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Install Windows 10, Windows Server and Kali Linux on VirtualBox

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing VirtualBox

VirtualBox is a free and powerful virtualization software that allows you to run multiple operating systems on a single computer. This guide will walk you through the process of downloading and installing VirtualBox.

Step 1: Check System Requirements

Before installing VirtualBox, ensure your computer meets these requirements:

  1. A modern processor with virtualization support (Intel VT-x or AMD-V).
  2. At least 2 GB of RAM (4 GB or more recommended).
  3. Sufficient free disk space (at least 500 MB for VirtualBox plus space for virtual machines).

Step 2: Download VirtualBox

  1. Open your web browser and navigate to the official VirtualBox website.
  2. Click on the Downloads link in the navigation menu.
  3. Select the installer for your operating system:
    • Windows hosts
    • macOS hosts
    • Linux distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, Fedora)
    • Solaris hosts
  4. Save the installer file to your computer.

Step 3: Install VirtualBox on Your System

For Windows

  1. Locate the downloaded .exe file and double-click to run it.
  2. Follow the installation wizard:
    • Click Next to proceed through the setup steps.
    • Choose the installation location or use the default.
    • Select optional features like creating a desktop shortcut or associating VirtualBox with disk image files.
  3. When prompted, click Install to begin the installation.
  4. Allow VirtualBox to install any required drivers by confirming system prompts.
  5. Once the installation is complete, click Finish to launch VirtualBox.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Windows 10 Pro on VirtualBox

VirtualBox is a powerful tool that allows users to run multiple operating systems on a single machine. If you’ve already installed VirtualBox, follow these detailed steps to set up Windows 10 Pro on it.

Requirements

Before starting, ensure you have the following:

  1. A valid Windows 10 Pro ISO file. You can download it from Microsoft’s official website.
  2. A product key for Windows 10 Pro (optional for trial installations).
  3. Sufficient disk space and system resources (at least 4GB RAM and 30GB free storage recommended).

Step 1: Launch VirtualBox and Create a New Virtual Machine

  1. Open VirtualBox.
  2. Click New to create a new virtual machine.
  3. In the Name and Operating System window:
    • Enter a name for the virtual machine (e.g., “Windows 10 Pro”).
    • Select Microsoft Windows as the type.
    • Choose Windows 10 (64-bit) or Windows 10 (32-bit) depending on your ISO.
  4. Click Next.

Step 2: Allocate Memory (RAM)

  1. Set the amount of RAM for your virtual machine.
    • Recommended: Allocate at least 4096 MB (4 GB) for optimal performance.
  2. Click Next.

Step 3: Create a Virtual Hard Disk

  1. Select Create a virtual hard disk now and click Create.
  2. Choose the hard disk file type. For most users, VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image) is the default choice.
  3. Decide between:
    • Dynamically allocated: Grows as you use storage space.
    • Fixed size: Pre-allocates storage space for better performance.
  4. Set the disk size (minimum 30 GB recommended) and click Create.

Step 4: Configure the Virtual Machine

  1. Highlight your newly created virtual machine in VirtualBox.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. Go to the System tab:
    • Ensure the Processor tab has at least 2 CPUs allocated.
  4. Go to the Storage tab:
    • Under Controller: IDE, click the empty disk icon.
    • Click the small disk icon on the right and choose Choose a disk file.
    • Navigate to and select your Windows 10 Pro ISO file.
  5. Go to the Network tab:
    • Ensure the Attached to option is set to NAT for internet access.

Click OK to save your settings.

Step 5: Start the Virtual Machine

  1. Select the virtual machine and click Start.
  2. VirtualBox will boot using the Windows 10 ISO.

Step 6: Install Windows 10 Pro

  1. Follow the Windows Setup prompts:
    • Select your language, time, and keyboard preferences.
    • Click Next and then Install Now.
  2. Enter your Windows 10 Pro product key (or choose I don’t have a product key to skip for now).
  3. Select Windows 10 Pro from the list of editions and click Next.
  4. Accept the license terms and click Next.
  5. Choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
  6. Select the virtual hard disk (created earlier) and click Next.

