VirtualBox for Windows

Used VirtualBox for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.

Key Details of VirtualBox

Run other operating systems on your computer
Last updated on 04/23/20
There has been 1 update within the past 6 months
The current version has 0 flags on VirusTotal

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffApril 24, 2020

VirtualBox is a professional-grade, open-source virtualization software. If you're not happy with the virtualization options available to you in the paid software marketplace, then exploring VirtualBox might be for you.

Pros

Range of supported systems: VirtualBox is available on all the major operating systems. This allows you to take advantage of open-source virtualization whether your platform is Mac, Windows, Linux, or Solaris. You can then run most versions of Windows, DOS, Linux, or Solaris as a virtual system.

Lots of info: One of the typical advantages of open-source software is that the user community creates a wide range of help and technical documents to assist people in the software's operation. VirtualBox is no exception, and there is ample documentation available to anyone who needs help with their VirtualBox setup.

Cons

Operating system integration: The paid virtualization solutions have much better integration between the host system and the guest operating system. For instance, using VMWare or Parallels, you can drag and drop files from one system to the other. You can't do that with VirtualBox.

Lack of active support: Virtualization software is complicated and can easily have things go wrong with it. When this happens with a product that you're paying for, you have access to a lot of hands-on technical support. That doesn't exist with open-source products. If you run into a conflict, you'll be stuck trying to sort it out on your own.

Bottom Line

If you're highly technical and capable of using online resources to troubleshoot and configure your own software, then VirtualBox could work for you. On the other hand, if you need a fully-packaged solution with good support, VirtualBox might be too tricky.

What’s new in version 6.1.0

Version 6.1.0 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.

VirtualBox for Windows

Used VirtualBox for Windows? Share your experience and help other users.

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: April 23, 2020

Latest update: April 24, 2020

Version: 6.1.0

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows XP
Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows 10
Windows Vista

Additional Requirements: None

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 364,520

Downloads Last Week: 8

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Last Updated

User Reviews

4.1/5

47 User Votes

A good alternative for running Windows on Mac OSX
Tony HadlandApril 2, 2015
Pros
Free of charge and doesn't require £35 or so to be paid every other time Apple update their OS. I've used both market-leading commercial emulators, which have varied over time as to which was the better bet for me. I've now got fed up with having repeatedly to re-buy Parallels due to it no longer working with new free versions of OSX. After some fiddling about, I found I could run Windows XP in three different modes on Mavericks. It's good enough for my purposes.
Cons
More difficult to install than commercial offerings but worth persevering with.
Summary
Well worth a try but does require fine tuning on the part of the user. You don't need to be super-techie but installing this is not really for those shy of IT.
JUNK FULL BUGS !!! (MAYBE WE MUST TO BUY IT ?!!!)
alex3518March 26, 2015
Pros
VirtualBox-4.3.26-98988-Win is unyble to install any 64 bit app or OS !!!
Cons
Forget it, I try to many times and always same issue !!!
Summary
Keep far away from all fro Oracle, especially VBOX !!!
Works fine in you know what to do
zoorickFebruary 12, 2015
Pros
The basic tool for using a virtual OS. Certainly it requires some resources from your computer, so don't expect high performance on a low-end device.
Cons
You need some basic VB knowledge to configure it first.
Summary
Worst pile of rubbish i've ever used
December 19, 2014
Pros
None, it won't load any OS at all.
Cons
Slow Doesn't load any operating system WIll waste hours of your life and still wont work
Summary
Stear clear of this rubbish piece of software - you get what you pay for. It simply doesn't work and doesnt do anything. Be prepared to blow 10+ hours just to get 1 os to load on it if you want to use it and even then it still doesn't work half the time. Made by amateurs and it shows.
Amazing tool but kinda slow...
alexmonteMarch 15, 2014
Pros
I love it, I really do. It works fine, runs a variety of OS and has many settings to customize it however you want.
Cons
Maybe I just did something wrong with the OS I'm using on it but it always seems extremely slow. I kept adding more resources to it to see if that would help it run faster but after giving it the max amount of resources my computer would let me, it still didn't seem to speed up a bit. Maybe I'm just expecting too much from a virtual machine.
Summary
Seems slow but great nonetheless.
A very versatile local VM solution
RickMay57January 23, 2014
Pros
Will support lots of systems, and seems to be low use on the local resources
Cons
Interface could be a little more intuitive. I had a little trouble figuring out how to restore from a snap-shot. Also switching between full-screen and window screens took some getting used to.
Summary
I have tried the Microsoft and VMware solutions, which all worked fine. I felt the MS solution was overly resource hungry, and VM took a lot more disk space to install than it should. This seems to be a solid performer for testing against a VM in the real world.
A Fantastic Product, & Free Too
Mr WindowsDecember 29, 2013
Pros
This is everything that Windows 8's much vaunted virtualization should have been.
Cons
It's a little time consuming setting up a VHD, Virtual Hard Drive.
Summary
I admit it, I'm a Windows 7 man, but with Oracle's Virtual Box I'm able to install, and test out any operating system I want. I bought Windows 8 Pro when it first came on the market at the reduced price. However, I wasn't about to abandon my Windows 7 setup, just to test out a new operating system. That's when I found Virtual Box. I installed it, set up a Windows 8 spot for it, gave it enough memory, and a large enough VHD to play in, and I was off. I was able to test, and fully evaluate Windows 8 for my clients without sacrificing my Windows 7 setup. I have since set up, and tested other operating systems for my various clients at no cost to me. Also, the fact that Oracle continues to improve, and update Virtual Box makes it a winner in my book. So, if you want to test out another operating system, or you now have Windows 8, but don't want to struggle through the tortures of setting up its virtualization so you can install XP, for example. You can just install Virtual Box, and easily put XP back on your system. This is a winner of a program.
Excellent program!
UmbrellaCorpDecember 5, 2013
Pros
Doesn't take up much system resources, free, great for testing out beta or new programs!
Cons
Can't think of any at this time.
Summary
Free alternative to vmware
jebageApril 10, 2013
Pros
Free! Easy Setup Several wizards make config simple pop-ups provide context useful hints
Cons
Performance not quite as good as vmware no quite as "polished" as vmware
Summary
Best summed up as the best free virtual desktop available. Not as polished as vmware but it gets the job done. I would suggest trying it before spending any money. My guess is it will do what you need.
WOW.Better than W7 XPmode.Ran 3VMs of W8 in W7 perfect!
the-original-katPHishJanuary 27, 2013
Pros
Worked flawlessly to run Win8, Win7, and XP. I could access drives, folders, printers, scanners... So easy to use. Going to try other OSes soon.
Cons
For FREE it has done all I wanted it to do and smoothly.
Summary
Glad I ran across an articel on this tool that was referring to run Windows8 on a Win7 box.

Developer’s Description

Run other operating systems on your computer.

VirtualBox is a family of x86 virtualization products for enterprise as well as home use. Not only is VirtualBox an extremely feature rich, high performance product for enterprise customers, it is also the only professional solution that is freely available as Open Source Software under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL).

VirtualBox runs on Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux and supports a large number of guest operating systems including but not limited to Windows, DOS or Windows 3.x, Linux (2.4 and 2.6), and OpenBSD.