Want to try Ubuntu 23.10 on your Windows 10 computer without messing up your central system? You’re in the right place! This article will show you how to do just that by setting up this Linux OS in a virtual machine using Oracle VM VirtualBox on Windows 10.
VirtualBox is free software that lets you run different operating systems on your computer at the same time. Let’s jump in and get it running on your computer with just a few easy steps!
Credit: Ubuntu
Why Should I Install Ubuntu in VirtualBox VM?
You might have heard of VirtualBox—it’s a free program that lets you use different operating systems on your computer. With this, you can make a virtual PC inside your real one and put Windows, Linux, or macOS on it, all without needing extra PCs.
A lot of folks use VirtualBox to try out Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a free Linux system that’s really common. With VirtualBox, you can make a virtual machine and put Ubuntu on it to see how it works.
But, to make sure everything goes well and works smoothly, it’s essential to install something called Guest Additions after you put Ubuntu on. This is like a toolbox that adds extra stuff, such as making the mouse work better, sharing files, and adjusting the screen size.
Without Guest Additions, you might have issues like poor graphics, a small screen, or a slow virtual machine. It’s wise to install it on your VirtualBox virtual machine to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Installing Ubuntu on a Virtual Machine in VirtualBox
After installing VirtualBox on Windows 10, follow this video tutorial or the steps below to create a new machine and install Ubuntu 23.10.
- To set up a virtual machine for Ubuntu using VirtualBox, follow these steps. First, open VirtualBox and click on “New” from the menu. This will initiate a new window where you can set up your virtual machine.
- In the “Name” field, type the name of the operating system you want to install. The “Type” and “Version” sections will fill in automatically. If you still need to, you can fill them in yourself.
- Next, choose a size for your virtual machine. It’s best to have at least 4 GB for Ubuntu. Create a new virtual hard disk for a clean install.
- Select “VDI” as the HDD file type and choose between dynamic or fixed disk capacity. If your computer is fast, choose “Dynamically Allocated.” Decide on the disk size based on the programs you’ll install.
- Now, open the Ubuntu virtual machine’s settings. In the “General/Advanced” tab, set Shared Clipboard and Drag’n’Drop to “Bidirectional” for easy file sharing.
- Remove “Floppy” from the “System/Boot Order” settings and select the first device to “Optical.” Set the number of virtual cores to 4 or more in the “System/Processor” settings for smooth performance.
- In the “Display/Screen” settings, set Video Memory to 128 MB and check “3D Acceleration” for better performance.
- In the “Storage” settings, add a SATA optical drive and choose “Empty” to add an Ubuntu ISO file. Click on the DVD icon to select the ISO file.
- Finally, enable USB 3.0 in the USB settings and start the Ubuntu installation by running the virtual system. That’s it!
Conclusion
In this article, we talked about how to install Ubuntu 23.10 on your computer using a program called Oracle VM VirtualBox on a Windows PC. VirtualBox is free and lets you run different operating systems on your computer at the same time. Installing this OS this way enables you to try it out without changing your main computer.
Just follow the steps we talked about, and you’ll have Ubuntu ready to go. Remember to install Guest Additions software to make everything run smoothly. Now, you can enjoy it without needing another physical computer.
Suppose you’re curious about trying out different types of Linux. In that case, please take a look at our article on how to install Linux Mint using VirtualBox. It’s a well-liked and easy-to-use Linux version that’s good for both newbies and pros. With our guide, you can make a virtual machine for it and test it out without changing your primary operating system.