Savvy Solutions

Download and install VirtualBox

VirtualBox download

Installation Instructions:

https://lifehacker.com/5204434/the-beginners-guide-to-creating-virtual-machines-with-virtualbox

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-use-virtualbox/

Configuring a VirtualBox

You need match the 32-bit/64-bit operating system (OS) installed on your Virtual Machine (VM) within VirtualBox to your PC's 32-bit/64-bit architecture.   In order to install an OS on your VM you will need a disk image of the OS, and you will need softward tools to create those images, and mount them.   A disk image is the digital equivalent to a physical drive (CD, DVD, hard drive, ..).   You will want to create a repository of OS disk images so you can load them on to your VM as needed.   Click here for a tutorial on disk images.   Windows OS disk images typically have the ".iso" file extension.   The free app DriveImageXML will allow you to create disk images.   The free app WinCDEmu will allow you to mount disk images.  

Run WinCDEmu and select a Windows OS disk image file (.iso).   Note the virtual drive letter that WinCDEmu creates for the opened image.   Run VirtualBox, and in the settings, make sure the CD/DVD is configured to point to the same drive latter that WinCDEmu created.   Reboot the VM and then the Windows instal

For the best performance, consider:

1. Choose Fixed Size instead of Dynamic for storage.   To fix, see this article
2. Run you VM from a solid state drive (SSD)
3. Install 'Guest Additions for VirtualBox'

Installing Ubuntu inside Windows using VirtualBox

Pro Tips

• Collect all of the Product Keys from all old computers you have that are no longer used.   Also identify the network MAC address for each computer.   Using these two items, you may active the OS license for the OS installed in the VM.  
• Use Snapshots before and after making installing new drivers, applications, or OS changes.