Furthermore, be sure to allocate sufficient resources, such as memory and storage, to ensure optimal performance.
This software creates a virtual environment that allows you to run multiple operating systems simultaneously.
There are several virtualization software options available for macOS, including Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion, and VirtualBox.
In this guide, we will focus on using VirtualBox, which is a free and open-source option.
Open VirtualBox from your Applications folder and navigate to the Help menu.
Select Check for Updates and follow the prompts to update VirtualBox if a newer version is available.
We discussed the installation process for VirtualBox, a popular free option for macOS.
The ISO file contains the installation files for the Windows operating system.
It is important to note that you will need a valid Windows license key to activate your virtual machine.
There are various ways to obtain a Windows ISO file.
Once you make the selection, the website will provide the download link for the ISO file.
you’d be smart to use a stable and high-speed internet connection to ensure a smooth download experience.
There are various third-party checksum utilities available online that can help you perform this verification.
Open VirtualBox on your Mac and hit the New button in the toolbar.
This will launch the virtual machine creation wizard.
Give your virtual machine a descriptive name that reflects the Windows version and edition you will be installing.
grab the pop in as Microsoft Windows and the version as the corresponding Windows version you downloaded.
Next, allocate the amount of memory (RAM) you want to assign to the virtual machine.
In the next step, you will be prompted to create a virtual hard disk for the virtual machine.
go for the Create a virtual hard disk now option and click Create.
You will then be asked to specify the virtual hard disk size.
The recommended size is at least 20GB to ensure enough space for the installation and future updates.
However, it’s possible for you to adjust the size based on your requirements and available storage space.
After configuring the hard disk, tap on the Create button to create the virtual machine.
In the final step of creating the virtual machine, you should probably configure some additional tweaks.
grab the virtual machine from the list and hit the configs button in the toolbar.
In this section, we discussed the process of creating a new virtual machine in VirtualBox.
Start by selecting the virtual machine in the VirtualBox manager and clicking on the configs button in the toolbar.
In the prefs menu, navigate to the System tab.
Allocating multiple processors can significantly improve the performance of resource-intensive applications.
However, keep in mind that allocating too many processors may impact the performance of your host machine.
Its generally recommended to allocate one or two processors for most scenarios.
Next, navigate to the Display tab.
Here, you might adjust the video memory allocated to the virtual machine.
Increasing the video memory improves graphics performance and allows for a smoother experience.
The next important resource to consider is memory or RAM.
In the System tab, punch the Motherboard option.
Here, you might allocate the amount of RAM to be used by the virtual machine.
Allocating sufficient memory is crucial for ensuring smooth performance.
After allocating resources, navigate to the Storage tab to configure the storage tweaks for the virtual machine.
punch the empty disk and then on the small CD icon to the right.
From the dropdown menu, snag the Windows ISO file you downloaded in Step 2.
In this section, we discussed the importance of allocating resources for the virtual machine.
We covered adjusting the CPU, video memory, RAM, and storage parameters to ensure optimal performance.
In the next step, we will guide you through the installation of Windows on the virtual machine.
Step 5: Install Windows on the Virtual Machine
1.
The virtual machine will boot up and prompt you to snag the installation media.
Choose the Windows ISO file you downloaded earlier and click Start.
When prompted to pick the installation bang out, choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
- grab the virtual hard drive you created earlier as the destination for the installation.
Continue with the installation, allowing Windows to copy files and configure parameters.
You may be prompted to create a user account and provide other necessary information during the setup process.
Now you will see the Windows login screen within the virtual machine.
input your credentials to enter and access your newly installed Windows operating system.
In this section, we discussed the process of installing Windows on the virtual machine using VirtualBox.
In the next step, we will guide you through customizing Windows prefs to enhance your virtual machine experience.
Here are some key steps to consider:
1.
Update Windows: Start by checking for and installing any available Windows updates.
This will ensure that your virtual machine has the latest security patches, bug fixes, and performance improvements.
Adjust Display tweaks: In the virtual machine, right-opt for desktop and select Display tweaks.
Customize User Preferences: Explore the Windows tweaks to personalize your virtual machine experience.
you’ve got the option to change the desktop background, theme, taskbar parameters, and more.
Additionally, you may want to configure power options, privacy options, and notifications according to your preferences.
In this section, we discussed the importance of customizing the Windows configs within the virtual machine.
In this guide, we will focus on installing VirtualBox Guest Additions as the VM Tools for VirtualBox.
Start your Windows virtual machine and ensure that it is running.
In the VirtualBox menu, go to Devices and tap on Insert Guest Additions CD image.
This action will mount the Guest Additions ISO file to your virtual machine.
Navigate to This PC in File Explorer and initiate the optical drive corresponding to the Guest Additions CD.
- fire off the VBoxWindowsAdditions executable file within the CD.
Depending on your systems security tweaks, you may need to confirm the action or provide administrative privileges.
We specifically focused on installing VirtualBox Guest Additions for VirtualBox.
Conclusion
Congratulations!
You have successfully installed a Windows virtual machine on your Mac using VirtualBox.
Enjoy the convenience and productivity that comes with having both macOS and Windows at your fingertips.
