Install Windows 8 in Virtualbox - Here's how
If you install Windows 8 in VirtualBox, you can run it in parallel with another operating system. We show you how to do this in this practical tip.
VirtualBox: How to create a new virtual machine for Windows 8
In addition to VirtualBox, you should also install the VirtualBox Entension Pack. Of course, you must also have a disk or an ISO file from Windows 8 and the corresponding serial key on hand.
- Start VirtualBox and click the "New" button.
- Enter any name for the virtual machine. Select "Microsoft Windows" in the "Type" field and the desired Windows version in the "Version" field, i.e. either "Windows 8 (32-bit)", "Windows 8 (64-bit)", "Windows 8.1 ( 32-bit) "or" Windows 8.1 (64-bit) ".
- Select the amount of RAM in the virtual machine. Here you can accept the recommended size of 1024 MB.
- The next step is to create a virtual hard disk. To do this, select "Create hard disk" and confirm with the "Create" button. Select "VDI" as the file type of the hard disk and "dynamically allocated" as the storage method.
- Finally, set the file name for the hard disk and the maximum size. Here, too, you can accept the default of 25 gigabytes.
How to install Windows 8 in VirtualBox
After you have created the virtual hard disk, you still need to install Windows 8. To do this, proceed as follows:
- Start the previously created virtual machine by selecting it in VirtualBox and clicking the "Start" button.
- You will now be asked to select the installation medium for Windows 8. This can either be a conventional data carrier or an ISO file. If you want to use a DVD, insert it into the PC drive and select the appropriate drive letter. To open an ISO file, click the folder icon and then open the file. Confirm your selection with "Start".
- You can now install Windows 8 as you would on a normal PC.
Windows 8: Secret Features You Didn't Know Before
This practical tip is based on VirtualBox 5.0. In the next practical tip, we will explain how to create shared folders in VirtualBox and then use them to exchange files between the actual and the virtual operating system.