Running Windows 10 on VirtualBox: A Beginner's Guide

VirtualBox, a powerful and free virtualization software, allows you to run multiple operating systems on a single PC. This article provides a detailed step-by-step guide to help you set up and run Windows 10 on VirtualBox. Whether you are a tech enthusiast or someone looking to test applications in a sandbox environment, this guide will be invaluable.

Prerequisites and System Requirements

To follow this guide, ensure that your system meets the minimum system requirements for VirtualBox and Windows 10. The system requirements include:

Operating System: Windows 10, macOS, or Linux (64-bit versions) Processor: At least 1 GHz speed Memory: At least 2 GB for VirtualBox, 4 GB for better performance Hard Disk: At least 2 GB of free space Virtualization must be enabled in the BIOS/UEFI settings

Step 1: Download Windows 10 ISO

To download the Windows 10 installation media, follow these steps:

Go to the Microsoft website Click on the link to the Windows 10 download page Download the Media Creation Tool Run the tool and follow the prompts to download the Windows 10 ISO file Create an ISO image of the downloaded Windows 10 installation media

Step 2: Install VirtualBox

To install VirtualBox, follow these steps:

Go to the VirtualBox website Download the latest version of VirtualBox for your operating system (64-bit versions recommended) Launch the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation

Step 3: Set Up a New Virtual Machine

To create a new virtual machine:

Open VirtualBox Click on Create Name your virtual machine (e.g., Windows 10 VM) Select Type as Windows Select Version as Windows 10 Allocate at least 4 GB of RAM (recommended) Create a virtual hard disk: Select VDI as the hard disk file type Select Dynamically allocated as the storage type Specify a size of at least 20 GB (recommended)

Step 4: Configure the VM

Once the virtual machine is created, configure it as follows:

Select your new virtual machine and click on Hardware Go to the Storage tab Under Add Hard Disk, navigate to the Windows 10 ISO file you downloaded and select it Ensure your network settings are configured to NAT (usually the default and works well)

Step 5: Start the VM

Launch the virtual machine and install Windows 10:

Select your virtual machine and click on Start Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 10 (Choose your language, time, and keyboard preferences) Enter your Windows 10 product key or choose to skip this step if you want to do it later

Step 6: Install VirtualBox Guest Additions (Optional but Recommended)

Once Windows 10 is installed, you can install the VirtualBox Guest Additions to improve performance and enable additional features:

Click on the Devices menu in VirtualBox Select Insert Guest Additions CD image Navigate to the virtual machine and run the setup from within the Windows 10 VM

Step 7: Final Configuration and Usage

Adjust the VM settings as needed (display, audio, shared folders, etc.) and start using Windows 10 in VirtualBox:

Adjust advanced settings like display and audio Start using Windows 10 in the virtual machine environment

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter issues during the setup, ensure that:

Virtualization is enabled in your BIOS/UEFI settings Check for any error messages during installation and address them accordingly

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully run Windows 10 on VirtualBox and enjoy its features in a virtual environment.

Conclusion

Running Windows 10 on VirtualBox is a powerful and flexible way to use the operating system in a virtual environment. With a few simple steps, you can have a fully functional Windows 10 virtual machine running on your desktop or laptop.

If you have any questions or face any issues, feel free to leave a comment below or seek help from the VirtualBox community forums. Happy virtualizing!