How to install Linux using VirtualBox on Windows

If you are using Windows and want to get an isolated Linux operating system with a graphical interface, you can use a free third-party program called VirtualBox.

If you don’t want to rely on a local environment, you can always choose a more flexible solution like cheap linux vps hosting to run your Linux system in the cloud with full root access and better performance.

How to get an isolated Linux operating system with a graphical interface?

For this, you will need:

1. The installation file of Oracle VM VirtualBox for Windows Hosts.

   Download link: https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

2. The Linux Ubuntu operating system image in ISO format. Download link:

   https://releases.ubuntu.com/noble/

   • Desktop image - with a graphical interface
   • Server install image - without a graphical interface

   2.1. For installation, select the image from the following link: https://releases.ubuntu.com/noble/ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso

In this article, we will consider an example of installing the Linux Ubuntu Desktop image - with a graphical shell. First, you need to download, install, and run the VirtualBox application.

1. Currently, the download link for VirtualBox is:

   https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/7.0.20/VirtualBox-7.0.20-163906-Win.exe

2. The installation of Oracle VM VirtualBox is performed in the standard way with agreement to all licenses and settings of this application.

   

3. After the installation is complete, launch VirtualBox and create your virtual machine.

4. Creating a new virtual machine for Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop:

   1. Open VirtualBox and click "New".

      

   2. Enter the name of the machine, select the type and version of the operating system.

      

   3. Select the downloaded system image from item 2.1 for installation on the virtual machine.

      

   4. Go to the "Unattended Install" menu and specify the correct "Hostname".

      

   5. Go to the "Hardware" menu and specify "Base Memory" - I recommend setting "4096 MB" for "Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop" and "Processors" - 4 cores for faster installation.

      

   6. Go to the "Hard Disk" menu, select the disk type "vmdk" and click the "Finish" button.

      

5. Installing Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop:

   1. To start the virtual machine, click the "Start" button.

      

   2. After starting the image ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso, the system installation menu will appear. Click "Next" and "Skip" until the disk partitioning method menu appears. Select "Manual installation" and click "Next".

      

   3. In "Device for boot loader installation", select the "Hard Disk" created in VirtualBox.

      

   4. Select "Free space" and click "+".

      

   5. Select the partitioning of free space (Size), as shown in the screenshot, then click "OK" and "Next".

      

   6. Fill in the user credentials for system login and click "Next".

      

   7. Select the time zone, click "Next", then "Install".

6. Ejecting the installation disk ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso after installing Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop:

   After the system installation, the "Restart now" button will appear, but before rebooting the system, you can eject the installation disk ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso to avoid booting into it again.

   1. To eject the disk ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso, select "Settings" from the "Machine" menu. In "Settings", go to "Storage", select the virtual disk as shown in the screenshot, and click "Remove Disk from Virtual Drive".

      

   2. After that, click "OK" and "Restart now".

      

7. Rebooting the system and logging in:

   1. To log in to the system, use the credentials provided in item 5.6.

      

   2. At this stage, the installation is complete, and you are logged into the system.