Windows 10 Pro will begin installing. This process may take some time.

Step 7: Configure Windows 10 Pro

  1. Once the installation completes, follow the on-screen instructions to:
    • Set up your region and keyboard layout.
    • Connect to a network (optional).
    • Create a user account and password.

Step 8: Finalize and Use Windows 10 Pro

  1. After restarting, your Windows 10 Pro virtual machine should be fully operational. You can adjust display resolution, enable shared folders, or install additional software as needed.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Windows Server 2022 in VirtualBox

Windows Server 2022 is a powerful operating system designed for enterprise environments. Installing it in VirtualBox is an excellent way to test its features and functionality. If you already have VirtualBox installed, follow this guide to set up Windows Server 2022.

Requirements

Before beginning, ensure you have:

  1. A Windows Server 2022 ISO file, available from Microsoft’s Evaluation Center.
  2. A valid license key (optional for evaluation installations).
  3. Sufficient system resources (minimum 2 CPUs, 4GB RAM, and 40GB disk space recommended).

Step 1: Create a New Virtual Machine

  1. Open VirtualBox and click New.
  2. Enter the following details:
    • Name: Choose a name (e.g., “Windows Server 2022”).
    • Machine Folder: Choose where to store the VM files.
    • Type: Select Microsoft Windows.
    • Version: Select Windows 2019 (64-bit) (Windows Server 2022 shares compatibility with this setting).
  3. Click Next.

Step 2: Allocate Memory (RAM)

  1. Assign at least 4096 MB (4 GB) of RAM for basic installations.
  2. For heavier workloads or roles like Active Directory or Hyper-V, allocate more RAM.
  3. Click Next.

Step 3: Create a Virtual Hard Disk

  1. Select Create a virtual hard disk now and click Create.
  2. Choose the hard disk file type. Use VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image) for flexibility.
  3. Decide on storage type:
    • Dynamically allocated: Allocates disk space as needed.
    • Fixed size: Pre-allocates space for better performance.
  4. Set the disk size to at least 40 GB (more if required) and click Create.

Step 4: Configure the Virtual Machine

  1. Highlight the newly created virtual machine and click Settings.
  2. System Tab:
    • Go to the Processor tab and allocate at least 2 CPUs.
  3. Storage Tab:
    • Under Controller: IDE, select the empty disk icon.
    • Click the small disk icon on the right and choose Choose a disk file.
    • Locate and select your Windows Server 2022 ISO file.
  4. Network Tab:
    • Ensure the network adapter is set to NAT for internet access.

Click OK to save the settings.

Step 5: Start the Virtual Machine

  1. Select the virtual machine and click Start.
  2. VirtualBox will boot using the Windows Server 2022 ISO.

Step 6: Install Windows Server 2022

  1. Follow the installation prompts:
    • Select your language, time, and keyboard layout.
    • Click Next and then Install Now.
  2. Enter your product key or choose I don’t have a product key for evaluation.
  3. Select the desired version of Windows Server 2022:
    • Server with Desktop Experience: Includes a GUI.
    • Server Core: A lightweight, command-line-only option.
  4. Accept the license agreement and click Next.
  5. Select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
  6. Choose the virtual hard disk created earlier and click Next.

The installation will proceed. This may take several minutes.

Step 7: Initial Configuration

  1. After installation, you’ll be prompted to set up an Administrator password. Enter and confirm a strong password.
  2. Log in using the Administrator account.

Step 8: Configure Windows Server 2022

  1. Activate Windows: If you have a license key, activate Windows Server 2022 via Settings > Update & Security > Activation.
  2. Update Windows: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update to install the latest updates.
  3. Configure Roles and Features: Use Server Manager to set up roles like Active Directory, DNS, or file sharing.

