <li role="presentation" class="dropdown-header">{{t 'formImage.vm.dropdownLabel' appName=this.settings.appName}}</li>
-            <li><a href="#" {{action "setInput" "ubuntu:26.04"}}>ubuntu:26.04</a></li>
-            <li><a href="#" {{action "setInput" "alpine:3.22"}}>alpine:3.22</a></li>
-          </ul>
-        </div>
-      </div>
+      {{input type="text" value=this.userInput placeholder=(t 'formImage.vm.bootImagePlaceholder') class="form-control"}}
+      <p class="help-block vm-boot-image-help">{{t 'formImage.vm.bootImageHelp'}}</p>
     {{else}}
       {{input type="text" class="form-control" value=this.userInput placeholder=(t 'formImage.container.placeholder')}}
     {{/if}}
diff --git a/config/translation-fallback-prefixes.js b/config/translation-fallback-prefixes.js
index 2ee3a6e226..21c9862054 100644
--- a/config/translation-fallback-prefixes.js
+++ b/config/translation-fallback-prefixes.js
@@ -43,5 +43,8 @@ module.exports = Object.freeze([
   'newSecret.refreshFailed',
   'accountsPage.new.error.',
   'editAccount.error.',
-  'viewEditProject.error.'
+  'viewEditProject.error.',
+  // VM boot-image guidance uses reviewed English fallback outside zh-tw.
+  'formImage.vm.bootImage',
+  'formImage.container.imageRequired'
 ]);
diff --git a/docs/baselines/npm-package-lock.sass-replacement.node24-ignore-scripts.json b/docs/baselines/npm-package-lock.sass-replacement.node24-ignore-scripts.json
index 70f107e71c..42faa1ed01 100644
--- a/docs/baselines/npm-package-lock.sass-replacement.node24-ignore-scripts.json
+++ b/docs/baselines/npm-package-lock.sass-replacement.node24-ignore-scripts.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@pasturestack/web-console",
-  "version": "1.6.173",
+  "version": "1.6.174",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@pasturestack/web-console",
-      "version": "1.6.173",
+      "version": "1.6.174",
       "license": "Apache-2.0",
       "dependencies": {
         "sass": "1.103.1"
diff --git a/docs/releases/web-console-1.6.174.md b/docs/releases/web-console-1.6.174.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f9f6eebf68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/releases/web-console-1.6.174.md
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# Web Console 1.6.174
+
+Candidate only. Exact-source CI, reproducible production artifacts, signed
+publication, anonymous public readback and Server packaging have not yet been
+completed for this version. No VM lifecycle PASS is claimed.
+
+## Root cause and bounded repair
+
+The shared image form supplied `ubuntu:26.04` as a fresh VM default and offered
+`ubuntu:26.04` and `alpine:3.22` as VM quick picks. These ordinary-container
+choices do not establish a compatible VM boot image. The VM launch contract
+passes `-m` and `-smp` and uses the `/image` boot-disk interface; merely choosing
+an operating-system container image does not supply that VM runtime contract.
+
+Remove the fresh VM default and both quick picks, without substituting another
+unverified image or restricting custom image references. Preserve an existing
+image and the last-used VM image. Ordinary Linux and Windows container defaults
+remain unchanged. Blank image input still reaches the existing required
+validation and cancels the native save lifecycle before resource persistence.
+
+English and Traditional Chinese explain the boot-image contract and ask the
+operator to verify the target host meets the image's virtualization needs,
+for example KVM (`/dev/kvm`). This guidance does not add a new KVM gate or claim
+that every custom VM image forbids software emulation. VM and ordinary-container
+required errors are localized and react to locale changes. New messages use
+the existing English fallback outside the two reviewed locales.
+
+No VM engine, host configuration, hardware flags, API schema, payload,
+authorization, MFA or resource lifecycle is changed. Dependency versions,
+overrides and the installed dependency graph are unchanged; the two lock files
+change only their root package version metadata to `1.6.174`.
+
+## Verification and release boundaries
+
+Five new real-component Ember regressions cover existing and last-used images,
+blank-image save cancellation, custom VM input without misleading quick picks,
+VM guidance/required-error locale changes and ordinary-container required-error
+locale changes on the same form. They have not yet been executed. The expected
+full test count is 817 (the previous 812 plus these five), not a verified result.
