Install Ubuntu on VirtualBox Guide
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vlprvcInstall Ubuntu on VirtualBox Guide
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vlprvcVirtualBox allows you to run an entire operating system inside another operating
system. Please be aware that you should have a minimum of 512 MB of RAM. 1
GB of RAM or more is recommended.
Comparison to Dual-Boot
Many websites (including the one you're reading) have tutorials on setting up
dual-boots between Windows and Ubuntu. A dual-boot allows you, at boot time,
to decide which operating system you want to use. Installing Ubuntu on a virtual
machine inside of Windows has a lot advantages over a dual-boot (but also a few
disadvantages).
Advantages of virtual installation
The size of the installation doesn't have to be predetermined. It can be a
dynamically resized virtual hard drive.
You do not need to reboot in order to switch between Ubuntu and Windows.
The virtual machine will use your Windows internet connection, so you don't have
to worry about Ubuntu not detecting your wireless card, if you have one.
The virtual machine will set up its own video configuration, so you don't have to
worry about installing proprietary graphics drivers to get a reasonable screen
resolution.
You always have Windows to fall back on in case there are any problems. All you
have to do is press the right Control key instead of rebooting your entire
computer.
For troubleshooting purposes, you can easily take screenshots of any part of
Ubuntu (including the boot menu or the login screen).
It's low commitment. If you later decide you don't like Ubuntu, all you have to do
is delete the virtual hard drive and uninstall VirtualBox.
Disadvantages of virtual installation
In order to get any kind of decent performance, you need at least 512 MB of RAM,
because you are running an entire operating system (Ubuntu) inside another
entire operating system (Windows). The more memory, the better. I would
recommend at least 1 GB of RAM.
Even though the low commitment factor can seem like an advantage at first, if you
later decide you want to switch to Ubuntu and ditch Windows completely, you
cannot simply delete your Windows partition. You would have to find some way to
migrate out your settings from the virtual machine and then install Ubuntu over
Windows outside the virtual machine.
Every time you want to use Ubuntu, you have to wait for two boot times (the time
it takes to boot Windows, and then the time it takes to boot Ubuntu within
Windows).
Installation Process
The first thing you have to do is obtain VirtualBox. Visit the VirtualBox website's
download page. Install it the same way you would any normal Windows program.
Follow these instructions to get a Ubuntu disk image (.iso file).
After you launch VirtualBox from the Windows Start menu, click on New to create
a new virtual machine. When the New Virtual Machine Wizard appears, click Next.
You can call the machine whatever you want. If you're installing Ubuntu, it makes
sense to call it Ubuntu, I guess. You should also specify that the operating system
is Linux.
VirtualBox will try to guess how much of your memory (or RAM) to allocate for the
virtual machine. If you have 1 GB or less of RAM, I would advise you stick with the
recommendation. If, however, you have over 1 GB, about a quarter your RAM or
less should be fine. For example, if you have 2 GB of RAM, 512 MB is fine to
allocate. If you have 4 GB of RAM, 1 GB is fine to allocate. If you have no idea what
RAM is or how much of it you have, just go with the default.
Click Next.
If this is your first time using VirtualBox (which it probably is if you need a tutorial
on how to use it), then you do want to Create new hard disk and then click Next.
Theoretically, a dynamically expanding virtual hard drive is best, because it'll take
up only what you actually use. I have come upon weird situations, though, when
installing new software in a virtualized Ubuntu, in which the virtual hard drive just
fills up instead of expanding. So I would actually recommend picking a Fixed-size
storage.
Ubuntu's default installation is less than 3 GB. If you plan on adding software or
downloading large files in your virtualized Ubuntu, you should tack on some
buffer.
Click Create and wait for the virtual hard drive to be created. This is actually just a
very large file that lives inside of your Windows installation.
The next thing to do to make the (currently blank) virtual hard drive useful is to
add the downloaded Ubuntu disk image (the .iso) boot on your virtual machine.
Click on Settings and Storage. Then, under CD/DVD Device, next to Empty, you'll
see a little folder icon. Click that.