PCSTATS     
[X]   Directory of
Guides & Reviews

Beginners Guides
Motherboards by Brand
Weekly Newsletter
Archived Newsletters

+70 MORE Beginner GUIDES....
Beginners Guides: Virtualized Windows 8 Installation with Oracle VirtualBox
Beginners Guides: Virtualized Windows 8 Installation with Oracle VirtualBox - PCSTATS
Just updated -- Try out Windows 8 by setting up an easy-to-use virtual machine in an existing PC. PCSTATS shows you how to create a Virtual PC, how to install it and where to tweak Windows 8.
Filed under: Beginners Guides Published:  Author: 
External Mfg. Website: Microsoft Mar 18 2013   Max Page  
Home > Reviews > Beginners Guides > Microsoft Beginners Guides

Windows 8 CP Desktop for the first time

The navigation is a little different here, to bring up a menu bar which is hidden along the right side of the page you need to move the mouse pointer to where the orange circle is in the lower right corner and wait a moment or two.

This black menu bar will then slide out from the right hand side of the Windows 8 desktop.

"Ctrl-Alt-Delete" will bring up a much advanced version of Task Manager.

Removing a Virtual Machine

When you wish to remove the 'Win8' virtual machine, simply right click on the 'Win8' name and select 'Remove' > 'Delete all files.' That will delete it and every program installed to the virtual Windows 8 PC system.

Tip 1: Transfer files via Network Share between the Host & Virtual System in Oracle VM VirtualBox.

Moving files between a Host system and Virtual system is not as straight forward as Copy and Paste or Dragging and Dropping from one window to the next - remember, you've created a virtualized Windows installation that for all intents and purposes is a distinct computer within a computer. Transferring files is not impossible, nor is it even difficult... we simply must configure a shared directory in a special way.

To do this; start the virtual Windows 8 machine and from the top of the window select Devices > Install Guest Additions > follow this through till the system prompts to restart.

Next, create a new folder on the host system desktop and label it "VIRTUAL_SHARE". Then, in the virtual machine window, select Devices > Shared Folders... > click on the little blue folder icon with the green plus to 'Add Shared Folders' > for Folder Path, click on the little black arrow and navigate to the folder "VIRTUAL_SHARE" on the host system desktop. You could also share an entire partition like the C:/ or D:/ drive if you wish. Be sure to check "auto-mount" and check "make permanent" so that the share is visible when you run the virtual system the next time.

Next, while still in the virtual machine window, create a Network Drive by right clicking on the Start button > Windows Explorer > right click on 'Computer' and select 'Map Network Drive...' > by the 'Folder:' heading click the 'Browse' button and expand the [+] sign by VBOXSVR and select the '\\VBOXSVR\VIRTUAL_SHARE'. Click Ok, then Finish. That's it!

Now when you expand 'Computer' in Windows Explorer you will see the virtual machine C:\ drive and the mapped network drive 'VIRTUAL_SHARE (\\VBOXSVR) (Z:\)'.

To move files between the host system and virtual machine, simply copy files to and from the shared folder - VIRTUAL_SHARE - which you've just created on your host machines' desktop.

Tip 2: Enabling USB 2.0 Drives in the Virtual Machine

If you want to move files about via a USB thumb drive, there are a couple extra steps to enable USB 2.0 devices in the virtual machine environment - by default the VM doesn't 'see' any USB drives connected to the host computer. Since these steps aren't self-evident, I thought I'd jot down this quick tip and save someone a bit of frustration in the future.

To enable USB 2.0 devices (ie. not USB mice or keyboards, but USB thumb drives and so forth) we need to install the "Oracle VirtualBox Extension Pack" as well. Download and install the Extension pack from here (https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/downloads).

launch oracle vm virtualbox > right click on the virtual machine > settings > usb > check 'Enable USB Controller' and check 'Enable USB2.0 EHCI Controller' > Ok > Start virtual Machine.

Now when a USB thumb drive is connected to the PC, you can make it accessible in the Virtual Machine window by going to Devices > USB Devices > [click on device name].

The USB thumb drive will mount to the virtual machine and be accessible via Windows Explorer as normal.

Naturally, when the USB device is being used by the Virtual machine, it is not accessible to the host PC system and vice versa. To disconnect the USB drive in the Virtual Machine, go to Devices > USB Devices > [unclick on device name] and it will be released back to the host PC.

Tip 3: How To Bring Back the Start Menu in Windows 8

Once Microsoft Windows 8 Consumer Preview boots to the virtual machine desktop you'll be presented with the totally new 'Metro' user interface. It will take a bit of learning to get used to this maze of icons.... navigation is very different and we here at PCSTATS found it quite frustrating, at first.

If you get lost in escape-less App screens, remember you can always tap 'Ctrl-alt-Del' to bring up Task Manager and a way out. To do this in a virtual machine you cannot use your keyboard, instead, from the VirtualBox Window go to Machine > Insert "CTRL-alt-Del".

To get rid of Windows 8 Metro user interface and bring back the familiar Start Menu, here's what you have to do:

Within the 'Win8' virtual machine, open an Internet Explorer browser window and go to https://www.lee-soft.com/vistart/. download the vistart application to the virtual pc desktop.

from within the 'Win8' virtual machine, install ViStart and be careful to decline all the additional programs it offers during the installation steps. After the app installs the Start menu will reappear in Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

As far as PCSTATS is aware, registration hacks that worked with Windows 8 Developer no longer hold water, so ViStart is the only working solution.