+Offline method controls and syntax checks do not replace Chrome rendering,
+exact-source CI or packaged native VM acceptance.
+
+No source commit, formal run, archive checksum or publication coordinate is
+asserted for this candidate. Reuse only the eventual reviewed exact-source CI
+artifact for publication; do not rebuild or overwrite an older release.
+The existing vendor-pending advisory and audit policy remain unchanged; this
+candidate is not a zero-CVE claim.
+
+The [published Web173 record](web-console-1.6.173.md) and its scoped results
+remain historical evidence, not proof of this candidate's VM lifecycle.
+Original HOLD receipts remain HOLD. The complete permission/resource/locale
+matrix remains INCOMPLETE. Preserve rollback artifacts, configuration and
+volumes; no company deployment is authorized by this source change.
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 70f107e71c..42faa1ed01 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@pasturestack/web-console",
-  "version": "1.6.173",
+  "version": "1.6.174",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@pasturestack/web-console",
-      "version": "1.6.173",
+      "version": "1.6.174",
       "license": "Apache-2.0",
       "dependencies": {
         "sass": "1.103.1"
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 9ed5e6b3ee..12c62eee76 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@pasturestack/web-console",
-  "version": "1.6.173",
+  "version": "1.6.174",
   "private": true,
   "description": "PastureStack browser console for the compatible control platform.",
   "repository": {
diff --git a/scripts/check-modernization-blockers b/scripts/check-modernization-blockers
index 5252a4815d..3b8fba134a 100755
--- a/scripts/check-modernization-blockers
+++ b/scripts/check-modernization-blockers
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ with open('package.json', encoding='utf-8') as f:
     print(json.load(f).get('version', ''))
 PY
 )
-if [[ "$version" != "1.6.173" ]]; then
-  echo "UNEXPECTED_UI_ARTIFACT_VERSION version=$version expected=1.6.173"
+if [[ "$version" != "1.6.174" ]]; then
+  echo "UNEXPECTED_UI_ARTIFACT_VERSION version=$version expected=1.6.174"
   failures=$((failures + 1))
 fi
 
diff --git a/scripts/check-ui-console-workspace b/scripts/check-ui-console-workspace
index 19e8ab7bc4..f3a6ca34f2 100755
--- a/scripts/check-ui-console-workspace
+++ b/scripts/check-ui-console-workspace
@@ -141,4 +141,4 @@ if [[ -n ${PASTURESTACK_PRIVATE_MARKER:-} ]] && grep -RInF -- "$PASTURESTACK_PRI
 fi
 
 printf 'UI_CONSOLE_WORKSPACE_OK version=%s persistence=%s cross_tab=%s\n' \
-  1.6.173 browser-session broker-broadcast
+  1.6.174 browser-session broker-broadcast
diff --git a/scripts/check-ui-critical-high-dependencies b/scripts/check-ui-critical-high-dependencies
index 6d93fa02fe..f138722f6e 100755
--- a/scripts/check-ui-critical-high-dependencies
+++ b/scripts/check-ui-critical-high-dependencies
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ if lock_bytes != baseline_bytes:
 lock = json.loads(lock_bytes)
 packages = lock.get("packages", {})
 root = packages.get("", {})
-if package.get("version") != "1.6.173":
+if package.get("version") != "1.6.174":
     fail(f"unexpected Web Console version: {package.get('version')}")
 if root.get("version") != package.get("version"):
     fail(f"lock root version differs: {root.get('version')}")
diff --git a/scripts/check-ui-ember-api-store-fetch-upgrade b/scripts/check-ui-ember-api-store-fetch-upgrade
index 84d18eaa17..78f2413db6 100755
--- a/scripts/check-ui-ember-api-store-fetch-upgrade
+++ b/scripts/check-ui-ember-api-store-fetch-upgrade
@@ -416,7 +416,8 @@ for marker in [
     if marker not in page_header_sources:
         fail(f"transient service collection regression marker missing: {marker}")
 
-if template_action_count != 563:
+# The two ordinary-container VM quick-pick actions were removed in Web174.
