Preparing VirtualBox for Virtual OS Installations

Whether you want to Install Ubuntu within Windows/Mac or install another OS within Ubuntu this guide will show you how to prepare VirtualBox for a Virtual Installation.

3 min read

You will need:

VirtualBox installed on you current OS, if you haven't already read the VirtualBox Installation Guide.

An Operating System ISO file or Disk, if you don't have either Download a Ubuntu ISO

Preparing VirtualBox

1. Open VirtualBox and you should see a screen similar to this:

   

   (Note: My host OS is Ubuntu, on a different OS it may look a little different - This goes for all screen shots here in)

2. Open VirtualBox and you should see a screen similar to this:

   

   (Note: My host OS is Ubuntu, on a different OS it may look a little different - This goes for all screen shots here in)

3. Next click on the 'New' button, a window will appear, click 'Next'. Then you will see a window like below, Enter in a name for your OS, Select Linux For the Operating System and click next. (Ubuntu is the default setting for Version, if you will be installing Ubuntu 64 bit you can select it from the drop down)

   

   (Note: If you wish to install a different OS select the relevant 'Operating System' & 'Version' options from the drop down menus. A list of all supported OS types can be found below.

   Windows	Windows 3.1 Windows 95 Windows 98 Windows ME Windows NT 4 Windows 2000 Windows XP Windows 2003 Windows Vista Windows 2008 Windows 7 Windows 8
   Linux	Linux 2.2 Linux 2.4 Linux 2.6 Arch Linux Debian openSuse Fedora Gentoo Mandriva Red Hat Turbolinux Ubuntu Xandros Oracle
   Solaris	Oracle Solaris 10 5/09 Oracle Solaris 10 10/09
   BSD	FreeBSD OpenBSD NetBSD
   IBM OS/2	OS/2 Warp 3 OS/2 Warp 4 OS/2 Warp 4.5 eComStation
   Mac OS X	Mac OS X Server
   Other	DOS Netware QNX JRockitVE

4. Enter Virtual Machine Base Memory (RAM) - I usually use half of the Ram available, Click 'Next'.

   

5. Create Virtual Hard Disk - Just click 'Next' here and on the next 2 screens.

   

6. Select the size of the Virtual Disk, click 'Next', and then click 'Create' on the following screen.

   

7. You should now see this screen with your new entry in it. Click on the 'Settings' button to continue.

   

8. Now Click Storage --> Empty --> CD Icon --> 'Choose a Virtual CD/DVD disk file...'

   (Alternatively if you are using a physical disk select 'Host Drive...').

   Locate the Ubuntu ISO (or other OS) you downloaded, select 'Open' then 'OK'. You will be returned to the main menu.

   

9. Click the 'Start' button to begin the installation process of Ubuntu on your virtual machine.

   If a 'VirtualBox - Information' message appears just check 'Do not show this message again' then 'OK'.