[OVER 40 PICS!]How To Set Up Virtual Windows 7 on Mac Os X

Introduction:
In this guide I will show you how to install and configurate VirtualBox for Mac Os X and how to set up virtual Windows 7 using VirtualBox.
Note: VirtualBox is nowadays totally free for home and business use! Using this guide is 100% legal!

Chapter 1: Downloading the needed packages.
First thing we are going to do is head to www.virtualbox.org and to the downloads section. We will going to download VirtualBOX 4.0.4 for intel-based Mac-computers. I highly suggest downloading the Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack 4.0.4 which will enable USB, RDP and PXE Boot support on your virtual Windows.




Chapter 2: Installing VirtualBox + Oracle VM Extension Pack.

First we are going to install Virtual Box:







After installing VirtualBox, open the application and start Extension Pack installation:




After installing needed applications + packages, you will need to create virtual machine and hard drive which is shown in the next chapter of this guide.

Chapter 3: Creating a virtual machine and the boot hard drive.

First thing you do is open the VirtualBox application, from the applications menu(or from dock if you have it mounted there).
Click the ”New” button from the upper left corner, and it will open the ”New Virtual Machine Wizard”. Follow the pictures in the guide.













After creating the Virtual Machine and the virtual hard drive, we are ready to adjust the proper settings for the Virtual Machine for it to run Windows 7 smoothly.
In the upper left corner is the button ”Settings”, select it and proceed following the pictures in the guide.











After the settings are correct, we are able to proceed to the Windows 7 installation, which is shown in the next chapter of this guide.

Chapter 4: Installing Virtual Windows 7.

Start VirtualBox from Dock or from applications menu. On the top row next to ”New” and ”Settings” buttons is the ”Start” button which starts up the Virtual Machine.

In the first start of the Machine it will show you a Wizard, where you can choose if you want to install the Virtual Windows from image file or from DVD/CD-rom.

In this guide I show how its done from .iso file from your computer hard drive. Its even more simple when its done from DVD-drive but I find it faster when its done from DVD-image file.






















Many people might think ”Why run Windows virtually, when you can install it with bootcamp and have dualbooting Mac?”. Well, I've had a lot of time to test and use Windows-based operating systems on Mac, virtually and in bootcamp. Lately I've noticed that when running Windows through bootcamp, Mac doesnt seem to be able to use its features when running Windows. For example, playing games on bootcamp, causes the gfx card overheat ALOT, since it uses much more resources then if you are running the windows virtually THROUGH Mac Os X. When you dualboot from bootcamp, it uses Windows based drivers, and when running virtually, it uses Mac Os X-based drivers, which allows Mac to use all of its features and your computer is much more stable then with bootcamp.

I would also like to point out, that VirtualBox is available for Windows aswell, and this guide works for that version too. I have personally installed Virtual Windows 98 to my PC, where I can play all those classic games, which cannot be run on newer Windows systems. (Yes I know there is dosbox for old dos-games, but even that is not as stable as virtual Windows 98)

 

Very descriptive guide, might want to improve on the various uses of it though.

For example, you could include the fact that it can be useful to programmers looking to use different compilers; for example compiling c or c++ is often better done in Linux.

Also, it's good for experimenting with OS's; again going back to Linux, it can be a frustrating experience not knowing how to do anything and it helps to start out with that oh so familiar windows in the background.

 

Very impressive guide. I use this exact same thing on my Mac when I want to open up windows as I get annoyed with switching back and forth with bootcamp. This is a must read guide for any mac owner and you made it extremely well. Props to you man.

 

Thanks alot! Ive already started making some other MAC-related guides, will publish them when they are finished

 

I never liked vbox, it seems to be a complete resource whore, I prefer qemu though, it's lighterweight on resources, but if you don't run the accelerator you'll be blows back to pentium days :s

Nice guide though.