Probably, many users of modern computer systems have come across the concept of virtual machines. True, not everyone knows what it is and why it is needed. Let's try to explain this with examples of what virtual machines are for Windows 10. In this case, a brief overview of the general rules for installing and creating them will be made, especially since for the most part they are almost identical. So you can consider a similar issue on the basis of any one program.
What are virtual machines for Windows 10?
We will not go into consideration of a huge number of technical terms and principles of work, it is enough to look at this concept from the point of view of, so to speak, a simple and intelligible language.
The virtual machine for Windows 10, however, as for other operating systems of this family, is a special software that allows you to emulate a real computer, but only in virtual terms. That is, physically the computer, with all its hardware and software components, is absent, but appears in the system itself as a virtual copy of it.
This is somewhat similar to some constructor, where there are parts from which you can assemble the desired configuration according to how physically the computer terminals are assembled manually. In other words, for example, a virtual machine for Windows 10 x64 allows you to create a 32- or 64-bit computer system with a certain type of processor, RAM, virtual hard disk, video or graphics adapter, etc., as well as install it any "OS", other than the "tens" (yes even Linux or Mac OS X).
Main programs
If we talk about programs that are virtual machines for Windows 10, today you can find a lot of them. However, the most common and practical products include Oracle VirtualBox (or Innotek VitrualBox), MS Virtual PC, VMware Workstation.
What will be used in the process of creating a virtual computer system does not matter. The fact is that installing a virtual machine on Windows 10 is very similar in all basic principles. Differences may concern only some specific nuances.
How to create a virtual machine in Windows 10: general rules
In general, the process of creating a virtual machine includes several basic steps that are almost identical to each other. However, in the case of using third-party programs, the user will have to decide the question: "How to install a virtual machine on Windows 10?"
And not everyone understands: why use additional software if the “top ten” already has a built-in module called Hyper-V? After all, using it to create virtual machines for Windows 10 is much easier, because you can do without other specific applications. And in some of them, the procedure can be quite confusing.
On the other hand, several main stages can be noted: installing a program or activating a module, naming a machine and creating a location, determining the parameters of RAM, a virtual disk and other hardware components, and installing a guest operating system. It makes no sense to describe all the programs, so let us dwell on the option of using the Hyper-V module.
Pre-enable Hyper-V Embedded Client
We will make a reservation right away: the Hyper-V module is present only in the “dozens” versions of Pro and Enterprise. In other versions it is not. By default, it is turned off so as not to use the resources of a computer system at all levels. It needs to be turned on.
To do this, you will need to log into the programs and components section of the "Control Panel", where the Windows menu is selected. It simply ticks the box next to the name of the module. You will have to wait a few minutes until the service is activated. After that, the system will be rebooted, and then the Hyper-V Dispatcher component will appear in the administration section. This is our virtual machine for Windows 10. It remains to apply its configuration.
Creating a Virtual Switch
Upon entering the appropriate dispatcher, you will first need to create a virtual switch. This, by the way, virtual machines for Windows 10, created using third-party programs, and differ from the Hyper-V module. They simply do not have such an opportunity, although many note that in the case of the "native" module this only complicates the situation.
Nevertheless, it is the switch that allows you to configure the Internet connection. So, we launch the “Dispatcher”, and then click on the name of the computer and select the same module for virtual switches. There are three types: external, internal and private. It is better to choose the first option (a network card or Wi-Fi will be used). Next, click the create button, set the name of the switch, select the desired type of connection and use the “Apply” button.
The main stages of creating a virtual machine
Now you can do the machine itself. For this, the same “Hyper-V Manager” is used, in which the command to create a virtual machine is selected on the right of the menu. At the first stage, as in all other programs, we indicate its name and location on the hard drive or in a logical partition.
What follows is the choice of generation. Many experts advise choosing the second, because it has a number of additional features and even works with UEFI, but does not support the installation of 32-bit systems. The first generation copes equally well with 32- and 64-bit systems, but does not support UEFI, so it's up to you.
Reservation of RAM can be left unchanged (the automatic determination of the optimal parameter here, unlike other programs, the module is still “native”), but with the physical “RAM” at 4 GB or higher, the bar can be raised. It is advisable not to use dynamic expandable memory. This may affect the operation of the main system.
In the next window for network settings, you need to select the created switch from the drop-down list , and then specify the reserved space on the hard drive. After that, we indicate the location of the pre-mounted image with the system to be installed and click the “Finish” button.
To activate, use the selection of the created virtual machine in the Hyper-V Manager and use the appropriate command. After that, click on the green button on the panel. The system will prompt you to press any key, after which the guest OS will be activated and installed in the normal mode.
Enabling BIOS virtualization
But that is not all. If virtualization is not enabled in the BIOS, the virtual machine created for Windows 10 x64 or x32 may not work.
To activate this component, before starting the system we enter the BIOS settings (usually these are Del, F2, F12 keys, etc.), after which we go to the Advanced settings section.
There is a line like Virtualization Technology. By default, this component is disabled (the Disabled parameter is assigned to it). Change it to Enabled and exit the BIOS with the changes saved (as a rule, the F10 key is Save & Exit Setup). After rebooting, the virtual machine can be used without any restrictions.
In principle, additional device verification at boot for the BIOS can be enabled in the virtual machine itself, in the corresponding settings section. But this, so to speak, just in case.