+if template_action_count != 561:
     fail(f"unexpected template action count: {template_action_count}")
 if power_select_count != 15:
     fail(f"unexpected modern PowerSelect count: {power_select_count}")
diff --git a/tests/integration/form-image-vm-boot-test.js b/tests/integration/form-image-vm-boot-test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e2872c089b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/form-image-vm-boot-test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+import { module, test } from 'qunit';
+import { render, find, findAll, fillIn, settled, setupContext, setupRenderingContext, teardownContext } from '@ember/test-helpers';
+import { precompileTemplate } from '@ember/template-compilation';
+import EmberObject from '@ember/object';
+import Service from '@ember/service';
+import { run } from '@ember/runloop';
+import resolver from '../helpers/resolver';
+import { initialize as initializePodLayouts } from 'ui/initializers/pod-component-layouts';
+import { initialize as initializeIntl } from 'ui/instance-initializers/intl';
+
+module('Integration | Component | VM boot image', function(hooks) {
+  hooks.beforeEach(async function() {
+    this.testRoot = document.createElement('div');
+    this.testRoot.id = 'ember-testing';
+    document.body.appendChild(this.testRoot);
+    await setupContext(this, {resolver});
+    initializePodLayouts();
+    initializeIntl(this.owner);
+    this.owner.register('service:projects', Service.extend({
+      current: EmberObject.create({isWindows: false}),
+    }));
+    this.owner.register('service:settings', Service.extend({appName: 'PastureStack'}));
+    this.intl = this.owner.lookup('service:intl');
+
+    for (let locale of ['en-us', 'zh-tw', 'fr-fr']) {
+      let response = await fetch('/translations/' + locale + '.json');
+
+      if (!response.ok) {
+        throw new Error('Local translation fixture failed: ' + locale + ' ' + response.status);
+      }
+      this.intl.addTranslations(locale, await response.json());
+    }
+    this.intl.setLocale(['en-us']);
+    this.changed = (value) => { this.set('selectedImage', value); };
+    this.setLabels = () => {};
+    await setupRenderingContext(this);
+  });
+
+  hooks.afterEach(async function() {
+    await teardownContext(this);
+    this.testRoot.remove();
+  });
+
+  async function renderVm() {
+    await render(precompileTemplate('{{form-image isVm=true initialValue="docker:example.test/boot:qa" errors=this.imageErrors changed=this.changed setLabels=this.setLabels}}{{top-errors errors=this.imageErrors}}'));
+  }
+
+  test('VM accepts custom boot-image text with no ordinary-container quick picks', async function(assert) {
+    await renderVm();
+    assert.strictEqual(find('input[type="text"]').value, 'example.test/boot:qa', 'existing image is preserved');
+    assert.strictEqual(find('input[type="text"]').placeholder, 'VM boot image');
+    assert.strictEqual(findAll('.dropdown-toggle, .dropdown-menu').length, 0, 'no VM quick picks imply that ordinary container images can boot a VM');
+    assert.ok(find('.vm-boot-image-help').textContent.includes('/dev/kvm'));
+
+    await fillIn('input[type="text"]', 'registry.example/custom-boot:qa');
+    assert.strictEqual(this.selectedImage, 'docker:registry.example/custom-boot:qa', 'arbitrary custom VM images remain accepted');
+    await fillIn('input[type="text"]', '');
+    assert.deepEqual(this.imageErrors, ['Enter a compatible VM boot image.']);
+    assert.ok(this.testRoot.textContent.includes('Enter a compatible VM boot image.'), 'the actual top-errors component displays the required error');
+  });
+
+  test('blank VM required copy and guidance react to locale, with English fallback', async function(assert) {
+    await renderVm();
+    await fillIn('input[type="text"]', '');
+    run(() => this.intl.setLocale(['zh-tw', 'en-us']));
+    await settled();
+    assert.deepEqual(this.imageErrors, ['請填入相容的 VM 專用開機映像。']);