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing Kali Linux in VirtualBox

Kali Linux is a powerful operating system widely used for penetration testing and ethical hacking. Installing Kali Linux in VirtualBox allows you to experiment in a controlled environment. This guide assumes you already have VirtualBox installed.

Requirements

Before you begin, ensure you have:

  1. A Kali Linux ISO file or a prebuilt VirtualBox image, available at Kali Linux Downloads.
  2. At least 2 GB of RAM and 20 GB of free disk space on your host machine.
  3. VirtualBox installed and functional.

Step 1: Download the Kali Linux ISO

  1. Visit Kali Linux Downloads.
  2. Download the Installer ISO for custom installations or the VirtualBox Image for a preconfigured setup.
    • If you choose the prebuilt image, skip to Step 6.

Step 2: Create a New Virtual Machine

  1. Open VirtualBox and click New.
  2. Enter the following details:
    • Name: Example: “Kali Linux”.
    • Machine Folder: Choose where to store the VM files.
    • Type: Select Linux.
    • Version: Select Debian (64-bit) (Kali Linux is Debian-based).
  3. Click Next.

Step 3: Allocate Memory (RAM)

  1. Assign at least 2048 MB (2 GB) of RAM. For better performance, allocate more if your host machine allows it.
  2. Click Next.

Step 4: Create a Virtual Hard Disk

  1. Select Create a virtual hard disk now and click Create.
  2. Choose the hard disk type: VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image) is recommended.
  3. Decide on storage type:
    • Dynamically allocated: Grows as needed.
    • Fixed size: Preallocates disk space for better performance.
  4. Set the disk size to at least 20 GB and click Create.

Step 5: Configure the Virtual Machine

  1. Highlight your new virtual machine and click Settings.
  2. System Tab:
    • Go to the Processor tab and allocate at least 2 CPUs.
  3. Storage Tab:
    • Under Controller: IDE, select the empty disk icon.
    • Click the small disk icon on the right and choose Choose a disk file.
    • Locate and select the Kali Linux ISO.
  4. Network Tab:
    • Ensure the adapter is set to NAT for internet access.

Click OK to save the settings.

Step 6: Start the Virtual Machine

  1. Select the virtual machine and click Start.
  2. VirtualBox will boot using the Kali Linux ISO.

Step 7: Install Kali Linux

  1. In the Kali boot menu, select Graphical Install and press Enter.
  2. Follow the on-screen prompts:
    • Language: Select your preferred language.
    • Location: Choose your region.
    • Keyboard: Select your keyboard layout.
  3. Set up the network:
    • Enter a hostname (e.g., “kali”).
    • You can skip the domain name unless in a specific network environment.
  4. Configure users and passwords:
    • Set a strong password for the root account.
  5. Partition disks:
    • Select Guided – use entire disk for simplicity.
    • Confirm and finish the partitioning process.

The installation will begin and may take some time.

Step 8: Configure the Bootloader

  1. When prompted, choose to install the GRUB bootloader.
  2. Select the primary virtual hard disk as the destination for GRUB.

Step 9: Complete Installation

  1. Once the installation is complete, the system will prompt you to reboot.
  2. After rebooting, log in using the root account and the password you created earlier.

Step 10: Install VirtualBox Guest Additions

  1. With the virtual machine running, go to Devices in the VirtualBox menu and select Insert Guest Additions CD Image.
  2. Open a terminal in Kali Linux and run the following commands
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y build-essential dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r) 
sudo mount /dev/cdrom /mnt 
sudo /mnt/VBoxLinuxAdditions.run 
sudo reboot

3. After rebooting, Guest Additions should be fully functional, enabling features like shared clipboard and improved screen resolution.

Step 11: Update and Optimize Kali Linux

  1. Open a terminal and update the system:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

2. Install additional tools or configure settings as needed for your projects.