Have you ever wanted to try Ubuntu, but didn't have another computer to run it on? The following guide will show you how virtual machines like VirtualBox run other operating systems without changing anything on the computer you're using. This guide will cover how to install VirtualBox and set up the first virtual machine, how to get Ubuntu and prepare for installation, and also help you with the Ubuntu installation process.
Step
Part 1 of 6: Getting Ubuntu
Step 1. Visit the home page of the Ubuntu website, then go to the Downloads section
Step 2. Select the operating system architecture you want from the drop-down box
Step 3. Click the "Begin Download" button to start downloading Ubuntu (gnome)
Part 2 of 6: Installing VirtualBox
Step 1. Download the latest version of VirtualBox
Visit the VirtualBox website, then go to the Downloads section. VirtualBox is available in versions for Windows, Mac, and Linux. If you don't know anything about the operating system you're using, download the Windows version of VirtualBox by clicking “x86/amd64”.
Step 2. Start the installation
Read and agree to the license terms. Some versions of the program installer, for example for version 4.3.16 which was released on "September 9, 2014", the option to read the license terms is not shown in the middle of the installation process.
Step 3. Select the "I accept" option, then click "Next" to continue
Step 4. Choose not to install USB, networking, and Python support. Do so by clicking on the gray icon near each icon and selecting the red X or "Entire feature will be unavailable"
Click "Next" to continue. If this is your first time using a virtual machine, this process eliminates the need to install a special driver, making installation and removal of VirtualBox easier. If you have used a virtual machine before, you can enter those options.
Step 5. Deselect the Quick Launch Bar box, then click "Next" to continue
Step 6. Click “Install” to install VirtualBox
Step 7. Click “Finish” to open VirtualBox
Part 3 of 6: Creating a New Virtual Machine
Step 1. In VirtualBox, click the "New" button to start the new virtual machine wizard
Step 2. Provide a name for the virtual machine, then select the operating system you want to run
Click "Next". In the following example, you will install Ubuntu.
Type any name into the Name field (eg Ubuntu or Linux). For "Operating System", select "Linux". The default version chosen is "Ubuntu". Click "Next" when finished
Step 3. Select the amount of memory to be allocated to the virtual machine, then click "Next"
When you selected the operating system in the previous step, VirtualBox will immediately suggest the appropriate amount of memory to use. If you don't think the number is correct, you can change the memory amount by changing the position of the slider or typing a new memory amount into the box. Click "Next" when finished.
Step 4. Click "Next" to create a virtual hard disk, then click "Next" again
A second wizard will appear, which will create a virtual hard disk.
Step 5. Choose between "Fixed-Size Storage" or "Dynamically Expanding Storage" depending on your needs
Fixed Size Storage means the size of the hard disk used for the operating system on the virtual machine (example: an 8 GB virtual disk will become an 8 GB virtual machine hard disk). A hard disk with the Dynamically Expanding Storage method will initially be sized according to the amount of space used by Ubuntu on the hard disk, but can grow larger as the files on it grow to the limit (example: if the virtual disk has files as large as 1 MB when it was created, it was exactly 1 MB. Then, if a 1 MB file was added to it, it would be 2 MB. The size will continue to grow until it reaches the specified size.
Step 6. Click "Next" to agree on the default virtual hard disk name and size
Also, VirtualBox suggests a roughly appropriate size for your virtual hard drive. If you feel that the number is not quite right, you can change the position of the slider or type a new size number into the box. Click "Next" when finished.
Step 7. Click "Finish", then wait for VirtualBox to finish creating the virtual hard disk
The virtual machine will appear in the list.
Part 4 of 6: Setting Up the CD for Before Installing Ubuntu
Step 1. Select your new virtual machine
After that, click the "Settings" button.
Step 2. Click the “Storage” tab
Step 3. Click the "CD/DVD" icon which has a "+" sign, then select the ISO you want to load into it
Step 4. The Ubuntu ISO file will be loaded into the virtual optical disc controller
Step 5. Click the System tab on the left
Choose the order of reading discs, then place the CD/DVD as the top priority.
Step 6. You can close the Settings window and return to the main window
The Ubuntu machine is ready to run now.
Part 5 of 6: Installing Ubuntu
Step 1. Select your virtual machine
Then, click the "Start" button.
Step 2. The Ubuntu virtual machine will start in another window
Step 3. The machine will run with the ISO of your choice, and the language selection will appear
Select the language you want to use, then press Enter.
Step 4. In the next window, you will see "Install Options"
You can choose to try Ubuntu without installing it, install Ubuntu, or check for disk and memory problems. In addition, you can also choose to run the computer through the installed hard disk. Select the Install Ubuntu option.
Step 5. Once Ubuntu is loaded, select the language you want to use, then click "Continue"
Step 6. On the next screen, Ubuntu will provide a list of options that can be included in the installation, then you will be asked if you want to update the operating system in the installation
Select the options you want, then click "Continue".
Step 7. In the next option, you will be asked if you want to erase all the data on the disk and install Ubuntu, or you can also choose to create your own partition by selecting the "Something Else" option
Step 8. Select your time zone from the map, then click "Continue"
Step 9. Click "Continue" to continue using the default keyboard layout, or choose the one you want to use
Step 10. Type the username into the first text box
This way, the login name and computer name will be filled in immediately. Type in the password, and enter the same password into the confirm password field, then click "Continue".
Step 11. The Ubuntu installation will begin
Step 12. Once installed, click "Restart Now" to complete the installation
Step 13. The machine will restart, and the installed Ubuntu will be loaded from the hard disk, and enter the username and password to enter into the main Ubuntu window
Part 6 of 6: Adding a Guest Account
Step 1. After logging into Ubuntu, click the "Devices" tab in VirtualBox
Select "Insert Guest Additions CD Image…".
Step 2. When Ubuntu asks for program installation permission and requires a password, type in your user password
Click "Install Now".
Step 3. Let the terminal program run, and when it's done, press Enter
Step 4. Restart the Virtual machine, and after restarting, click the "View" menu, then click "Auto-resize Guest Display", and now you have an Ubuntu virtual machine inside the computer at full resolution
Tips
- You may have to enable virtualization technology from your original machine's BIOS menu for the virtual machine to run smoothly. Otherwise, the error message: "This kernel requires an x86-64 CPU, but only detected an i686 CPU. Unable to boot – please use a kernel appropriate for your CPU" will be displayed when the virtual machine starts up. As another option, try to install a 32 bit version of Ubuntu.
- If you do not mount the USB drive, you will get a warning that VirtualBox cannot successfully access the USB subsystem every time you open the virtual machine settings. This is normal and will not affect your virtual machine. Click "OK" to continue.
- When you click inside a virtual machine, VirtualBox will immediately connect a mouse to the virtual machine. To eject the mouse from inside the virtual machine, press the right Ctrl key.
- When the screen focuses on the virtual machine, VirtualBox will directly connect the keyboard to the virtual machine. To remove keyboard controls from within the virtual machine, press the right Ctrl key.
