Kubuntu Focus: VirtualBox W11 Guided Solution

VirtualBox W11

Install Windows 11 on VirtualBox

Run several OSes such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, BSD, and others inside a virtual machine. This article shows how to prepare, setup, and install Windows 11 in a VirtualBox Virtual Machine (VM). IMPORTANT: If you are looking to dual-boot Windows from a separate drive, please contact customer support to receive a full installation kit.

Download Windows 11 ISO
Start Virtualbox
Install W11
Bypass W11 Hardware Requirements
Setup W11
Troubleshooting
Revisions
Disclaimer

Run Windows 11 alongside Kubuntu using VirtualBox.

Please read the disclaimer before proceeding. We review and update guided solutions regularly. If you have suggestions or requests, please write support@kfocus.org.

Download Windows 11 ISO

Use a browser to download the Windows 11 ISO. Select Windows 11, followed by your preferred language, and then select 64-bit Download.

If you prefer, you can download a ready-made virtualbox image from Microsoft and skip the section on installing the ISO.

Start Virtualbox

Start VirtualBox and configure as illustrated below.

Step 1: Click 'New' to create a new VM.

Step 2: Set VM name, select the Windows 11 ISO, and skip unattended installation.

Step 3: Set 'Base Memory' to at least 8192 MB, set 'Processors' to at least 4, and check 'Enable EFI (special OSes only).

Step 4: Set 'Disk Size' to 80 GB or more.

Step 5: Review settings and click 'Finish' to create the VM.

Step 6: Click 'Start' to boot the VM and begin installation.

Install W11

Step 1: Press any key when prompted to boot the Windows 11 ISO.

Step 2: Select language and keyboard preferences, then click 'Next'.

Step 3: Click 'Install now'.

Step 4: Click 'I don't have a product key.' You may activate your chosen edition of Windows later.

Step 5: Select an edition of Windows to install. Home and Pro are the two most common choices.

Step 6: Read and accept the Windows End User License Agreement.

Step 7: Click 'Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)'.

Step 8: Click 'Next' on the partitioning screen to accept the defaults.

Step 9: Wait until the VM automatically restarts.

Bypass W11 Hardware Requirements

If you are using Kubuntu 24.04 (Jammy), you may be told that the VM does not meet Windows 11's hardware requirements during the installation process. This is due to the older version of VirtualBox shipped with Kubuntu 22.04. If this happens, you can bypass the hardware requirements to continue with the installation. Note that this procedure is not necessary when using Kubuntu 24.04 (Noble).

Step 1: Upon reaching the 'Activate Windows' screen (step 4 of Install W11), press Shift+F10 to open a terminal window, then run 'regedit'. You may need to press the 'Back' button to get here if you've already hit the hardware requirements error.

$Step 2: Navigate to the 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup' key.$

Step 2: Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup key.

Step 3: Right-click the 'Setup' key and click New > Key, then name the new key 'LabConfig'.

Step 4: Right-click the 'LabConfig' key you just made, then click New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name the new value 'BypassTPMCheck' and set its value to '1'.

Step 5: Create three more DWORD values, named 'BypassCPUCheck', 'BypassRAMCheck', and 'BypassSecureBootCheck'. Set each of these values to '1'.

Step 6: Close Registry Editor, then resume the Install W11 procedure starting from step 4. You should now be allowed to proceed with the installation.

Setup W11

$Step 1: Press Shfit+F10 to open a terminal, and run 'OOBE\BYPASSNRO'. This will bypass needing a Microsoft account. The VM will reboot automatically.$

Step 1: Press Shfit+F10 to open a terminal, and run 'OOBE\BYPASSNRO'. This will bypass needing a Microsoft account. The VM will reboot automatically.

Step 2: Select your country and click 'Yes'.

Step 3: Select your keyboard layout and click 'Yes'.

Step 4: Skip adding a second keyboard layout. You can enable additional layouts if needed.

Step 5: Wait for updates to be installed. The VM will automatically reboot.

Step 6: Choose a name for the VM and click 'Next'.

Step 7: Right-click the virtual network adapter and disconnect it. This is necessary to bypass needing a Microsoft account.

Step 8: Choose to set up the VM for personal use, then click 'Next'.

Step 9: Enter your desired username, and click 'Next'.

Step 10: Enter and confirm your password, clicking 'Next' when prompted.

Step 11: Choose three security questions and their answers. We recommend using your VM password as the answer to each question.

Step 12: Switch off all privacy-affecting features and click 'Accept'.

Step 13: Wait for Windows to finish setup.

Step 14: Verify that the Windows desktop appears as shown. Do not connect to the Internet yet.

Step 15: Click 'Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD image...'.

Step 16: Click 'File Manager > This PC', and double-click 'VirtualBox Guest Additions'.

Step 17: Double-click 'VBoxWindowsAdditions'.

Step 18: At the User Account Control prompt, click 'Yes'.

Step 19: In the installation wizard, click 'Next' until you are shown the 'Choose Components' screen.

Step 20: On the 'Choose Components' screen, click 'Install'.

Step 21: Let the installation finish. It is usually very fast.

Step 22: Once installation is finished, click 'I want to manually reboot later', then click 'Finish'.

Step 23: Click 'Start Menu > Power > Shut Down'.

Step 24: In the VirtualBox manager window, ensure the Windows 11 VM is selected, and click 'Settings'.

Step 23: In the VirtualBox manager window, ensure the Windows 11 VM is selected, and click 'Settings'.

Step 25: Click 'Display', then check the 'Enable 3D Acceleration' box. Increase video memory to 256 MB, then click 'OK'.

Step 26: Click 'Start' to launch the VM again.

Step 27: Right-click the virtual network adapter and reconnect it.

Step 28: Install OS updates and reboot.

Step 29: In Settings, find the 'Activation' screen. Click 'Change product key', and enter your product key to activate Windows.

Troubleshooting

Q: What are some uses of VirtualBox?

A: One may use virtual machines to run applications that are not available on other Operating Systems, as illustrated here. However, one can also use them to test system and package development.

Revisions

This is a partial revision history. See the git repository for all entries.

2024-09-05 d2bc21e4 Add lightbox views, refresh content
2024-07-02 c83184e4 Switch to kfocus-mime schema
2024-03-18 fb9b592d Add syntax highlighting for codeblocks
2023-11-18 e770b1c6 Add search and help bar
2023-02-10 1371a2c1 Add images
2022-06-13 a5948dd7 Add Prepare Virtualbox section
2022-06-09 d531a300 First publication

Disclaimer

We try hard to provide a useful solution validated by professionals. However, we cannot anticipate every situation, and therefore cannot guarantee this procedure will work for your needs. Always backup your data and test the solution to determine the correct procedure for you.

THIS SOLUTION IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS “AS IS” AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOLUTION, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.