How To Install Windows Virtual Machine On Windows 10

Nosotros showed y'all how to get Windows 10 up and running in VMware Workstation, but VMWare is expensive. Hither's how to use the free VM alternative VIrtualBox.

We recently showed you how to go Windows 10 upward and running in VMware Workstation. A handy programme indeed, merely unfortunately, 1 that's likewise expensive for most home users. So let'south have a look at how you can install Windows 10 on our favorite free VM alternative, VirtualBox.

You volition demand:

Install VirtualBox 5.0 or higher
Installation media for Windows ten (ISO or DVD)

Stride 1: Fix a Windows 10 VirtualBox

Start by opening VirtualBox and clicking on the "New" button.

Pick a name for the VM besides as the type and version. You'll be able to choose between a 32-bit and 64-bit install. I suggest you to stick with 32-flake if you don't take a lot of RAM.

On the side by side screen, you lot'll have a chance to configure how much RAM that the Virtual Machine volition be allowed to use. The default is 1GB, which is the minimum amount of RAM for Windows x. I went alee and gave it double that amount for the sake of performance.

Configuring the HDD, yous have to pick "Create a virtual hard disk drive now," assuming yous don't take one created previously.

You can leave the next ii screens at their default settings since they work simply fine with the new OS. I highly advise you to stick with a dynamically allocated virtual hd since you'll relieve a lot of space and won't impair the VM performance that much.

At the final virtual hd screen, you'll be able to change the location of the drive as well as its size. I left mine to the defaults — y'all can do and so equally well.

Subsequently clicking the "Create" button, y'all should be able to run into your created VM. But nosotros're not done merely yet – we need to show VirtualBox the path to our Windows 10 ISO.

Begin past clicking on the "Settings" push button.

Navigate to the Storage category and click on the empty DVD drive in the Storage Tree. From there, click the modest disc icon in "Attributes" to mount an ISO.

At present navigate to your ISO location and double-click on it. Afterward, press OK to confirm the changes and get out from VirtualBox Settings.

Pace 2: Installing Windows 10

Once you're ready to install Windows, select your VM and click on the Kickoff button.

Installing Windows ten in a virtual machine is no different from making a make clean install of Windows. If you're not sure how to perform ane, check out our article:

How To Perform a Clean Install of Windows ten

Note:If you run across the "Choose how you'll connect" screen during your install, select "Bring together a domain" and keep. I did not encounter this screen while installing with VMware, but I suppose VirtualBox works a bit differently in its network settings.

Afterwards installing it, y'all should be able to fully use and abuse Windows 10 to find out if you similar it or not. Although I had a bad first impression of Windows 10, afterwards some tweaks and customizing, I'm pretty happy with what it has to offer.

It'south too worth noting that this allows you to test Windows 10 earlier upgrading your host reckoner. And, it allows you to test different software programs and apps to verify if they'll run on the new OS or non.