How to Run Windows VM on Linux: A Complete Guide

If you’re sittin’ in front of a Linux computer, but you need to run Windows 11, well, don’t worry, there’s a way to do it without throwing your machine out the window. You can run a Windows virtual machine (VM) on Linux, and it’s not too hard once you know how. Let me tell ya how it works, step by step, all easy to follow, just like making a good pot of soup.

Now, first thing’s first. You can’t just wish Windows 11 to run on Linux, you gotta set up a special program for it. The easiest way, in my humble opinion, is by usin’ VirtualBox. It’s free, it’s simple, and it works pretty darn well. So, let’s get started with this ol’ thing.

Step 1: Download VirtualBox

Head over to the VirtualBox website. Don’t worry about all them fancy words, just click that download button. You want the version that matches your Linux setup. If you got Ubuntu or something, they got it covered for you. Once it’s downloaded, go ahead and install it like you would with any other program. If you ain’t sure how to do that, just ask your grandkid for help, they’ll know what to do.

Step 2: Start VirtualBox and Create a New VM

Now that VirtualBox is on your machine, open it up. It’ll look like a big ol’ window with some buttons. You’ll see a blue button that says New right there. Click that, and it’ll ask ya what kind of VM you want to make. You just pick “Windows,” and then the version of Windows you’re tryin’ to run, which, in this case, would be Windows 11. Don’t worry if it don’t ask too many questions, just follow the steps and keep hittin’ “Next.”

Step 3: Set Up Your VM

Now, you need to give your VM some memory and storage. It’s just like makin’ sure you’ve got enough space for all your cans of beans in the pantry. If you got 8GB of RAM in your computer, give the VM about 4GB of it. If you got more, you can give it more. Just don’t give it too much or your computer might get a bit slow, like an old mule in the heat.

For storage, you’ll need a hard drive for the VM to live on. Just create a new virtual hard disk and give it at least 50GB. You can always add more later if you need to. Just make sure you give it enough to fit Windows and any programs you plan to use. I wouldn’t try to put too much on there, though—just the basics.

Step 4: Install Windows on Your VM

Now comes the fun part! To get Windows 11 onto your VM, you’re gonna need a copy of the Windows installation file—an ISO file. If you don’t already have one, you can download it from Microsoft’s website. They got it all nice and easy for ya. Once you’ve got that file, go back to VirtualBox and tell it where to find the Windows ISO. You do that by clicking on the settings for your new VM, go to the “Storage” section, and click the little disk icon. From there, you can choose the ISO file you downloaded.

Once that’s all set up, just start up the VM. It’ll think it’s booting up a real computer, and it’ll ask you to install Windows just like you’re installing it on a regular PC. Just follow the steps, like you’re installin’ Windows on a brand-new machine. It might take a while, but don’t rush it. It’ll get there.

Step 5: Fine-Tuning and Settings

Once you got Windows running, you might wanna do some fine-tuning. VirtualBox lets you adjust how much of your computer’s power goes to the VM, like how much of your computer’s processor and graphics you want to share. If you want it to run smoother, you can tweak these settings a bit, but don’t overdo it. It’s like givin’ your chickens too much corn—they’ll get all lazy and not lay eggs!

Also, remember to install Guest Additions for VirtualBox. This is a special tool that makes sure your VM runs better, lets you share files between Linux and Windows, and gives you better display resolution. You can find this option in the “Devices” menu once Windows is up and runnin’.

Step 6: Using the VM

Once Windows is up and runnin’, you can use it just like a regular computer. You can install all your usual Windows programs, run your software, or do whatever else you need. VirtualBox lets you control the VM with a mouse and keyboard, just like you would with a regular Windows machine. If you ever need to shut it down, you can just click the shutdown button from within the VM or close it from the VirtualBox main window.

Step 7: Alternatives

If VirtualBox don’t quite suit your fancy, you can always look into VMware or QEMU. They’re other programs that let you run VMs on Linux. They might be a little more complicated, but if you’re the type that likes tinkering with things, they’re worth a try.

But if you’re lookin’ for something easy, VirtualBox is the way to go. It’s like a trusty ol’ hat that’ll get you through all kinds of weather.

So there you have it, that’s how you can run a Windows virtual machine on your Linux system. It’s a little bit of work up front, but once you got it all set up, you’ll be able to run your Windows programs and games without havin’ to switch back and forth between different systems. Just remember to keep it simple, and you’ll be fine.

Tags：[Linux, Windows 11, VirtualBox, run Windows on Linux, virtual machine, Linux VM, VMware, QEMU, Guest Additions, install Windows, run Windows software on Linux]