If we download many programs on the PC to try them (maybe because we are a blog manager or we just like to try new things) you will surely have thought of how many crap and residues all the programs we try can leave, without thinking about what they might contain adware or spyware. In this case we can run for cover by installing a Windows 10 test virtual machine using Virtualbox, even if we already have Windows 10 as the real operating system on our PC!
In this way we will have a perfect testing environment on which we can install all the programs just downloaded without starting them on the real machine, so we can thoroughly test any software.
Let's see together how to download Windows 10, how to install it on a virtual machine (which is actually a PC program), using a rather simple procedure and finally how to configure the virtual machine to access the Downloads folder of our primary operating system.
READ ALSO -> How to install Mac OS on Virtualbox (on Windows PC)
1) Download Windows 10 and VirtualBox
To download Windows 10 we access the page here -> Windows 10 Download .
Click on the Download tool button, in order to obtain the MediaCreationTool tool, which allows you to immediately obtain the necessary ISO and save it locally (as necessary for the current guide) or bring it directly to a medium.
A detailed guide is available here -> Download Windows 10 as an update or free download of the ISO .
The downloaded ISO can then be carried on a USB stick or on a DVD for installation on a computer or, as mentioned above, keep the ISO aside for installation on a virtual PC program using a free program such as VirtualBox.
After downloading Windows 10, we download and install the VirtualBox virtualization program on the PC (if we are on Windows 10, we click on Windows hosts ).
2) How to install Windows 10 on VirtualBox
We open VirtualBox and create a new virtual machine from the button on the top left.
In the settings, we write a name at will then select Windows 10 32 or 64 bit depending on the version downloaded and set as a minimum amount of memory to devote to the virtual machine at least 2 GB of RAM, preferably 4 GB to obtain a very reactive virtual machine and fast (but only if we have at least 12 GB of total RAM).
In the wizard you will be asked to create a virtual disk: make sure to adopt a minimum size of 50 GB of type VDI and with an allocated size .
The simplified procedure has ended; before installing Windows 10, we select the newly created machine and click the Settings button , so we can modify some parameters.
Let's go to the System section and enable IO APIC in Motherboard, PAE / NX in Processor, VT-x / AMD-V and the pagination nested in Acceleration .
If the System Acceleration section is not clickable, support for virtualization ( Secure Virtual Machine or VT-x or AMD-V ) must be enabled in the Bios of your computer.
We then go to the storage options and under the SATA Controller or IDE Controller, click on the reader indicated as Empty and then select the disk-shaped symbol at the top right, so as to show the item Choose a virtual optical disk file .
In the file manager that will open we select the Windows 10 ISO file.
In the Screen options, we enable 3D graphics acceleration and increase the memory of the graphics card to the maximum green line ( 256 MB ).
In the network settings, we leave NAT and then in the advanced options choose the Intel PRO / 1000 MT Desktop (82540EM) as the type of card.
At this point, we close the settings by pressing OK and click the green arrow Start after selecting the virtual machine to install Windows 10 by following the installation wizard visible on any Windows 10.
When asked about the type of installation, we choose Custom .
At the end, after starting Windows 10, click on the menu at the top Devices and install the Guest Additions (which will be loaded into the virtual DVD player in explorer resources) for greater performance, to have the large desktop in full screen and freedom of movement of the mouse .
At the end we restart the virtual PC and try Windows 10 as if it were installed on your computer.
3) How to access the real Windows 10 files and folders on the virtual machine
If we want to get the most out of the test machine that we created with Windows 10 we will have to further configure the virtual machine to read the real folders as if they were network folders and enable the drag and drop of files into the virtual machine.
To access, for example, the real Download folder (but it can be done for any folder or an entire disk) inside the Windows 10 virtual machine, turn it off, then open the Settings menu and go to the Shared folders section.
Here we click on the folder-shaped button with a plus on the right side, so as to bring up the window where to select the real folder.
We click on the path of the folder and use the More button to select it personally, then we give a random name and tick the item Automatic assembly .
We click OK to confirm the changes, the next time you start Windows 10 in the virtual machine we will have access to the shared folders of the real machine, just click This PC or open File Explorer and select, in the Network section, the VBOXSVR PC.
We will have access to shared folders, with the ability to copy and paste all the executables or files that we intend to test.
In addition to sharing folders, we can also enable the dragging of files and folders with the virtual machine already started, so that we can act even faster.
We start the Windows 10 virtual machine and, when operational, click on the top of the Devices window menu, then go to the Drag and drop menu, where we will activate the Bidirectional item.
Now we can drag any file or folder from real Windows 10 to virtual Windows 10, so we can quickly move the files to be tested.
READ ALSO -> Alternatives to Virtualbox to install virtual machines
