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Windows 10 Installation Guide

This guide covers the complete installation and initial configuration of Windows 10 in VirtualBox.

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Prerequisites

System Requirements
  • VirtualBox 5.2 or later
  • 64-bit processor with virtualization extensions enabled
  • Minimum 2 GB RAM for the VM (4 GB recommended)
  • At least 20 GB free disk space (32 GB recommended)
  • Windows 10 ISO image
Check the official Microsoft Windows 10 specifications page for detailed requirements.

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Creating the Virtual Machine

1

Create New VM

  1. Open VirtualBox and click New
  2. Enter the name Windows10
  3. VirtualBox will automatically set:
    • Type: Microsoft Windows
    • Version: Windows 10 (64-bit)
2

Allocate Memory

Assign 2048 MB (2 GB) minimum, or 4096 MB (4 GB) for better performance.
3

Create Virtual Hard Disk

  1. Select Create a virtual hard disk now
  2. Choose VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image)
  3. Select Dynamically allocated
  4. Set size to at least 32 GB
4

Configure Network

  1. Open VM Settings → Network
  2. Set Adapter 1 to NAT
5

Attach Windows ISO

  1. Go to Settings → Storage
  2. Select the optical drive under Controller: IDE
  3. Click the disc icon and select your Windows 10 ISO

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Installing Windows 10

1

Start the VM

Boot the VM. VirtualBox will automatically start from the ISO since the hard disk is empty.
On physical machines or VMs with existing operating systems, you may need to press a key to boot from the DVD/ISO.
2

Select Language and Region

Choose your language, time format, and keyboard layout.
3

Install Now

Click Install now.
The Repair your computer option is used for troubleshooting existing Windows installations, recovering from system failures, or accessing advanced startup options.
4

Product Key Activation

  • If you have a product key, enter it now
  • Otherwise, click I don’t have a product key
You can activate Windows later from Settings. Invalid or already-registered keys can be changed post-installation.
5

Accept License Terms

Read and accept the End User License Agreement (EULA).
6

Installation Type

Select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced).
7

Partition Selection

The installer shows available disks and partitions. Since this is a new virtual disk:
  1. Select the unallocated space
  2. Click Next
For dual-boot scenarios, carefully review partition sizes and usage before proceeding.
8

Installation Progress

Windows will copy files and install. This is an unattended process that may take 15-30 minutes.The system will restart automatically when ready.

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First Boot Configuration

1

Region and Keyboard

Confirm your region and keyboard layout.
2

Privacy Settings

Choose between:
  • Use Express Settings: Enables all Microsoft services and data collection
  • Customize: Gives you control over privacy options
Select Customize for more control over:
  • Location services
  • Diagnostic data
  • Tailored experiences
  • Advertising ID
Review each screen and disable options you don’t want to share.
3

Account Type

Select Join a local Active Directory domain to create a local account.
We’ll configure domain joining in later modules. For now, use a local administrator account.
4

Create User Account

  • Username: adminiso (or your preferred name)
  • Password: admin1s0
  • Set password hint
This account will be the local administrator with full system privileges.
5

Finalize Setup

Windows will prepare your desktop environment. This takes a few minutes.

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Post-Installation Configuration

1

Open Settings

Press Win key or click the Start button, then click the gear icon to open Settings.
2

Update & Security

Navigate to Update & Security to access:
  • Windows Update
  • Windows Defender (antivirus)
  • Backup
  • Recovery
  • Activation
  • For developers
3

Activate Windows

If you didn’t enter a product key during installation:
  1. Go to Activation
  2. Click Change product key
  3. Enter a valid key
  4. Click Activate
Windows won’t apply updates until it’s activated with a valid key.
4

Check for Updates

  1. Go to Windows Update
  2. Click Check for updates
  3. Install all available updates
  4. Restart when prompted
Fresh installations typically have many updates to download. This may take considerable time.
5

Enable Developer Mode (Optional)

For PowerShell script execution:
  1. Go to For developers
  2. Select Developer mode
  3. Accept the warning
This allows running local PowerShell scripts without confirmation.

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PowerShell Configuration

For advanced users working with PowerShell scripts in the course:
# Check current execution policy
Get-ExecutionPolicy

# Allow local scripts (if not using Developer mode)
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

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Next Steps

Your Windows 10 installation is complete! You can now:
  • Install additional software
  • Configure user accounts and permissions
  • Set up network sharing
  • Install VirtualBox Guest Additions for better integration
  • Join a domain (covered in later modules)
Security Reminders
  • Keep Windows updated
  • Use strong passwords
  • Enable Windows Defender
  • Don’t disable security features unless necessary

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