This wikiHow teaches you how to install and use VirtualBox on a Windows, Linux, or Mac computer. VirtualBox is a program that imitates (mimics) a second computer so that you can install and use an operating system (such as Windows 8) in VirtualBox without having to change the operating system on the actual computer.
Step
Part 1 of 4: On Windows Computer
Step 1. Visit the VirtualBox site
Run a web browser on your computer and visit https://www.virtualbox.org/. You can download the VirtualBox setup file at this site.
Step 2. Click Download VirtualBox
It's a blue button in the middle of the page. The download page will open.
Step 3. Click Windows hosts
This link is under the "VirtualBox 5.2.8 platform packages" heading. The computer will start downloading the VirtualBox EXE file.
Step 4. Run the VirtualBox EXE file
Open the folder where you saved the EXE file you downloaded and double-click the file. The VirtualBox installation window will open.
Step 5. Follow the installation guide
Do the following things:
- Click Next on the first three pages.
- Click Yes when requested.
- Click Install.
- Click Yes when requested.
Step 6. Click Install when prompted
VirtualBox will begin to install on the computer.
Step 7. Click Finish when prompted
It's in the lower right of the window. The installation window will close and VirtualBox will run. After installing and running VirtualBox, you can now create a virtual machine to run the desired operating system on your PC.
Don't uncheck the "Start" box before you do this
Part 2 of 4: On a Mac
Step 1. Visit the VirtualBox site
Run a web browser on your computer and visit https://www.virtualbox.org/. You can download the VirtualBox DMG file at this site.
Step 2. Click Download VirtualBox
It's a blue button in the middle of the page. The download page will open.
Step 3. Click the OS X hosts link
This option is in the middle of the download page. The VirtualBox DMG file will download to your Mac.
Step 4. Run the "VirtualBox" DMG file
Once the VirtualBox DMG has been downloaded, double-click the file to open it.
Step 5. Double click the "VirtualBox.pkg" icon
It's a brown square icon in the top-left corner. The VirtualBox installation window will open.
Step 6. Follow the given installation instructions
Click Continue when prompted, then do the following:
- Click Continue which is located in the lower right corner.
- Click Install in the lower right corner.
- Type in the Mac user's password when prompted.
- Click Install Software.
Step 7. Wait for the installation to complete
If you are prompted to click Close in the lower right corner, means that you have successfully installed VirtualBox on your Mac.
Step 8. Run VirtualBox
Click Spotlight
type virtualbox, then double click VirtualBox in the drop-down menu that appears. After installing and running VirtualBox, you can now create a virtual machine to run the desired operating system on your Mac.
Part 3 of 4: On a Linux Computer
Step 1. Launch Terminal
The steps will vary depending on the version of Linux you're using, but you can usually launch Terminal by selecting Terminal
from Menus. This will bring up a Terminal window.
You can also launch Terminal by pressing Alt+Ctrl+T
Step 2. Enter the installation command
Type sudo apt-get install virtualbox, then press Enter.
Step 3. Type in the password when prompted
Type in the password you use to log into your computer, then press Enter.
Step 4. Confirm the installation
Type y when prompted, then press Enter.
Step 5. Wait for VirtualBox to finish installing
This can take a few minutes. If the computer account username appears on the left side of the command line, it means that Terminal has successfully installed VirtualBox and is waiting for further commands.
Step 6. Run VirtualBox
Do this by typing virtualbox, and pressing Enter. The main VirtualBox window will open. After installing and running VirtualBox, you can now create a virtual machine to run the desired operating system on your computer.
Part 4 of 4: Creating a Virtual Machine
Step 1. Prepare the installation disc or files
If you want to create a virtual machine, you'll need to install the operating system as you normally would on a normal computer. This means that you will need an installation disc containing the operating system you want to install on the virtual machine.
You can also install an operating system using an ISO file
Step 2. Click New
This will open a wizard that will guide you on creating your first virtual machine.
Step 3. Determine the desired operating system
In the first wizard screen, you'll need to name the new virtual machine, and select the operating system you want to install. Specify the type of operating system in the "Type" menu, then select the version you want to install in the "Version" menu.
- For example, if you want to install Windows 7, select "Microsoft Windows" in the Type menu, then select "Windows 7" in the Version menu.
- If you have a 64-bit version of the operating system installed, select the 64-bit version from the Version menu.
Step 4. Click Next at the bottom of the window
Step 5. Set the amount of RAM
Specify the amount of computer RAM you want to allocate to the virtual machine. VirtualBox will automatically select the minimum recommended amount for the selected operating system, but you can reduce or increase the amount if you wish.
- The specified amount of RAM must not exceed the capacity of the RAM installed in the computer.
- Do not set the RAM to the maximum amount because there is no memory left for use by the regular operating system when the virtual machine is started.
Step 6. Click Next
Step 7. Create a virtual hard drive
Select virtual hard disk option, click Create, then click whatever is prompted and click Create return. The virtual machine requires a virtual hard disk to install the operating system and applications.
- Make sure the virtual hard disk has sufficient space to install the operating system. Look at the specifications for the operating system you want to install to determine the minimum amount of space required on the hard disk.
- Don't forget, all the programs that you want to install also take up space on the virtual hard disk. So, consider this too.
- VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image) is a format commonly used on virtual hard drives.
Step 8. Start installing the operating system
If a virtual machine has been assigned, the wizard will close and the main VirtualBox window will be displayed again. Double-click the new machine in the left menu, and do one of the steps below:
- If you are installing using a disc, insert the disc into your computer, click the " Host drive " drop-down box, and then click the appropriate drive letter in the drop-down menu.
- If you're installing using an image file, browse your computer by clicking on the folder-shaped icon to locate the installation image file.
Step 9. Click Start at the bottom of the window
VirtualBox will start reading the installation disc or image file.
Step 10. Install the desired operating system
Once the installation media is selected, the operating system will begin to install. The installation will be done just like when you install the operating system on a normal computer. For instructions on how to install the selected operating system, refer to the guide below:
- Windows 8
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP
- Mac OS X
- Linux Mint
- Ubuntu Linux
Step 11. Boot (boot) the virtual machine
If the operating system is installed, the virtual machine is ready to use. You can run it by double-clicking the virtual machine name in the left menu on the VirtualBox main page. The virtual computer will boot and load the operating system you installed.
The virtual machine will run in a window. If you are in that virtual machine window, each keypress or mouse click affects the virtual machine, not the physical computer
Step 12. Shut down the virtual machine
You can use several ways to close a virtual machine, and each will produce a different effect. Several options will appear when you click the "X" in the top right corner:
- Save the machine state - This option will save the virtual machine exactly as it was when you closed it. Any application that is run will be saved in its current state. Everything will be restored to the way it was when you restart the computer.
- Send the shutdown signal - This option will send a signal to the virtual machine to shut down the computer. The virtual machine will shut down as if you were pressing the power button on a physical computer.
- Power off the machine - The virtual machine will be turned off as if the electricity flowing to the computer was turned off. Nothing is saved.
Step 13. Take a snapshot of the virtual machine
VirtualBox allows you to copy the exact state of a virtual machine so that you can return to it at any time. This is especially useful if you want to test software or other configurations.
- You can take a snapshot by clicking the menu Machine, then select Take a snapshot. The snapshot will be added to the list of virtual machines on the left of the VirtualBox menu.
- If you want to restore a snapshot, right-click the desired snapshot and select Restore. Any changes made to the virtual hard drive since the snapshot was created will be lost when the snapshot is restored.