+    assert.strictEqual(find('input[type="text"]').placeholder, 'VM 專用開機映像');
+    assert.ok(this.testRoot.textContent.includes('確認目標主機符合映像的虛擬化需求'));
+
+    run(() => this.intl.setLocale(['fr-fr', 'en-us']));
+    await settled();
+    assert.deepEqual(this.imageErrors, ['Enter a compatible VM boot image.'], 'missing non-primary locale keys use loaded English translations');
+    assert.strictEqual(find('input[type="text"]').placeholder, 'VM boot image');
+    let help = find('.vm-boot-image-help').textContent;
+
+    for (let capability of ['-m', '-smp', '/image', '/dev/kvm']) {
+      assert.ok(help.includes(capability), capability);
+    }
+    assert.notOk(this.testRoot.textContent.includes('Missing translation'), 'fallback has no missing-key marker');
+  });
+
+  test('blank container required copy rerenders on the same form with zh-tw and English fallback', async function(assert) {
+    await render(precompileTemplate('{{form-image isVm=false initialValue="docker:example.test/container:qa" errors=this.imageErrors changed=this.changed setLabels=this.setLabels}}{{top-errors errors=this.imageErrors}}'));
+    let input = find('input[type="text"]');
+
+    await fillIn('input[type="text"]', '');
+    assert.strictEqual(this.selectedImage, null);
+    assert.deepEqual(this.imageErrors, ['Image is required']);
+    assert.ok(this.testRoot.textContent.includes('Image is required'));
+    assert.strictEqual(findAll('.vm-boot-image-help').length, 0, 'no VM guidance is added to the container form');
+
+    run(() => this.intl.setLocale(['zh-tw', 'en-us']));
+    await settled();
+    assert.strictEqual(find('input[type="text"]'), input, 'the same input remains mounted');
+    assert.deepEqual(this.imageErrors, ['請填入容器映像。']);
+    assert.ok(this.testRoot.textContent.includes('請填入容器映像。'));
+
+    run(() => this.intl.setLocale(['fr-fr', 'en-us']));
+    await settled();
+    assert.strictEqual(find('input[type="text"]'), input, 'fallback does not replace the form');
+    assert.deepEqual(this.imageErrors, ['Image is required']);
+    assert.ok(this.testRoot.textContent.includes('Image is required'));
+    assert.strictEqual(this.selectedImage, null, 'locale changes do not substitute an image');
+    assert.notOk(this.testRoot.textContent.includes('Missing translation'));
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/components/form-image-vm-boot-test.js b/tests/unit/components/form-image-vm-boot-test.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9db55d81de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/components/form-image-vm-boot-test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+import { A } from '@ember/array';
+import EmberObject from '@ember/object';
+import { run } from '@ember/runloop';
+import { module, test } from 'qunit';
+
+import FormImageComponent from 'ui/components/form-image/component';
+import NewContainerComponent from 'ui/components/new-container/component';
+import inertRenderer from '../../helpers/inert-renderer';
+import { createOwned, destroyOwned } from '../../helpers/owned-subject';
+
+module('Unit | Component | VM boot image');
+
+function createImage(properties = {}) {
+  let component;
+
+  run(() => {
+    component = createOwned(FormImageComponent, Object.assign({
+      renderer: inertRenderer(),
+      intl: EmberObject.create({t(key) { return key; }}),
+      projects: EmberObject.create({current: EmberObject.create({isWindows: false})}),
+      settings: EmberObject.create({appName: 'PastureStack'}),
+      sendAction() {},
+    }, properties), 'component');
+  });
+
+  return component;
+}
+
+test('existing and last-used VM images stay custom and separate from container images', function(assert) {
+  let original = createImage({isVm: true, initialValue: 'docker:example.test/custom-vm:qa'});
+  let remembered = createImage({isVm: true});
+  let container = createImage({isVm: false, initialValue: 'docker:example.test/container:qa'});
+  let nextVm = createImage({isVm: true});
+  let windowsVm = createImage({
+    isVm: true,
