Running Ubuntu in Virtualbox on Windows

The people who don't want to mess with their boot configuration or go through the pain of installing linux or just want to stick with windows but want to work with linux - this tutorial might be helpful. This tutorial gives a step by step guide on how to run ubuntu or fedora on Virtualbox on your windows machine.

1. Download and install latest version of Virtualbox from here.

  

2. There are two options here. Either you can install from the live cd which is what i am going to show or you can directly download ready-to-use Virtualbox images form here. People who like to experiment there are loads of Virtualbox images available here.

For this tutorial download the lastest version of the Ubuntu live cd image from here.

3. Burn the iso on a disc or make a usb image for complete install. For Virtualbox you can either burn it on disc or just use the iso image - its your choice.

4. Open Virtualbox

5. Click the New Icon or File > New 

6.Name the Virtual Machine Ubuntu and select the OS as Linux with version ubuntu

7. Allocate RAM size. Give more than 512 MB preferably.

8. Create a New Virtual Hard Disk

9. New Virtual Hard Disk Wizard

10. Select Dynamic increasing disk. This option lets you create a dynamic hard drive which will expand in size as and when required.

11. Allocate Space. Preferably more than 2 GB.

12.Finish the setup.

11. After finishing the New Virtual Hard disk setup you will see the Ubuntu as a virtual machine in the left panel.

12. Before starting the virtual machine go to the settings icon for Ubuntu virtual machine. Settings > Storage. Under IDE Controller select the Empty option.

13. Next to the CD/DVD Drive label, from the combo box which an icon of a disc select the Host DVD drive in case you are using physical live CD.

OR

13. In case you want to use an ISO file then from the combo box select add iso and then browse for the iso file and select it.

14. Now Start the virtual Machine.

15. Select English as language.

16. Try Ubuntu without installation. Just to get the feel. :)

17. Ubuntu up and running.

18. Now the choice is up to you.You can each time start the virtual machine from the iso image and try ubuntu without installation. But once you turn off none of the changes will take effect.To make it act like fully functioning you can install it. So just for trying it out the first option is better. But if you want to research and experiment i suggest install it in virtual machine.Double click on install option on the Desktop.

19. Select the language and the time zone.

20.Select Keyboard layout.

21.Since this is virtual machine we don't have worry about partitions.The full virtual hard disk memory can be used straightforward. Though some people might suggest to keep the /home and the /root folder on separate partitions, i use the entire disk in this case.

22. Just a graphical view of how the disk is going to be partitioned. Simply Forward.

23. Fill the computer name and the root password.Please do not forget the root password.

24. Finish by clicking Install. 

25. Grab a cup of coffee till it installs and enjoy !

26. In case if after installation it boots from the iso or the CD/DVD drive and shows you the screen on step  16 then you have to do one more thing - change the boot order.

Go to Settings > System. Select the Hard drive option and click on up arrow till it is the first in the boot order. This step makes sure that Ubuntu boots from the installation in the virtual hard disk.