Installing Windows 10 Technical Preview in VirtualBox
I am going to install Windows 10 technical Preview as a Virtual Machine in VirtualBox.
The latest version is here:
VirtualBox 4.3.18 for Windows hosts x86/amd64
VirtualBox 4.3.18 for OS X hosts x86/amd64
Install VirtualBox and use the default settings if you have not done so.
I started by downloading the Microsoft Secure Download Manager application (SDM_EN.MSI)
Then I downloaded the ISO file (en_windows_10_technical_preview_x86_dvd_5552509).
To set up Windows 10 in VirtualBox:
Start up VirtualBox and create a new VM using the pre-defined Windows 8 template. Select the Windows 8.1 as the version. (Choose Windows 8.1 (64bit) if you have a 64-bit ISO) Hit Next.
Set the Memory Size. The recommended figure should be fine.
I allocated 1 Gb of Ram for the x86 ISO (the 64-bit version requires 2 GB of RAM ).
I added the ISO as an virtual CD drive on the first IDE controller :
VirtualBox creates a dynamic virtual hard drive of 25 Gigs. Accept VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image) as the hard drive file type. Choose "new virtual hard drive to be dynamically altered" or a fixed size.
Click Create and VirtualBox will begin building the drive.
In the Motherboard tab, make sure the box next to “Enable EFI (Special OSes only)” is checked,
and the “Enable PAE/NX” box under the Processor tab.
Starting up I was greeted by the terms of service that told me that this was pre-release software and I should not use it in a production environment, and to back up my data. Duh! This is pre-release software and is expected to crash and to have bugs. Here is some of the terms of service you agree to when you sign up for Windows Insider. To quote Microsoft:
“The Program Services include experimental and early pre-release software. This means that you may experience occasional crashes and in rare cases data loss. To recover, you may have to reinstall your applications, the operating system, or re-flash your device. Using the Program Services on some devices may impact your warranty (check with your device provider). By participating, you agree to frequently backup your data.”
Here we are asked to choose from an upgrade or custom installation. Go with custom.
And away we go:
Once the installer started up I was greeted by the settings screen. Instead of using the express settings, I decided to use the custom setting and take a peek at some of the new features in Windows 10.
We are asked if we want to allow automatic updates for our apps, use SmartScreen online services, and use Do Not Track whan useing Internet Explorer. Sure.
Do we want to use the online solutions database from Microsoft and help them make this a better OS? Sure, why not.
We are asked to adjust what data we want to share with Microsoft.
Here we are asked to sign into our Microsoft account or create a new one. I chose to create a new Microsoft account to test with.
Down at the bottom I saw "sign in without a Microsoft account". That brings up to setting up a workstation account.
Then it all went dark. And a desktop came up.
The Start menu is Back!
Here is the Windows Features that are available: IIS Web Server, AD Lightweight Directory Services, MSMQ, CMAK, SNMP, and lots more..
Basic "About this Computer" screen with desktop icons turned on.
Here is the App Store. Lots of games.
Selecting "Top Free Apps" get the basic apps. No Chrome?
Let's install the FaceBook app just for fun..
And now it wants my Microsoft login so it can sync my content. I don't think so. Anything I tried to install from the App Store required me to have a Microsoft account. Hard Fail, Microsoft.
But Chrome installed right from www.google.com
Task Manager is still there. Whew.
There are a few warnings before you do anything to your main computer:
Back up your data first! Do a backup of any important data if you do an upgrade from Windows 7 or 8.
If you have a recovery partition on your system, it will no longer be able to use it to restore your computer to the previous version of Windows.
If you do decide to install on a stand alone PC you have handy, here are the bare metal OS specs from Microsoft:
System requirements
Basically, if your PC can run Windows 8.1, you’re good to go. If you're not sure, don't worry—Windows will check your system to make sure it can install the preview.
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
Free hard disk space: 16 GB
Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver
A Microsoft account and Internet access.
Important notes
Some PC processors and hardware configurations aren’t supported by Technical Preview.
(x86 or 64 bit Only)
To access the Windows Store and to download and run apps, you need an Internet connection, a screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768, and a Microsoft account.
After you install the preview, you won't be able to play DVDs using Windows Media Player.
If you have Windows 8 Pro with Media Center and you install the preview, Windows Media Center will be removed.
The preview won’t work on Windows RT 8.1 and Windows N editions.
The preview is not available for Windows Phone.
A small number of older, 64-bit CPUs might be blocked from installing the preview.
If you're running Windows 7 without SP1, you can only upgrade to the preview by downloading an ISO file. If you install Windows 7 SP1, you can upgrade to the preview by using Windows Update or by downloading an ISO file.
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