How To Install Ubuntu 9.10 As A Virtual PC In Virtualbox – Step By Step

I have been really looking forward to writing up this post and I know I promised it a few times. But with all three members of my family suffering flu this past week, I just haven’t had a chance.

Many of you have read the Getting To Know Ubuntu article and contacted me saying what you like about it. There was also an article written on how to use ISO image files called – How To Burn And Work With An ISO File Using PowerISO. Its worth a read.

I have just posted an important article on Getting To Know Virtualbox. So this is where we take up. This is both fun and easy and takes about 20 minutes.

How To Install Ubuntu On Virtualbox Inside Windows

Step 1: Download

Download the application from Virtualbox.org

If you followed the earlier article – Getting To Know Ubuntu – You probably already downloaded the Ubuntu 9.10 ISO image. If not, bold boy! Download it here

Step 2: Install

Double click the downloaded file and install the app accepting the defaults for now. Note: You can get disconnected temporarily from the network during this installation and this normal.

Click Finish and restart your PC – Restarting is very important because the drivers need to be fully installed for the network to work.

Step 3: Start Virtual Box and Register

Double click the desktop icon - 

When Virtualbox opens, you will have to register the software. So take a minute to do this.

If you have registered before then just enter your Email and Password and click on the register/login button.

Step 4: Create First Virtual OS

1. Click on the New Icon 
2. Then in the welcome wizard click next.
3. Choose a name – In this case, type Ubuntu 9.10
4. Choose Linux and Ubuntu from the drop down boxes and click next.
5. Accept the RAM Memory default and click next
6. Choose to create a New VHD(Virtual Hard Disk) and Click next.

Now a new welcome screen pops up. This is the VHD Creation wizard.

Again, follow the prompts and choose a Dynamically Expanding drive. Give it a name. Ubuntu is fine. Click Finsh

Step 5: Setup the Newly Created VHD

On the left you will see Ubuntu 9.10  listed. You created this. Well done!

1. Now click on Ubuntu 9.10 to highlight it.
2. Then click on the Settings button above it 
3. You can change any settings you want in here. Its almost like choosing the components to your new PC. Virtual PC. But remember that all changes here come from your system that is already running an Operating System called the Host. If you increase RAM, you take it from the Host. Take too much, then the host can’t run and therefore the virtual OS can’t either.
4. Click on system and click Enable IO APIC on the motherboard tab
5. Then on the processor tab > choose 2 CPUs – (If you have 2 on your PC obviously.)
6. Click on CD/DVD Rom and Tick the box Mount CD/DVD. Choose ISO image file. and click the little folder with the green arrow. Note: If you choose Host drive, then whats it in your DVD drive will be read by the Virtual OS.

Now a new window has popped up.. This is the Virtual Media Manager. This is like a box for holding all your DVDs and software. Except they will be all ISOs. Its also the place for managing your VHDs, but don’t worry about that for now.

After clicking the Add… button at the top, go to where you have your Ubuntu 9.10 ISO image downloaded to. Choose that file and click open/OK. Then back in the Virtual Media Manager highlight your ISO and click select.

Still in settings, click on Network and make sure Adapter 1 is ticked and set to NAT. (There are loads of options here and would be too detailed to explain them. If you run into a problem later, leave a comment and I will detail what to do with the other settings.)

Click OK to exit the settings dialog.

Now your ready start the installation process. This part is easy.

Install Ubuntu 9.10

Double Click on Ubuntu 9.10 on the left hand side. From here on in its just screen shots. (No more reading) 

Step 1:

Step 2: Live Environment Loads:

Step 3: Follow The Prompts

Step 4:

This part took me 20 minutes in total. And then you will have to reboot.

VERY IMPORTANT..

When the Virtual PC restarts – you need to stop it by exiting out of it. Just click the RED X in the corner to close the window.

Go back to the VirtualBox console and click on settings. Go to CD/DVD and unmount the ISO image. (Otherwise your install will loop.)

Now start up your new Ubuntu install and call the whole family around to show off.

Final IMPORTANT tip: Click the devices menu and click Install Guest Additions. This will fix things like screen resolution and mouse drag.

Did this work for you? Can it be improved upon? If so, please leave a comment below.

[poll id="2" align=center]

____________________

advertisement