Installing Linux

Download and Install VirtualBox

VirtualBox is a virtualization open source software that runs on Linux, Windows and Mac OS.

Download VirtualBox and VirtualBox Extension Pack here based on your platform (Windows in this tutorial).

Install VirtualBox with default settings.
Install VirtualBox Extension Pack.

Download Linux Image

For this tutorial Ubuntu Desktop Linux will be used.

If you want to use another distro check the Popular Linux Distributions list.

Download the latest Ubuntu Desktop LTS .iso file here.

Create Virtual Machine

Run VirtualBox.
Click on the New button to create a new virtual machine (VM)

Click on Expert Mode

Set the VM Name, the machine folder to store the VM, type (Linux) and version (Ubuntu 64bit).
Set the Memory size (RAM) at 4096 MB (4GB) or use the default settings 1024 MB
Select Create a virtual hard disk now
Proceed with the Create button

Set the File size (disk size) at 20 GB
Set the Hard disk file type as VDI - Dynamically allocated
Proceed with the Create button to initialize the machine.

Select the new VM in the manager windows and click on the Settings button.

Navigate to the Sistem tab and:
- remove Floppy from boot order
- set Chipset to PIIX3 (default)
- Enable PAE/NX in the Processor menu
- check Acceleration menu to have Default Paravirtualization and Enable Nested Paging checked

Navigate to the Display tab and increase the Video Memory to 128 MB
Graphics Controller must be VMSVGA to be able to use VirtualBox Guest Additions

Install Linux Image

Select the new VM and click on the Start button to start it

Click on the file icon to open the Optical disk selector

Use the Add button to select the .iso file previously downloaded, select it from the list and Choose it
Click on the Start button to start he machine with the mounted ubuntu-22.04-desktop-amd64.iso (in this case)

Wait for the Ubuntu boot and installation menu
Select your language and click Install Ubuntu

Select your Keyboard layout and continue
Choose Normal installation and check both Other options boxes (you must be connected to the Internet)

Choose Erase disk and install Ubuntu and continue the installation without enabling encryption

Select your Location and time zone from the map screen
Create your login details as hostname, username and password
Proceed with the Continue button that will start Ubuntu installation

Restart your VM once the installation has completed.

Install VirtualBox Guest Additions

Guest Additions software unlocks some advanced features of VirtualBox to better integrate the VM and the host machine, as well as improved video support using VMSVGA graphics controller.

Complete the VM boot and login to Ubuntu desktop
On the VirtualBox menu select Devices - Insert Guest Additions CD image...

Run the VBox_GAs disk inside the virtual machine desktop
Run the installation when prompted
- If the prompt do not auto-start, open the disk, right-click on the autorun.sh file and Run as a Program
- Enter your password to install it