Tip 4: Benchmark Results for Windows 8

If you're curious about Windows 8 performance, PCSTATS has benchmarked Windows 8 with an AMD Bulldozer CPU. There's a full set of CPU benchmarks comparing the same platform installed with Windows 7 and Windows 8; you might be interested to see how "fast" Windows 8 really is....

If you have any comments or questions, please let us know using the PCSTATS Feedback page. Find out about this and many other reviews by joining the Weekly PCSTATS.com Newsletter today! Catch all of PCSTATS latest hardware reviews right here.

PCSTATS
- 99 Windows Vista Performance Tips and Tweaks
- Windows Vista Crash Recovery and Repair Installs
- Making Old Software Compatible with Windows Vista
- Installing Windows Vista
- Safe Mode in Windows Vista For Crash Recovery
- Stopping Vista From Thrashing Hard Disks to Death
- 10 Steps to a Secure PC
- 101 Tips and Tweaks for Windows XP
- 104 Killer Tech Tips for Windows XP
- 99 Performance Tips for Windows XP
- Annual PC Checkup Checklist
- Assembling Your Own PC
- Back up and Restore Data in WinXP
- Browser Hijacking and How to Stop it
- Building a Home Theatre PC / HTPC
- Burning CDs and DVDs
- Cloning WindowsXP
- Converting Videotape Into Video Files
- Crash Recovery: The Blue Screen of Death
- Creating a Weblog / Blog
- Creating MP3 Music Files
- Decrypting Lost Document & Zipped File Passwords
- Diagnosing Bad Hard Drives
- Diagnosing Bad Memory
- Dual OS Installation of WindowsXP 32-bit/64-bit
- Encryption and Online Privacy
- Ergonomics & Computers
- Flashing a Video Card BIOS
- Flash Memory Data Recovery and Protection
- Firewalls and Internet Security
- Firewall Setup and Configuration
- Forgotten Passwords & Recovery Methods
- Formatting and Partitioning a Hard Drive
- Fundamentals of Upgrading a PC
- Hard Drive Data Recovery
- Home Networking and File Sharing
- How to Install Intel Socket 775 CPU and Heatsink
- How to Install Intel Socket 1366 CPU and Heatsink
- How To Install AMD Socket FM1 CPU and Heatsink
- How To Install Intel Socket 1155 CPU and Heatsink
- How to Fix Homesite Design Mode to Work in WindowsXP/ Vista
- How To Make a Budget Desktop Computer on the Cheap
- How to Update a Motherboard BIOS
- Installing RAID on Desktop PCs
- Installing WindowsXP

- Internet Connection Sharing
- Legally Copying Software and Music
- Linux Part 1: Getting Familiar
- Linux Part 2: Installing a PC
- Linux Part 3: New Software
- Little Known Features of WindowsXP
- Making DVD Movies from Video Files
- Most Common Ways to Kill a PC
- Optical Drives & Recording Formats
- Overclocking the CPU, Motherboard & Memory
- Overclocking the Videocard
- Preventing Data Theft from a Stolen Laptop
- Printer Sharing on a Home Network
- Quick Guide for Eliminating Spyware and Hijacker Software
- RAM, Memory and Upgrading
- Registry: Backups, Repairs, and Protection
- Remote Access to Computers
- RSS Feed Setup & Subscriptions
- Setting up an FTP Server in WinXP
- Slipstreaming WindowsXP with Service Pack 2
- Spyware Protection and Removal
- Stopping Spam
- Synchronizing Files and Folders
- Unattended Windows 2000/XP Installations
- Understanding & Creating Batch Files
- Understanding & Tweaking WindowsXP Services
- Upgrading A Motherboard Without Reinstalling
- Upgrading Win98 to Windows XP
- USB Memory Drive Projects & Tips
- VPNs and Internet Connection Security
- Website Hosting From A Home PC
- Website Hosting With Apache
- Windows XP Command Prompt
- Windows XP Safe Mode Explained
- Wireless Home Networking
- Wireless Network Security

Got an idea for a Guide we haven't already covered? Send it in.

< Previous Page © 2023 PCSTATS.com
Please respect the time and effort that went into creating each PCSTATS Beginners Guide, do not illegally copy. Thank you.
Beginners Guides Reviews...»

 

Contents of Article: Microsoft Beginners Guides
 Pg 1.  Beginners Guides: Virtualized Windows 8 Installation with Oracle VirtualBox
 Pg 2.  Step 2: Creating a Virtual Machine in Oracle VirtualBox
 Pg 3.  Step 3: Installing Windows 8 CP into the Virtual Machine
 Pg 4.  Step 4: Windows 8 CP Installation Steps
 Pg 5.  — Windows 8 CP Desktop for the first time

 
Hardware Sections 


 
PCSTATS Network Features Information About Us Contact
FrostyTech
PCSTATS Newsletter
Tech Glossary
Technology WebSite Listings
News Archives
(Review RSS Feed)
Site Map
PCstats Wallpaper
About Us
Privacy Policy
Advertise on PCSTATS

How's Our Driving?
© Copyright 1999-2023 www.pcstats.com All rights reserved. Privacy policy and Terms of Use.