Virtualbox Guide

Created Wednesday 25 February 2026


Here is my guide, a little old but still generally valid:


Another good written version
https://itsfoss.com/install-linux-in-virtualbox/


A slightly more modern video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6yauM6JdpU


Links to preferred sources:
https://www.virtualbox.org/


https://linuxmint.com/ or https://mxlinux.org/


– notes:




If you like VIDEO, this goes into detail on most everything - Videos
(The virtualbox.org site is cleaner looking now, but the fundamentals are the same)


If you prefer READING and going on your own, see the below.


Default method: Virtual Install.


A "virtual install" is a completely non-destructive, completely reversible way to do "real Linux" on your computer. It's not much different from installing an app, though the process is a little more involved:


For a virtual install, you will need VIRTUALIZATION SOFTWARE and A LINUX DISTRIBUTION


VIRTUALIZATION SOFTWARE

Most of you can still use https://www.virtualbox.org/ - roughly


  1. Download AND INSTALL Virtualbox
  2. Download, but DO NOT DOUBLE CLICK a Linux ISO file. It's big.
  3. Run Virtualbox, and at the right time, navigate to your downloads and use that as the install file.

Backlinks: FSU Courses:LIS3353:Linux Install Guide