How to Install Windows 10 Technical Preview in VirtualBox

Downloading and Installing Windows 10 Technical Preview

1. To download an official copy of Windows 10 Technical Preview, you first need to be part of the Windows Insider Program. To join the program, visit https://insider.windows.com and click on Join now.

2. Now login with your Microsoft account. If you do not have one, you can click on Sign up now to create one and then go back to the previous step of this tutorial. If you were already logged in the Microsoft account, you would not be shown a Sign in page.

3. You will now be taken to Accept the Terms of Use and Privacy Statement page. Once you have read this page and all the relevant information, you may choose to click on, œI Accept and then proceed with this article.

4. Click on install Technical Preview.

5. Scroll down to the Download links section. You will see a list of available downloads. Depending on your language and your system architecture you may download one of those files. If you are not sure whether you are working on a 64-bit or 32-bit machine, you can download the 32-bit (x86) file by clicking on the Download link right besides it. To make use of 64 bit you may need to enable Virtualisation from your BIOS. If you are not aware of these concepts or do not know how to do it, download the 32-bit (x86) file for a safer bet. In this article I have picked English 64-bit (x64) as I am working on a machine with a 64-bit processor with a 64-bit Operating System.

6. Once your download is complete, open Oracle VM VirtualBox and then click on the New button.

7. In the Name field enter, Win 10 Tech Preview and then select Microsoft Windows as the Type. Now select Windows 8.1 (64 bit) as the version. If you had downloaded a 32 bit Windows 10 Technical Preview file then select Windows 8.1 (32 bit) from the list. Now click on Next. If you had downloaded the 64 bit Windows 10 Technical Preview file and if you do not see Windows 8.1 (64 bit) in the Version list then you might need to enable Virtualisation in your BIOS. If your are not aware of how to do so, you may search for a tutorial using your favourite search engine or go back a couple of steps in this tutorial and download a 32 bit (x86) Windows 10 Technical Preview file.

8. Leave the memory size to its recommended value and click on Next.

9. Select Create a virtual hard drive now and click on Create.

10. Select VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image) as the Hard drive file type and click on Next.

11. Pick Dynamically allocated and click on Next.

12. Pick a file location for your Virtual Hard Disk if you wish to change the default location. Leave the size of the virtual hard disk to its default value and click on Create.

13. On the Oracle VM VirtualBox select Win 10 Tech Preview Virtual Machine from the list if not already selected. Now click on Start to boot up our Virtual Machine.

14. You will now be asked to select the start-up disk. Click on the browse folder icon.

15. Select the Windows 10 Technical Preview image file you had downloaded and click on Open.

16. Once you have selected the image file click on Start.

17. This is it... This is what we have been waiting for. Just a few more steps and you would then be using the new version of Windows! Click Next on Windows Setup running on your Virtual Machine.

18. Click on Install now.

19. Read the License terms and click on Next if you wish to proceed.

20. Click on Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).

21. Proceed by clicking on Use express settings. If you wish you can click on Customize and follow the onscreen instructions till Windows 10 has been installed. In this article, we are following the Express Settings.

22. Sign in to your Microsoft account and click on Next.

23. Depending on the security settings for your Microsoft Account you may be present a couple of screens to verify you identity. Follow the onscreen instructions and continue to the next step in this tutorial.

24. Click on Turn off these OneDrive settings.

25. Sit back and enjoy your favourite snack or beverage while Windows 10 is being setup on your Virtual Machine.

26. This is it! This is what we have been excited about. Your Windows 10 Technical preview is up and running! Go ahead, experiment with it. Check out new features and share it with the world.Check out the Start button! It is back! Enjoy Windows 10...