Setting up VirtualBox on Windows allows you to create and run virtual machines on your computer, enabling you to install and run different operating systems within a virtual environment. If you’ve ever wanted to play around with virtualization, this guide can help you set everything up. Follow this guide to set up VirtualBox on a Windows computer:
Step 1: Download the VirtualBox Installer:
1. Visit the official VirtualBox website at https://www.virtualbox.org/.
2. Click on the “Downloads” link in the navigation bar.
3. Under “VirtualBox platform packages,” locate the version suitable for your Windows operating system.
4. Click on the corresponding link to download the installer file.
Step 2: Install VirtualBox:
1. Locate the downloaded installer file and double-click on it to launch the installation process.
2. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click “Yes” to allow the installer to make changes to your system.
3. In the VirtualBox Setup wizard, click “Next” to proceed.
4. Review and accept the terms of the license agreement, then click “Next.”
5. Choose the destination folder where VirtualBox will be installed, or leave the default location, and click “Next.”
6. Decide whether to create shortcuts and click “Next.”
7. Choose whether to install VirtualBox networking features and click “Yes” or “No” accordingly.
8. Click “Install” to begin the installation process.
9. If prompted by UAC again, click “Yes” to proceed.
10. Allow the installation to complete. This may take a few minutes.
11. Once the installation is finished, click “Finish” to exit the setup wizard.
Step 3: Configure VirtualBox:
1. Launch VirtualBox by double-clicking the desktop shortcut or searching for it in the Start menu.
2. When VirtualBox opens, you’ll be presented with a clean interface.
3. By default, VirtualBox doesn’t include any virtual machines, so you’ll need to create one. Click on the “New” button in the toolbar or go to “Machine” > “New” to start the creation wizard.
Step 4: Create a Virtual Machine:
1. In the Create Virtual Machine wizard, provide a name for your virtual machine and select the operating system type and version you wish to install.
2. Allocate the desired amount of memory (RAM) for your virtual machine. Ensure that it doesn’t exceed the available memory on your host system.
3. Create a virtual hard disk for your virtual machine. You can either select an existing disk or create a new one.
4. Specify the hard disk file type and allocate the file size for the virtual disk.
5. Complete the virtual disk creation wizard by specifying the disk location and size.
6. Review the summary of your virtual machine settings and click “Create” to finish the creation process.
Step 5: Install an Operating System on the Virtual Machine:
1. Select the newly created virtual machine from the VirtualBox Manager interface.
2. Click on the “Start” button in the toolbar to power on the virtual machine.
3. In the “First Run Wizard,” select the installation media for your operating system, such as an ISO file or physical installation disk.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the operating system within the virtual machine.
Congratulations! You have successfully set up VirtualBox on your Windows system and created a virtual machine. You can now install and run different operating systems within VirtualBox to meet your specific needs.