This PPT will show complete steps on how to install Windows 10 into a virtual machine such as VirtualBox. It covers everything from the initial creation of the VM to the final Windows setup screens after installation.

1. INSTALLING WINDOWS 10 IN
VIRTUALBOX

2. REQUIREMENTS
• VirtualBox (Windows, OS X, Linux, Solaris) – download from
https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
• Windows 10 Install Media (CD/DVD, USB, ISO)
• Computer with decent specs and supports VT-d/VT-x (to allow
virtualization)
• Time

3. Windows 10 System requirements
• Source: https://www.microsoft.com/en-ph/windows/windows-10-
specifications#sysreqs

4. ACRONYM/TERMS
• VM – Virtual Machine
• WIN10 – Windows 10

5. STEP 1: CREATING A VIRTUAL MACHINE FOR WIN10
• Open/Launch VirtualBox.
• In the interface, click on “New”.
• Provide a name.
• Select “Microsoft Windows” as
type.
• And select “Windows 10 (32 or
64-bit)” depending on your
Install media version.
• Click “Continue”.

6. STEP 1: CREATING A VIRTUAL MACHINE FOR WIN10
Specifying memory size
• Microsoft recommends 2
GB minimum RAM for
both 32-bit or 64-bit
versions of Windows 10.
• Enter 2048 for 2 GB or
more if desired.
• Click “Continue”.
Note: Giving too much RAM dedicated
to your virtual machine will leave less
memory for your main OS to run
resulting in sluggish performance.

7. STEP 1: CREATING A VIRTUAL MACHINE FOR WIN10
Creating a virtual hard disk
• Make sure “Create a
virtual hard disk now”
(usually the default) is
selected.
• Click “Create”.

8. STEP 1: CREATING A VIRTUAL MACHINE FOR WIN10
Choosing virtual disk file type
• Unless there is a need to
use other virtualization
software, etc., you can
leave this setting
unchanged.
• When done, click
“Continue”.

9. STEP 1: CREATING A VIRTUAL MACHINE FOR WIN10
Storage options
• Dynamically allocated allows the
virtual hard disk size to grow
only when needed as the VM
takes more space (up to a
maximum file size).
• Fixed size creates a virtual hard
disk with the chosen size no
matter if the VM is utilizing all of
the storage space or not.
• In dynamically allocated, less
space is wasted from your
computer as space from your
main OS is taken only when
needed. Dynamically allocated
also takes less time to create
than fixed size.
• In most cases, selecting the default
“Dynamically allocated” is fine for
most situations.
• When done, click “Continue”.

10. STEP 1: CREATING A VIRTUAL MACHINE FOR WIN10
Specifying virtual disk size
• Specify how much storage and
when done, click “Create”.
• The default/recommended
option “32 GB” is appropriate
for most situations.
• Microsoft only lists 16 GB (32-
bit) or 20 GB (64-bit ) of storage
space required to install
Windows 10. That’s fine for
Windows 10 alone but there’s
very few room to store other
data like files, programs, media,
etc.
• Consider the files and programs
that you’ll be using/storing to
find the ideal storage size.

11. STEP 1: CREATING A VIRTUAL MACHINE FOR WIN10
• You should now have a
virtual machine listed on
the left with the name
you provided.
• You should see the specs
you have chosen as well
as other specs your
computer can provide to
the VM.
• These can be further
customized by clicking
the “Settings” button at
the top.

12. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Browsing install media
• Now on the right, under
“Storage” click on
“[Optical Drive] Empty”
to the right of “SATA Port
1:”.

13. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Browsing install media
• If it’s in ISO format,
it’ll most likely find the
file and already offer it
as one of the
suggestions.
Otherwise click
“Choose disk image…”.
• VirtualBox can also
support mounting a
CD/DVD to the VM.
• Installation via USB is
possible but requires
command line work.

14. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Starting the VM
• You should now see your
ISO file/CD or DVD install
disk mounted under
“Storage”.
• Now on the top row, click
“Start”.
1
2

15. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Windows Setup screen
• After a few seconds, you
should see the Windows
Setup screen. If not double-
check everything and make
sure they’re at their proper
settings.
• Choose your language,
time/currency, input
method then click “Next”.

16. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
License terms
• Click “Install Now”.
• After a few seconds,
the license terms will
appear.
• Check the box “I accept
the license terms”.
• Then click “Next”.

17. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Type of installation
• Since we are doing a new
install click on “Custom:
Install Windows only
(advanced)”.

18. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Storage configuration
• In here, you will see the
virtual hard disk that you
have set up.
• You can split it into multiple
partitions or leave it as it is.
• One main reason to partition
is to separate system files
from personal files. This will
be beneficial in the rare event
the system does get
corrupted. As the personal
files are on a different
partition they wouldn’t be
affected by the other
corrupted system partition.

19. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Partitioning
• It is up to the user to
decide whether he/she
wants to have his/her
drives partitioned or not.
• If you don’t like to partition,
simply click “Next” and skip
to Slide 21.
• If you want to partition,
click “New”, specify how
much space you want to
allocate to that partition,
then click “Apply”.
1
2 3

20. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Partitioning
• On the prompt, click “OK”.
• You should now see the
partition you’ve set up with
the system reserved
partition as well as any
unallocated space left from
the rest of the drive.
• To set up unallocated space
as a functional partition, do
the same steps from setting
up the first partition. If you
want this to be your files
partition, just leave the
default size as it is then
click “Apply”.

21. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Installing
• After setting up the
partitions, make sure you
select back which partition
you would like to install on.
Then click “Next”.
• The Status screen appears
displaying the status of the
installation.
• This will take a few minutes
depending on your
computer.

22. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Restarting
• After installation, Windows
will restart.
• Click “Restart now” to skip
the countdown.

23. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Unmounting installation media
• While the virtual
machine is restarting,
power off the machine
by clicking the “X”
button at the top of the
window and select
“Power off the machine”
then click “OK”.
• This is important
otherwise the machine
will boot up to the
installation media again.
1
2
3

24. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Unmounting installation media
• Go back to the
mounted
installation media,
click on it then click
“Remove disk from
virtual drive”.
• It should be back to
“[Optical Drive]
Empty”.

25. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Initializing
• When done, click “Start”
again to start the virtual
machine.
• A loading screen will be
presented. This will take
quite a while as it is
initializing/prepping the OS
for use.

26. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Setting/Personalizing Windows 10
• When done, a screen will
appear showing the
recommended settings for
Windows 10.
• If you care about your privacy,
click “Customize settings”.
Most of the options are
gathering system and limited
personal data from your
computer but security toggles
like SmartScreen are
beneficial so leave those on.
• Otherwise, click “Use Express
settings”. Option 2 (Privacy-conscious option)
Option 1

27. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Setting/Personalizing Windows 10
• After a few seconds, you
may be presented with this
screen. This happens if your
using an Enterprise edition
of Windows 10. Ask your
organization on what to
choose here.

28. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Setting/Personalizing Windows 10
• Non-Enterprise
version/editions of
Windows 10 will skip to this
screen ahead.
• Type in the username you’d
like to use.
• If you don’t want a
password, leave it blank.
• A password hint is required
if a password is to be used.

29. STEP 2: INSTALLING WIN10 ON THE VM
Setting/Personalizing Windows 10
• Now Windows 10 will
display some messages
while the system is being
configured to the chosen
settings, and user accounts.

30. WINDOWS 10 INSTALLED (ON VIRTUALBOX)
• After that, you should be
on the desktop.
• At this point, the
installation is complete and
the OS/virtual machine is
ready for use.

31. Sources
• https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/canitpro/2015/04/01/step-by-step-
installing-windows-10-on-oracle-virtualbox/
• https://www.microsoft.com/en-ph/windows/windows-10-specifications
• https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch01.html
• https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
• https://www.virtualbox.org/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VirtualBox
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKbR6XT7fcA
• http://www.extremetech.com/computing/229101-new-windows-10-
update-will-change-hardware-requirements-for-the-first-time-since-2009

32. • http://www.howtogeek.com/187721/how-to-boot-from-a-usb-drive-in-
virtualbox/
• http://agnipulse.com/2009/07/boot-your-usb-drive-in-virtualbox/
• http://superuser.com/questions/267682/is-it-possible-to-install-an-
guest-operating-system-from-usb-on-virtualbox
• http://superuser.com/questions/987608/what-is-the-approximate-
installation-size-of-a-clean-windows-10-upgrade-post
• http://www.softwareok.com/?seite=faq-Windows-10&faq=31
• http://serverfault.com/questions/265248/virtualization-without-vt-d