How to Run Any OS From Within Windows – Part 2
Yesterday I showed you how to get a virtual machine setup from within your current operating system using Sun VirtualBox. Now, if you have not skipped ahead of me in the process I am ready to share with you step number two. Now that our virtual machine is ready, it needs an operating system. Today, we will go through each step you need to take to get an operating system installed on your new virtual machine setup.
Start the New Virtual Machine
Now that you have your virtual machine up and running, time to start it up. In the left sidebar of Sun VirtualBox, you should see your virtual machine you created. Double click the name to turn it on.
Once you do, a new window will pop up giving you another setup wizard to help you get the operating system installed. Hit the button labeled, “Next” to continue.
Select the Operating System’s Source
In this next screen, you will be asked to provide the source of your installation. Now if you are installing Windows, you could tell the wizard to look in your CD drive for your Windows install disk. If you have downloaded a Linux .iso image and you have it on your local machine, you could use that too (or burn it to a disk, then use it). Once you have found the source you are installing from, hit the button labeled, “Next” to continue.
Finalize the Boot Source Selection, and Install Your OS
Now you are all done. You have selected the source you are going to install your operating system from. The virtual machine will think of this as it’s boot source, and past this point you would install the operating system as you would do with any other regular PC. The only thing that is different is that this is a virtual machine that lives within your actual machine you use every day.
Final Sun VirtualBox Setup Steps and Tips
To finish things up, here is my own install of Ubuntu 9.10 I did using these same very steps I have shared with all of you. Now I can use Ubuntu from within my Windows Vista install to test my various web sites, see how they look in a different OS, and also play a little more with Linux to see what I can learn on my own.
If you get stuck in the process, or you want more help when it comes to installing your own virtual machine from within your own computer’s operating system, I have gathered together a few resources that will assist you.
Also, if you missed it – here is part one of our How to Run Any OS From Within Windows tutorial series.
Alternatives to Sun Virtual Box for Virtual Machine Creation – Sun VirtualBox is not the only program you can use to get a virtual machine setup and running. There are also several other choices out there such as Parallels, VMWare, Apple’s Bootcamp, and Virtual PC from Microsoft.
Setting up an alternative operating system to us, from within a virtual machine is a fun and informative process to go through. Not only are you becoming more familiar with how to install other operating systems out there, but you are giving yourself another virtual workspace to get your job done.
Pingback: How to Run Any OS From Within Windows – Part 1 | Web Hosting Blog | Lunarpages Lunartics