How to Install Windows 8 on Virtual Box

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Windows 8 version performance is very good when compared to its predecessors.If you have not yet downloaded windows 8 then download it for free now from below link.

There are many ways to install windows 8 as follows:

  1. Installing Windows 8 alongside windows 7(Dual Boot).
  2. Installing Windows 8 on virtual box.
  3. Overwriting the current OS with windows 8.
In this article we will see how to install Windows 8 in a Virtual Box, step by step.We will be discussing the other methods in further articles.

Pre-Requisites:

  1. The version I've chosen for the test is Windows 8 Release Preview ISO 32-bit (x86) English.
  2. You can also use other versions as well like Consumer Preview,Developers Preview or even the Professional(Windows 8 PRO) version itself.
  3. VirtualBox (4.1.8) is the latest version which brings a default configuration for Windows 8 .
  4. I assumed the default setting and I only assigned a size of RAM 3GB (out of 12 in the team) and the memory for the virtual graphics card I have placed at the maximum (128 MB). This does not mean it is the best option,which partly depends on the machine but that is how the installation has been done to provide screenshots for illustration.You can also alter the above settings based on your need and configuration.

Installing Windows 8 via Virtual Box:

To avoid problems when you restart the system, the virtual hard disk is the first boot order and image ISO the second.Insert the ISO disk and get started.
1. The first thing you see is a screen that differs from those seen before in other versions of Windows.It appears with a blue screen with stylish LOGO.
2. In the next screen you have to choose Language and Keyboard layout.I hope most of you go with the default settings itself.
3. After the selection, click "Next" and got to the point where you start the actual installation.

4.In the next page you have to provide a product key to proceed the installation.Windows 8 product key differs for various versions of windows as follows.
Windows 8 Professional Edition Key : XKY4K-2NRWR-8F6P2-448RF-CRYQH  Windows 8 Release Preview Key: TK8TP-9JN6P-7X7WW-RFFTV-B7QPF    Windows 8 Consumer Preview Key: DNJXJ-7XBW8-2378T-X22TX-BKG7J  Windows Server 8 Developers Version Key: 4Y8N3-H7MMW-C76VJ-YD3XV-MBDKV

5.Accept the license agreement and passed the point where we have to make the first decision.
This is very important if you install on a computer that already has an operating system installed, because we will designate partitions.
  • Here I recommend you to choose Custom Installation.

6. In our facility we have nothing to decide and allocate entire virtual disk (20 GB in the default installation).

7. Now we face the slowest part of the installation, copying files from the image ISO , file decompression, installation of operating system features and updates if any.

7. When processing completes, the system restarts automatically after a few seconds, you can control short pressing "Restart now".
8. The system is already installed and after a restart and a succession of black screens with several warnings (Preparing, Getting ready devices, Getting ready system ) and the machine will be restarted again.
9.Next a personalize screen comes out.Here you can choose the theme colour ,PC name.

10. After completing the above process, see the settings screen. We have two options: Express configuration and custom. I selected the first on the characteristics of this test.

11. In the next step we have to decide if we want to associate our facility to a Windows ID or not. In the first case, the partnership will allow us to conveniently download apps from Windows Store, access files and photos from anywhere and sync preferences from any computer. The option chosen has been associated with my Windows installation ID.
12. After a while, we can enter the key to that later we can connect with other Microsoft services automatically (Messenger, Hotmail, Xbox Live and Windows Live Services).
If you are using Release Preview version then use this key:MBFBV-W3DP2-2MVKN-PJCQD-KKTF7 
13. Now we will go through three more black screens while syncing with our own and once the process of adjustments, we will be in the Welcome screen .
14. We have successfully finished Windows 8 Installation.The next time you boot the system, if we have an image associated with your account will appear on the Welcome screen.
Mothi Venkatesh
About the Guest Author:

A Maverick cyber activist and a passionate technocrat. Preferred to be called-"MOTHI". His interest in blogging started when he stepped foot in College.He Blogs at Times of Android.

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