Using Virtualbox On Mac



Here I explain how to install Windows on a Mac using the (free) virtualization software, VirtualBox.

  1. Installing Virtualbox On Mac
  2. Is Virtualbox Safe For Mac
  3. Linux In Virtualbox On Mac
  4. Virtualbox For Mac Download

VirtualBox is free software that allows you to install different operating systems on your machine. By using VirtualBox, you can install Windows on your Mac. This enables you to run Windows-only applications on your Mac.

Here are the main steps involved in installing Windows on a Mac:

Once the disk image has downloaded, locate it on your Mac, mount it and double-click the VirtualBox.pkg file to install the application. You’ll need 175MB of free space on your computer to. 2.1 Create MacOS Virtual Machine In Virtualbox. Open virtualbox, click New button to create a new. Before you start the installation process, you’ll want to gather the following: - A PC. How to Run Mac OS X Inside Windows Using VirtualBox. 8/28/12 11:59AM. Even if you’re a Windows fan, you’ve probably thought about trying OS X. VirtualBox is free software that allows you to install different operating systems on your machine. By using VirtualBox, you can install Windows on your Mac. This enables you to run Windows-only applications on your Mac. Here are the main steps involved in installing Windows on a Mac.

  1. Download and Install VirtualBox
  2. Create a Virtual Machine
  3. Download and Install Windows

Here they are in more detail.

Download and Install VirtualBox

Using Virtualbox On Mac

To run Windows on a Mac, you need to use virtualization software such as VirtualBox. While there are other options available (such as Parallels and VMware Fusion), VirtualBox is free. And while Bootcamp is also a free option, it doesn't let you run macOS and Windows simultaneously (you have to reboot the machine every time you want to switch to the other operating system). So with VirtualBox you get the best of both worlds — it's free, and it allows you to run both Windows and macOS simultaneously so you can switch between them as required without having to reboot.

  1. Download VirtualBox

    Go to the VirtualBox download page and click OS X Hosts.

  2. Install VirtualBox

    Double-click the VirtualBox.pkg icon to install VirtualBox. This will enable you to run VirtualBox from your Applications folder.

Create a Virtual Machine

Now that you've installed VirtualBox, you can create a virtual machine. This virtual machine is where you'll install Windows.

  1. Launch VirtualBox

    Launch VirtualBox via the Applications folder (just as you'd launch any other application).

  2. Start the Wizard

    Click New to start the process of creating a new virtual machine.

  3. Name and Operating System

    Enter a name for the virtual machine (make it descriptive, such as Windows 10 or similar).

    Also choose Microsoft Windows and select the 64 bit version (unless you have reason to choose the 32 bit version).

    Click Continue.

  4. Set the Memory Allocation

    Use the slider to specify how much memory is allocated to the virtual machine. I selected 4 GB (4000 MB), which should be sufficient to run SQL Server inside Windows. If your Mac has a lot more RAM, then you might be able to allocate more to the virtual machine.

    Click Continue.

  5. Hard Disk

    Leave it at the default setting and click Create.

  6. Hard Disk File Type

    Leave it at the default setting and click Continue.

  7. Storage on Physical Hard Disk

    Leave it at the default setting and click Continue.

  8. File Location and Size

    Leave it at the default setting and click Create.

  9. Done!

    Your new virtual machine has been created. It appears in the left pane of the VirtualBox home screen.

    This is where you launch your virtual machine from whenever you need to use Windows.

Download and Install Windows

  1. Download the Windows Disk Image

    Go to the Windows download page and select the latest version of Windows. Follow the prompts to download the ISO file to your Mac.

    Alternatively, go to the Microsoft Evaluation Center and download a free evaluation trial. This is the option I used in this tutorial. This tutorial uses the Windows 10 Enterprise Evaluation edition (which is free to use for 90 days).

    Download the file to your VirtualBox VMs folder (e.g. /Users/Dave/VirtualBox VMs/) or move it there once downloaded.

  2. Start the Installation

    Double-click on the virtual machine that you created previously.

  3. Select the Windows Disk Image

    Use the interface to browse to, and select, the Windows ISO file that you downloaded.

    Click Start.

  4. Select Language, etc

    Select your language and other preferences, then click Next.

  5. License Agreement

    Select I accept the license terms and click Next.

  6. Installation Type

    Select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).

  7. Select the Drive

    Here, the 50 GB drive (that you created when you created your virtual machine previously) should already be selected. If not, select it.

    Click Next.

  8. Select Keyboard Layout

    Select your preferred keyboard layout and click Yes.

  9. Add Another Keyboard?

    Click Skip (unless you want to add another keyboard, in which case click Add layout and follow the prompts).

  10. Join Domain

    Microsoft wants you to sign in but for the purposes of this tutorial, we won't be doing that.

    For this tutorial, click Domain join instead.

    If you have an account with Office 365 or other business services, then feel free to sign in using that account instead.

  11. Add Name

    Add your name (or pseudonym) and click Next.

  12. Confirm Password

    Enter your password again to confirm and click Next.

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  13. Cortana?

    Click either Yes or No depending on whether you want to use the Cortana personal assistant. (In this case I chose No.)

  14. Privacy Settings

    Disable any privacy settings you want to, then click Accept.

  15. Finally.. Done!

    Windows is now installed. The Windows desktop is displayed, and you can now go ahead and start using Windows on your Mac!

