As a tech enthusiast and avid user of virtualization software, I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of running different operating systems on my machine without compromising the stability of my primary system. With the recent release of Windows 11, many are eager to explore its features and interface. In this comprehensive guide, I will walk you through the process of installing Windows 11 on VirtualBox, a popular virtualization platform. By following these step-by-step instructions, you’ll be able to experience the new Windows 11 without the need for a dedicated physical machine.
Enable Virtualization on Windows 11
Before we dive into the installation process, it’s crucial to ensure that virtualization is enabled on your Windows 11 system. Virtualization technology allows your computer to run multiple operating systems simultaneously, making it an essential prerequisite for running virtual machines. To check if virtualization is enabled, you can access your system’s BIOS or UEFI settings. Upon startup, you’ll typically see a prompt to enter these settings by pressing a specific key, such as F2 or Del. Once inside the BIOS or UEFI, navigate to the virtualization settings, which may be listed under “Advanced CPU Configuration” or a similar section. Ensure that the virtualization feature, often referred to as Intel VT-x or AMD-V, is enabled. Save your changes and exit the BIOS or UEFI settings to proceed with creating a Windows 11 virtual machine.
Create a Windows 11 VM on VirtualBox
Now that virtualization is enabled, we can move on to creating a new virtual machine (VM) for Windows 11 using VirtualBox. VirtualBox is a powerful, open-source virtualization platform that allows users to run multiple guest operating systems within a single host operating system. To begin, ensure that you have VirtualBox installed on your system. Once installed, open VirtualBox and click on the “New” button to initiate the VM creation process. You’ll be prompted to provide a name for your VM, such as “Windows 11” and select the type and version of the operating system. Since Windows 11 is a 64-bit operating system, choose “Microsoft Windows” as the type and “Windows 11 (64-bit)” as the version. Next, allocate the desired amount of memory (RAM) to the VM. It’s recommended to assign at least 4GB of RAM to ensure optimal performance. After configuring the memory settings, you’ll be prompted to create a virtual hard disk for the VM. Select the “Create a virtual hard disk now” option and proceed with the default settings for the virtual hard disk file type and storage allocation. Once the VM setup is complete, you’re ready to install Windows 11 on VirtualBox.
How to Install Windows 11 on VirtualBox
With the Windows 11 VM created, it’s time to install the operating system on VirtualBox. To do this, you’ll need a Windows 11 ISO file, which can be obtained from the official Microsoft website or other trusted sources. Once you have the Windows 11 ISO file, open VirtualBox and select your Windows 11 VM from the list of virtual machines. Click on the “Settings” button to access the VM settings. Within the settings menu, navigate to the “Storage” tab and click on the empty optical drive. Then, select “Choose a disk file” and locate the Windows 11 ISO file on your system. After associating the ISO file with the VM, click “OK” to save the settings. Now, start the Windows 11 VM by clicking the “Start” button in VirtualBox. The VM will boot from the Windows 11 ISO, initiating the installation process. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 11, including selecting the language, time and currency format, and keyboard or input method. When prompted to choose an installation type, select “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)” to specify the virtual hard disk previously created for the VM. Proceed with the installation, and once completed, Windows 11 will be successfully installed on VirtualBox.
