How to install Windows 10 preview version on VirtualBox

Installing Windows 10 on Surface Pro2 is easy and fast. I used Virtual Box to create a Virtual Machine for Windows 10. The entire process took not more than 10 minutes on my Surface Pro 2. Considering this is only a preview version, I would say the more modified and updated Windows 10 will take a little more time once it’s available. One would not want to install this Preview version on top of your current machines and is not recommended. Going through the Virtual Machine root is the safest way to save your data in case something crashes.

You can download the Technical Preview from here

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preview

To start Install Virtual Box and create a ‘New’ Virtual Machine.

Name it whatever you feel like.I selected Windows 8.1 as version for 64 Bit for testing purpose

Select how much RAM you want to provide to the Virtual Machine. I randomly selected 3132 MB.

Create a Virtual hard dive:

My preferred way to run VMs is VDI

Following were the final settings of the VirtualBox and VDI

Now, click Start and you will be prompted to select a Virtual Disk file or a Windows 10 Preview CD

Select the Windows Preview ISO that you downloaded from Microsoft:

Windows 10 will start booting

Took around 4 minutes to install the entire Windows 10 on my Surface Pro 2

The Virtual Machine will reboot twice

Post Reboot Windows asks to press any key to use CD/DVD drive. Please ignore.

Another Reboot takes place

It took only 4 minutes on a Surface Tablet so I assume the Operating system has to be blazing fast.

I created a Local Admin Account:

Voila

Windows 10 has come a long way from Windows 8. The ultra confusing Metro UI has been married to the conventional Start>Programs Menu. This will ensure people fall in love with Windows all over again.

The New UI is clean, well thought out and welcoming.