How to use VirtualBox on Mac OS0

Virtual machine is a unique piece of software which allows to simultaneously run several operational systems at once on your active OS, regardless whether it is Mac OS, Linux or Windows. Another advantage of such approach is that all the system work autonomously, externally one from another, and you may handle all of them in a distinct way. In this article I’m going to tell about specific features of running VirtualBox on Mac OS, what are the technical requirements for Mac platform, and what are the post installation issues you would need to handle in order to process the operations in VM successfully.

Using Virtualbox On Mac

Here are the pre-requisites for the installation of the product on the platform from Apple, and what you need for the successful running of the Windows system in the VirtualBox app:

  • you will an Intel-based Mac with 512Mb of RAM (1GB or more amount of operational memory is especially recommended)
  • you will also require about 150 Mb of disk space, as of VirtualBox 5.1 (the latest version of the product, available on the moment of writing this article)
  • in addition, about 5-10GB of disk space should be allocated for each virtual machine installed (in my case, Windows).

How to create and setup VM instance for the Windows OS?

Before using the emulated OS on your VirtualBox, you should first create the VM instance prior to running the virtual system on your Mac. Run the app and click “New” button on the toolbar. Starting from now the “Create New Virtual Machine” wizard is started. Click on “Next”.

  • when the “Memory” page is opened, set the RAM amount to 256 MB or more if you desire. Make thorough attempt not to overcome the level of 25-30% of your common RAM-memory, as far as it makes your OS X system run slower. Windows is quite a consumable environment, so pay attention to this while emulating
  • as soon as the new page appears, enter the value “Windows 7” (or the version of Windows OS, which suits you best) and choose “Windows 7” from drop-down list “OS Type”. Click “Next” to go on
  • in order to customize Windows, you would need to generate a virtual HDD. Click on “New” button, and as a consequence the HDD-creation wizard will be started
  • among several options of hard disk type choose the “Dynamically expanding image” variant. Such a choice will help to save precious disk space from growing following the requirements
  • leave the “Location” and “Size” option values untouched on the following page
  • on the “Summary” page click “Finish” button, and all the changes will be applied as a result.

Afterwards you will see, that new Windows system has been added to the list of VirtualBox primary window and its status is “Powered Off”.

Simply use the “Start” button from the toolbar in order to start processing the VM for the first time.

  • precisely after you start the virtual machine the “First Run Wizard” is displayed. Click “Next” for the beginning
  • on the “Select Installation Media” form select the corresponding device, which you desire to apply for Windows installing. As a rule, that is a DVD-disk, which you insert into the optical drive. If you possess the ISO-file with Windows distributive you may not burn it on the optical storage device and firmly choose it as the media for installing
  • as soon as the appropriate media is selected, complete the wizard by clicking the “Finish” button. In an instant the operational system will start booting
  • in a second you will notice, that the setup procedure of Windows OS is initiated and you can go on with it as with any default setup routine. It may take several minutes from you, so keep patient and prepare a cup of black tea to have while waiting.

Post Installation Issues

Setting Up the Guest Additions

As soon as the Windows customization routine is completed, at first you require to set up the “Guest Additions” package. As you understand, Windows OS is just a basis for working with virtual machine, but it has a lot of cornerstones and pitfalls. One of such containable parts is Guest Additions package. Hightail express.

Using Virtualbox On MacUsing Virtualbox On Mac

Basically, it contains system apps and device drivers for the guest Windows OS, which optimize the system for more optimal usability and performance. In short, it is a simple ISO-image file which is mounted and installed into the guest OS for maintaining additional functions and features.

Here’s what you should do in order to install VirtualBox Guest Additions on your VM instance:

Virtualbox
  • run the Windows OS
  • select the “Devices” node in the upper menu and pick the “Install Guest Additions” item from the category
  • go on with the setting up routine and reboot the operational system when the prompt appears.

Installing Virtualbox On Mac

Making USB and Sound Support Enabled

It’s hard to imagine working in virtual environment without proper USB-connection and sound support. For the safety and protection USB and sound are disabled by default in VirtualBox, and you are ought to perform some specific actions in order to make them enabled in the guest operational system.

Is Virtualbox Safe For Mac

  • turn off the Windows VM if it is runnable. That will be an ordinary Windows shutdown, so don’t worry to receive some unexpected issues after the turning the machine off. As an alternate method, you may simply close the main Windows form as a standard window and select the corresponding item from the list to cease the guest operability
  • press the “Settings” button on the toolbar
  • on the “Audio” tab, check out the “Enable Audio” option and pick the “Core Audio” value as primary host audio driver
  • on the “Ports” tab mark up the “Enable USB 2.0 (EHCI) Controller” and “Enable USB Controller” checkboxes
  • click OS in order to the performed changes to be applied.

Linux In Virtualbox On Mac

After you run Windows the next time, you will be able to hear the sounds of entering the Windows OS, listen to the music and run games with audio. Also, the USB-devices will successfully be accessed. Afterwards you may require to pull out or eject the USB-gadget or disk from your Mac host OS in order to make it working in the emulated VM.

Virtualbox For Mac Download

Thus, earlier I described the basic steps how to use VirtualBox on Mac OS. Moreover, I described the pitfalls of setting up the audio and USB-devices support on the guest OS, as well as peculiarities of VirtualBox Guest Additions package installation. Hopefully, it will serve you well in any situation and case.