A virtual machine mimics a computer system, so everyone can run different operating systems and programs. It’s great for testing new features without risking your current ecosystem. You can also test software compatibility in an isolated environment.
Running a virtual machine can be challenging, and not all computers are capable of it. But these days, users can create it on Windows 10.
what do you need?
Your computer must meet several requirements in order for you to create and run a virtual machine. Here’s what you need:
- 64-bit processor with secondary address translation or SLAT. Find information about your processor using these tools.
- Windows 10 Pro, Education, or Enterprise.
Note. Windows Home users can upgrade to the Pro version. Select Settings (Windows + I) Update & Security Activation.
- At least 4 GB of memory. It would be better to have more RAM.
- BIOS setup with virtualization enabled.
- Hard disk space for the OS you are about to add.
What is Hyper-V?
Windows 10 uses a software called Hyper-V to handle virtualization. You will need to activate it if you want to add virtual machines. Several Hyper-V features include the ability to run operating systems and entire hardware components such as hard drives and network switches.
Power users can even use it to virtualize servers if they want.
Turn on virtualization in the BIOS
Restart your computer first. When the computer boots up, press the appropriate key to enter the BIOS. The button differs from one computer to another. However, this is usually the F10, Delete, or F2 key.
After entering BIOS, you can start enabling virtualization settings The BIOS interface differs depending on the manufacturer.
Shut down when you have made any changes to the BIOS settings and restart your computer.
Turn on Hyper-V
You will need Hyper-V to manage your virtual machines. This can be done by opening Control Panel or PowerShell.
Control Panel
control Board
Open the control panel. Now go to Programs and Features Turn Windows Features On or Off.
Find a folder named Hyper-V. Check all Hyper-V subfolders and click OK.
Windows will then try to configure Hyper-V. This may cause a restart after confirming all changes.
PowerShell
PowerShell
Open PowerShell and enter the following line:
Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V -All
If PowerShell responds and says the command could not be found, make sure you run it as administrator. When finished, restart your computer.
Create a virtual machine
When everything is ready, you can start using Hyper-V to create virtual machines on Windows 10. Here’s what you need to do:
Go to Control Panel Administrative Tools and double click Hyper-V to launch the application.
In the Hyper-V left pane, select your computer name so you can work with it. You can add a new virtual machine by choosing Action New Virtual Machine.
A new window will open titled New Virtual Machine Wizard. Complete the steps and click Finish when ready to create a new car.
The new machines will be shown inside Hyper-V. This same application is used to control machines. For example, you can turn machines on and off via Hyper-V.
Also you can read my post on converting an existing PC to a Hyper-V virtual machine. Enjoy!