Installing Windows into VirtualBox

Before setting up VirtualBox, you'll need to make sure you have one important disk: a Windows installation disk (available from the FairMart Library). We've chosen VirtualBox only because it's free, but the basic procedure is the same with Fusion or Parallels -- you're just using a different virtualizer. The commercial programs offer more tools and easier interactions between the Guest and Host operating systems.

1. Make sure you have enough disk space. With emulators, the "virtual hard drive" is a file that gradually increases in size, so less room is required -- 20-30 GB.
2. Download or install the program from the vendor's website, in our example, http://www.virtualbox.org. Their site has a downloads section, and what you want is the binary for "OS X Hosts" (Intel Macs)
3. The download will most likely result in a mounted disk image showing an installer package. Double-click to run that installation.
4. When that installation finishes, you'll get a registration screen, and the VirtualBox application window. Hit the "New" button, and answer the questions about the type of machine you're virtually going to create.
5. The program will ask for a name for the machine, then you'll create a virtual hard drive file, (20-30GB is good for occasional use). You'll then be returned to the application window, where you'll now see your machine listed. Select it, and click the "Start" button.
6. On a VM's first start, the VirtualBox application starts a wizard which will ask for the drive or file from which you would like to boot to start the OS installation (the source disk). Generally, your Mac's Optical drive will be selected by default. Put in your Windows disk at this point, and click continue. The Windows installation will start, and ask you to select the partition onto which to install it (there should be only one). Be aware that the virtual machine will take control of the keyboard -- if you want to go back to other tasks on your Mac, you'll have to release it with a key-command (usually the left-hand Command key) or use command-tab to switch back to other programs until the 'guest additions are installed.
7. The source disk's installer program will then copy files onto the target disk in the virtual machine, and then reboot from the target disk. The new system will self-configure, download updates, and restart again.
8. As soon as Windows is done getting updates, open a browser and head to http://www.lehigh.edu/security/norton, enter your Lehigh credentials, and download and install Symantec Endpoint -- virtual or not, you now have a PC on your Mac, and need to be security-conscious.
9. Finally, to complete the setup, be sure to install the VirtualBox "Guest Additions" -- these are software drivers that will make switching between the Mac OS and the Guest OS much easier (like automatically transferring mouse control by moving the cursor into and out of the window, rather than using the key-stroke to release it.) Do this by first mounting the VirtualBox Guest Additions disk image by selecting "Mount CD Image" from the Device menu, and then, in the VM, navigate to the "VirtualBox Guest Additions" setup program on the DVD drive. Run this, assuring Windows, as needed, that you do indeed want to install the drivers, and reboot one more time.