How to Setup a Windows 10 Virtual Machine on Linux?

Set up a Windows 10 Virtual Machine on Linux

However, it is possible to run Linux OS on your Windows 10 but this environment has certain limitations in terms of tools and features that one can use. There are only three distros out of which you can choose. These include OpenSUSE Leap, SUSE Linux Enterprise, and Ubuntu. Moreover, if you use these, you will be forced to use the command-line interface. This means that you cannot run graphical experiences. 

What to do to Enable Hyper V on Windows 10? 

Hyper V is a virtualization technology backed by Microsoft which is made available on variants of Windows Pro that are Windows 10 Enterprise and Windows 10 Pro Education. This enables a user to create a single or multiple virtual machines to run and install different operating systems on one hardware. Mentioned below are the steps that you need to perform to enable Hyper-V on your Windows 10.

Step 1: Launch Control Panel.

Step 2: Open Programs.

Step 3: Select the option of Turn off or on the Windows features. 

Step 4: Select the Hyper V option. Also, make sure that the Hyper V platform and Hyper V Management tools are selected. 

Step 5: Click on Ok to start with the process. 

Step 6: Once the installation process is over, choose Restart now to apply the newly changed settings. 

How to Create a Virtual Machine? 

After you are done adding virtualization to your Windows 10, the next thing that you need to do is to create a virtual machine for the Linux distribution that you wish to use. Before you start with the process, the first thing that you need to do is to create a virtual switch to connect the virtual machine to the internet. 

How to Create a Virtual Switch?

Mentioned below are the steps that you need to perform to create a virtual switch on Hyper-V. 

Step 1: Launch Start.

Step 2: Start looking for the Hyper-V Manager and select the result appearing on the top. 

Step 3: Select the Action menu.

Step 4: Choose New and select Virtual Switch Manager. 

Step 5: Go to the left pane and choose the New virtual network switch. 

Step 6: Select External that is given on the right side.

Step 7: Select the Create Virtual Switch button. 

Step 8: Create a new name for the Switch. 

Step 9:  Under the section on the type of connection, please ensure that the External network is selected on the network adapter. 

Step 10: Select apply and then click on Ok. 

Steps to Create a Virtual Machine

After you are done creating a virtual switch, you can begin with the process of creating a new virtual machine. 

Step 1: Launch the Start menu.

Step 2: Start searching for the Hyper V manager and select the result appearing at the top. 

Step 3: Select the Action menu. 

Step 4:  Select New and then select virtual machine

Step 5:  Click on the button of Next. 

Step 6: Create a name for your virtual machine. 

Step 7: Save your virtual machine in the default location or you can choose to save your virtual machine in a separate location. 

Step 8: Select next to continue. 

Step 9: You can either keep the default option of generation 1 selected or you can choose Generation 2 in case you want UEFI-based firmware. 

Step 10: Select Next. 

Step 11: Choose the amount of RAM that you want to allocate to your virtual machine. If the Linux distribution you are using is Ubuntu, then you need at least 2 GB of memory. It is up to you to allocate as much memory as you want but it will be subject to the physical memory on your system.

Step 12: Select Next. 

Step 13: Go to the drop-down menu and click on the virtual switch that you created before.  

Step 14: Select Next. 

Step 15: Do not change the default settings on your virtual hard drive but allocate at least 25 GB of storage to Ubuntu, which is the minimum storage required to run it. 

Step 16: Select Next to continue. 

Step 17: Now, the installation options will appear before you on the screen. Choose the option to install an operating system from the bootable CD/DVD-ROM option. 

Step 18: Click on the image file option. 

Step 19: Choose the path for ISO files together with the installation files of Ubuntu. 

Step 20: Select Next. 

Step 21: Click on Finish.