This article explains how to install and use VirtualBox on a Windows, Mac or Linux computer. It is a program that allows you to emulate the complete operation of a computer, offering the user the possibility to install any operating system (for example Windows 7) on the virtual machine managed by VirtualBox, without the need to make any changes to the real configuration. computer and its operating system.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Windows
Step 1. Visit the official VirtualBox site
Use the URL https://www.virtualbox.org/ and an internet browser. This is the web page from which you can download the VirtualBox installation file.
Step 2. Click the Download VirtualBox button
It is blue and is displayed in the center of the page. The page from which you can download the installation file will be displayed.
Step 3. Click on the Windows hosts link
It is listed within the "VirtualBox 6.1.14 platform packages" section of the page. The VirtualBox installation EXE file will be downloaded to your computer.
Step 4. Run the VirtualBox installation file
Navigate to the folder where you stored the program's EXE file, then double-click the corresponding icon. The VirtualBox installation window will appear.
Step 5. Follow the instructions given by the installation wizard
You will need to:
- Click on the button Come on visible in the first three screens;
- Click on the button Yup when required;
- Click on the button Install;
- Click on the button Yup when required.
Step 6. Click the Install button when prompted
VirtualBox will be installed on your computer.
Step 7. Click the Finish button when prompted
It is located at the bottom right of the installation wizard window. In this way, the latter will be closed and the VirtualBox app will start automatically. At this point, you can create a virtual machine to be able to emulate any version of the operating system on your PC.
Make sure you do not deselect the "Start" checkbox before performing this step
Part 2 of 4: Mac
Step 1. Visit the official VirtualBox site
Use the URL https://www.virtualbox.org/ and an internet browser. This is the web page from which you can download the VirtualBox installation DMG file.
Step 2. Click the Download VirtualBox button
It is blue and is displayed in the center of the page. The page from which you can download the installation file will be displayed.
Step 3. Click on the OS X hosts link
It is listed within the "VirtualBox 6.1.14 platform packages" section of the page. The VirtualBox installation DMG file will be downloaded to your Mac.
Step 4. Open the VirtualBox DMG file
Once the download is complete, double-click the corresponding icon to open it.
Step 5. Double-click the "VirtualBox.pkg" file icon
It is characterized by a brown cardboard box and is visible in the upper left part of the appeared window. The VirtualBox installation wizard window will appear.
Step 6. Follow the instructions given to you
Click on the button Continues when prompted, then follow these steps:
- Click on the button Continues, visible in the lower right corner of the installation window;
- Click on the button Install, located at the bottom of the window;
- Enter your Mac login password when prompted;
- Click on the button Install Software.
Step 7. Wait for the installation to complete
When prompted, click the button Close located in the lower right corner of the window. At this point, the installation of VirtualBox on your Mac will be completed.
Step 8. Start VirtualBox
Click on the icon Spotlight
type in the virtualbox keyword and double-click the program icon VirtualBox appeared in the search results list. Now that you have installed and started the VirtualBox app, you can create a virtual machine to be able to emulate any version of the operating system on your Mac.
Part 3 of 4: Linux
Step 1. Open a "Terminal" window
The procedure to perform this step varies according to the version of Linux in use, but normally you can open a "Terminal" window by clicking on the icon Terminal
of the Linux main menu. The "Terminal" system window will appear.
Alternatively, you can press the key combination Alt + Ctrl + T
Step 2. Run the VirtualBox package installation command
Type the command sudo apt-get install virtualbox-qt inside the "Terminal" window and press the Enter key.
Step 3. When prompted, enter your account password
This is the same password you normally use to log in to Linux. Remember to press the Enter key after entering the password.
Step 4. Confirm that you want to install VirtualBox
Press the y key when prompted, then press Enter.
Step 5. Wait for VirtualBox to be installed on your computer
This step will take a few minutes to complete. When your account username appears on the left side of the "Terminal" window, the VirtualBox installation will be complete and you will be able to execute other commands.
Step 6. Start the VirtualBox program
Type in the virtualbox keyword and press the Enter key. The main VirtualBox window will appear. Now that you have installed and started the VirtualBox app, you can create a virtual machine to emulate any version of the operating system on your Linux computer.
Part 4 of 4: Creating a Virtual Machine
Step 1. Get the installation disk or file
When you create a virtual machine, in order to exploit its potential, you need to install an operating system, just like you do for any model of computer. This means that you will need to have the CD / DVD or the installation file of the operating system that you want to install on your virtual machine.
You can also install an operating system using an ISO file
Step 2. Click on the New button
The wizard window for creating a new virtual machine will appear.
