How To Install Windows 8/8.1 On VirtualBox ~ Tech HelpZone

This guide is a part of our detailed coverage of Windows 8′s new features and improvements.

Important Note: Before we begin, make sure your processor supports Virtualization Technology and is enabled. Windows 8 will not work if your processor does not support Virtualization Technology. Most processors support Virtualization Technology but the option is not enabled by default. You can enable Virtualization Technology option from the BIOS. Now let’s begin!

First install VirtualBox (Visit Virtualbox).

Launch VirtualBox and click New. The New Virtual Machine wizard will open up, click Next.

Type the name of the Virtual Machine, we named it Windows 8, select Microsoft Windows as Operating system, and select Windows 8 as version. Important Note: Even if you are running VirtualBox on Windows 8 x64, you still have to select Windows 8 x64 from version.. When done, click Next.

We will recommend allocating at least 1GB memory if you are installing Windows 8 32-bit, and at least 3GB memory if you are installing Windows 8 64-bit. I have allocated almost 4GB of RAM as you can see in the screenshot below. When done, click Next.

VirtualBox provides options to either create a new hard disk or use an existing hard disk as a Start-up Disk. By default, it is set to Create new hard disk. Leave it as it is and click next.

In this step, make sure VDI is selected. VDI stands for VirtualBox Disk Image. Click Next.

In this step, select Fixed size or Dynamically allocated based on your needs, so that it does not eat up more virtual disk as allocated by the user. We selected Dynamically allocated.

By default, VirtualBox allocates 20GB hard disk space for new machine. You can increase or decrease this amount. We would strongly recommend not to allocated less than 20GB. When done, click Next.

In the last step, you will be given a quick summary of the settings you have selected. Click Create to begin creating virtual disk file.

Once the process is complete, in the final step, click Create and you will be taken to the main interface where the Virtual machine will be ready.

Now go to Settings, click System from left sidebar, and make sure that Enable IO APIC is checked in Motherboard tab. You can uncheck Enable absolute pointing device since it is not used by most users.

When done, move to Processor tab and make sure that Enable PAE/NX is checked.

Finally move to Acceleration tab and make sure both Enable VT-x/AMD-V and Enable Nested Pagingare checked.

Checking all these settings are important, otherwise Windows 8 will not install on VirtualBox.

Now go to Storage from the left sidebar and click Empty under IDE Controller. Click the CD icon next toCD/DVD Drive selection box and click Choose a virtual CD/DVD disk file. Now navigate to the Windows 8 developer build ISO file that you downloaded and select it. When done, click OK.