+    projects: EmberObject.create({current: EmberObject.create({isWindows: true})}),
+  });
+
+  try {
+    assert.strictEqual(original.get('value'), 'docker:example.test/custom-vm:qa', 'existing image is preserved, without a whitelist');
+    assert.strictEqual(remembered.get('value'), original.get('value'), 'last-used VM image is retained');
+    assert.strictEqual(nextVm.get('value'), original.get('value'), 'ordinary container input does not change the VM cache');
+    assert.strictEqual(windowsVm.get('value'), original.get('value'), 'a Windows container default cannot replace the VM image');
+    assert.strictEqual(container.get('value'), 'docker:example.test/container:qa', 'container input is unchanged');
+  } finally {
+    [original, remembered, container, nextVm, windowsVm].forEach(destroyOwned);
+  }
+});
+
+test('blank VM image errors cancel native save before doSave', async function(assert) {
+  let image = createImage({isVm: true});
+  let launchConfig = EmberObject.create({labels: {}, ports: A(), secrets: A()});
+  let model = EmberObject.create({
+    name: 'qa-vm', scale: 1, launchConfig, secondaryLaunchConfigs: A(),
+    validationErrors() { return A(); },
+  });
+  let saveCalls = 0;
+  let callbackResult;
+  let parent;
+
+  run(() => {
+    image.set('userInput', '');
+    image.userInputDidChange();
+    parent = createOwned(NewContainerComponent, {
+      renderer: inertRenderer(),
+      intl: EmberObject.create({t(key) { return key; }}),
+      service: model,
+      primaryResource: model,
+      primaryService: model,
+      launchConfig,
+      isService: true,
+      imageErrors: image.get('errors'),
+      doSave() { saveCalls++; },
+    }, 'component');
+  });
+
+  try {
+    // Ember's send() dispatches the action but does not return its Promise.
+    // Await the actual action, as the shared save-lifecycle tests do.
+    let outcome = await parent.get('actions').save.call(parent, (result) => { callbackResult = result; });
+
+    assert.strictEqual(image.get('value'), null, 'no misleading image is substituted for empty input');
+    assert.deepEqual(image.get('errors'), ['formImage.vm.bootImageRequired']);
+    assert.strictEqual(outcome.saved, false, 'real save lifecycle is cancelled by validation');
+    assert.strictEqual(saveCalls, 0, 'native resource save is not entered');
+    assert.strictEqual(callbackResult, false);
+    assert.ok(parent.get('errors').includes('formImage.vm.bootImageRequired'), 'the image error reaches parent validation');
+  } finally {
+    destroyOwned(image);
+    destroyOwned(parent);
+  }
+});
diff --git a/translations/en-us.yaml b/translations/en-us.yaml
index dbd4679af3..0302b7e84e 100644
--- a/translations/en-us.yaml
+++ b/translations/en-us.yaml
@@ -2413,9 +2413,13 @@ formKeyValue:
 formImage:
   label: Select Image
   vm:
+    bootImagePlaceholder: VM boot image
+    bootImageHelp: "Use a VM boot image compatible with -m, -smp and /image. Verify that the target host meets the image's virtualization requirements, for example KVM (/dev/kvm). An ordinary container image is not sufficient."
+    bootImageRequired: Enter a compatible VM boot image.
     placeholder: e.g. ubuntu:26.04
     dropdownLabel: "{appName} Images"
   container:
+    imageRequired: Image is required
     placeholder: "e.g. ubuntu:trusty"
   pullImage:
     label: Always pull image before creating
diff --git a/translations/zh-tw.yaml b/translations/zh-tw.yaml
index fe6ef43c7f..0666aedc19 100644
--- a/translations/zh-tw.yaml
+++ b/translations/zh-tw.yaml
@@ -2308,9 +2308,13 @@ formKeyValue:
 formImage:
   label: 選擇映像
   vm:
+    bootImagePlaceholder: VM 專用開機映像
+    bootImageHelp: '請使用相容 -m、-smp 與 /image 開機磁碟契約的 VM 專用映像。請確認目標主機符合映像的虛擬化需求，例如 KVM（/dev/kvm）；一般容器映像不足以啟動 VM。'
+    bootImageRequired: 請填入相容的 VM 專用開機映像。
     placeholder: '例如：ubuntu:26.04'
     dropdownLabel: '{appName} 映像'
   container:
+    imageRequired: 請填入容器映像。
     placeholder: '例如：ubuntu:trusty'
   pullImage:
     label: 建立前總是拉取映像