How to Use VirtualBox to Install Windows 11 on Ubuntu 20.04 – Guide
I regularly urge people to switch to Linux, but for those who are hesitant, I suggest using both Windows and Linux together. This dual-boot setup works well, though it requires restarting the system each time you want to switch between operating systems - an inconvenience.
For Windows users who don’t want to dual-boot Ubuntu and Windows 10, creating a virtual machine with Oracle VirtualBox is an easy way to install Windows 10 on Linux. In a previous tutorial, I demonstrated how to install VMWare on Ubuntu. This time, I’m showing you how to use Oracle VirtualBox for the same purpose.
Download and install VirtualBox
Download and install VirtualBox, a free software available for non-commercial use, by clicking on the .exe file and following the onscreen instructions.
Installing the VirtualBox extension package from the Downloads page can add features like mouse integration, internet connectivity, USB support and more to your VirtualBox machine. To do so, simply click on the downloaded file and follow the instructions.
Download Windows 11 Enterprise Virtual Machine
Download the Windows 11 installation files in OVA format from Microsoft’s Virtual Machine download page, specifically the virtual disk image for VirtualBox.
Import OVA files
To install a virtual machine, download the files, extract them, and open them in VirtualBox. In the Import Virtual Device dialog, you can customize settings and the location of the machine’s home folder. Make sure to check “Import hard drives as VDI” before clicking “Import.”
Once the upload is complete, you can start using Windows 11 Enterprise on VirtualBox.
Common issues encountered when opening the Windows 11 Enterprise virtual machine in VirtualBox
After following the steps to install Windows 11 on VirtualBox, you may be frustrated to find that the virtual machine won’t open and run the operating system.
Windows 11 Enterprise users may experience issues when running the virtual machine in VirtualBox, but solutions are available.
Failed to open a session for virtual machine error
If you’re getting an error that says “Can’t enable nested VT-x / AMD-V without nested paging and unrestricted guest execution!”, it’s likely that Hyper-V, a native virtual machine on Windows 10 systems, is enabled. To fix this problem, try disabling Hyper-V.
Press Win + S to open the Windows search bar, then type “cmd” and select “Run as Administrator” from the Command Prompt search result.
To turn off Hyper-V, type “bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunch type off” into the command prompt and press Enter. This will close the window.
To disable the Virtual Machine Platform feature in Windows, press Win + S to open Windows Search, type “Windows Feature,” press Enter, and uncheck the Virtual Machine Platform option. Restart the computer for the changes to take effect.
Restarting the computer and opening VirtualBox and the Windows 11 Enterprise virtual machine should resolve any issues with your machine.
UEFI Interactive Shell opens instead of booting Windows 11
If you find yourself presented with an UEFI interactive shell window instead of booting the system after opening a virtual machine, don’t panic. You likely just enabled the EFI setting on your machine. To resolve this issue, follow these steps.
Choose the Windows 11 VM and hit the Settings icon.
To disable EFI, go to the system settings in the left pane and uncheck the box next to Enable EFI. Confirm your selection by clicking OK.
Reboot your Windows 11 Enterprise system by restarting your virtual machine.
Final note
This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to install Windows 11 on Ubuntu 20.04 using VirtualBox. If you have any questions, please reach out for help. Share the love and spread the word!