Step 3. Choose the operating system you want to use
Within the first screen of the procedure, you will be asked to indicate which operating system you will install on the virtual machine. You will also be asked to give it a name. Choose your operating system using the "Type" drop-down menu, then choose the version using the "Version" drop-down menu.
- For example, if you need to install Windows 7, choose "Microsoft Windows" from the "Type" menu and "Windows 7" from the "Version" menu.
- If you have chosen to use a 64-bit operating system, make sure you choose the correct version from the "Version" menu. 64-bit systems usually have "(64-bit)" after the name.
Step 4. Click the Next button
It is located at the bottom of the window.
Step 5. Set the amount of RAM to dedicate to the virtual machine
In this step, you will need to choose how much RAM on your computer to allocate for exclusive use to the virtual machine. VirtualBox will automatically select the minimum recommended amount of RAM needed to run the operating system of your choice, but you can change that value to suit your needs.
- Remember that the value you choose is directly linked to the amount of RAM physically installed on the computer, so you will not be able to indicate a value higher than this limit.
- It is not recommended to select the maximum amount of RAM available, since when the virtual machine is running the computer's operating system may not have the amount of RAM necessary for its proper functioning.
Step 6. Click the Next button
Step 7. Create a virtual hard drive
Choose an option for creating the file that will represent the hard disk of the virtual spot and then click on the button Create. The virtual machine will still need a hard disk (also virtual) to be able to accommodate the installation of the operating system and various programs, just like a real computer.
- Make sure the virtual hard drive is large enough to accommodate the operating system installation. Check the technical specifications of the operating system you have chosen to find out how much minimum space you will need to allocate to the hard drive.
- Remember that the individual programs you are going to install on the virtual machine also take up disk space, so set a hard disk size based on what you plan to do with the virtual machine.
- The most commonly used file format for VirtualBox virtual hard disks is the VDI format (from English "VirtualBox Disk Image").
Step 8. Start the operating system installation procedure
After completing the virtual machine creation, the wizard window will automatically close and you will be redirected to the main VirtualBox window. Double-click the newly created virtual machine in the left panel of the program window, then follow these instructions:
- If you have chosen to use an installation CD / DVD, insert it into your computer drive, click on the "Host Reader" drop-down menu, then click on the drive letter that identifies the optical drive of the computer in which you inserted the installation disc.
- If you have chosen to use an image file, click on the folder icon to access the directory on your computer where the installation ISO file is stored.
Step 9. Click the Start button
It is located at the bottom of the dialog box. VirtualBox will read the installation media indicated and start the relative wizard.
Step 10. Install the virtual machine operating system
After selecting the installation media to use, the installation of the operating system will start automatically. At this point, you will need to perform the installation exactly as you would for any normal computer. Refer to these guides to install the relevant operating systems:
- Windows 8;
- Windows 7;
- Windows Vista;
- Windows XP;
- Install OS X;
- Linux Mint;
- Ubuntu Linux.
Step 11. Start the virtual machine
When the operating system installation is complete, the virtual machine is ready to boot. Simply double-click on the corresponding name listed in the left panel of the program window. The virtual machine will start up as if it were a real computer, then load the operating system of your choice.
The virtual machine graphical interface is represented by a window. When the latter is active, any keyboard key that is pressed and any mouse input will only affect the virtual machine and not the programs running on your computer
Step 12. Stop the virtual machine
You have two options to shut down a VirtualBox virtual machine and each will have a different effect. When you click on the "X" icon located in the upper right corner of the virtual machine window, several shutdown options will be displayed:
- Save the machine status - in this case the current state of the virtual computer will be stored on disk. All running programs will be saved in the state they are currently in. When you start the machine again, all the saved items will be restored automatically.
- Send stop signal - in this case a shutdown signal will be sent to the virtual machine. The machine will be turned off as if the shutdown key of a real computer had been pressed.
- Turn off the car - the virtual machine will be shut down as if power had been removed from a normal computer. In this case, no data will be saved.
Step 13. Create a snapshot of the virtual machine
VirtualBox allows you to create an exact copy of the state in which a virtual machine is at a given moment, in order to restore it when necessary. This is an extremely useful feature when you need to test a specific software or configuration.
- You can create a snapshot by accessing the menu Car and choosing the option Create snapshot. The virtual machine copy will be added to the list in the left panel of the VirtualBox window.
- To restore the state of a virtual machine using a snapshot, click on the snapshot icon in question and select the item Reset. Any changes made to the virtual machine configuration or its hard disk after the snapshot was created will be discarded by the restore process.
