How To Install Windows 7 in VirtualBox on Ubuntu without a CD or ISO

VirtualBox is a powerful tool that allows you to run different operating systems on your machine without having to partition your hard drive or reboot your computer. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of installing Windows 7 on VirtualBox in Ubuntu, without the need for a physical CD or ISO.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, you need to have VirtualBox installed on your Ubuntu system. If you haven’t installed it yet, you can download it from the official VirtualBox website here.

Step 1: Downloading the Windows 7 ISO File

To install Windows 7, you will need a copy of the Windows 7 ISO file. This file can be downloaded from the Microsoft website or other authorized sources. Please ensure you download the ISO file from a legitimate source to avoid any potential security risks.

Step 2: Creating a New Virtual Machine

Open VirtualBox and create a new virtual machine by clicking on the New button. Enter a name for your virtual machine, select ‘Microsoft Windows’ as the type, and ‘Windows 7’ as the version. Click Next to proceed.

Step 3: Allocating Memory

The next step is to allocate memory to your virtual machine. The recommended memory size for Windows 7 is 1GB, but you can allocate more if you have enough RAM on your system. Click Next after setting your desired memory size.

Step 4: Creating a Virtual Hard Disk

Now, you need to create a virtual hard disk for your virtual machine. Select Create a virtual hard disk now and click Create. Choose the hard disk file type (VDI is recommended for VirtualBox), storage details (Dynamically allocated is a good choice), and allocate the desired space (at least 16GB is recommended for Windows 7). Click Create to finish the setup.

Step 5: Configuring the Virtual Machine

With the virtual machine created, it’s time to configure it to use the Windows 7 ISO file. Select your virtual machine from the list and click on Settings. Navigate to the Storage tab, click on the empty CD icon under the Controller: IDE section, and then click on the CD icon on the right side. Select Choose a disk file… and browse to the location of your Windows 7 ISO file. Click OK to save the settings.

Step 6: Installing Windows 7

Start the virtual machine by selecting it and clicking on the Start button. The virtual machine will boot from the Windows 7 ISO file. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 7 as you would on a physical machine. Once the installation is complete, you can use Windows 7 within the VirtualBox environment.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter the error message “FATAL: No bootable medium found! System halted.”, it means that you haven’t properly configured the virtual machine to boot from the ISO file. Double-check the settings and make sure the ISO file is selected as the bootable medium.

Conclusion

That’s it! You have successfully installed Windows 7 in VirtualBox on Ubuntu without a CD or ISO. Now, you can enjoy the benefits of running Windows 7 on your Ubuntu machine without having to dual boot or partition your hard drive. Remember to always download Windows ISO files from legitimate sources to ensure legality and avoid any potential security risks. Happy virtualizing!