Installing Windows Server 2016 On MacBook Using VirtualBox

In this article, I would like to show you how to install a Windows server 2016 on your MacBook using VirtualBox in simple and easy steps. First you need to download and install VirtualBox on your Mac.

Note

Please also download the windows server 2016 ISO file from website. Please see the below screenshot for more info on how to download ISO file.

Please follow the below steps for installing VirtualBox and configuring your new virtual machine using VirtualBox Manager.

1. Install VirtualBox
   

   VirtualBox can be downloaded from here ( click on OS X hosts for Mac ).

   Once you download VirtualBox using the above mentioned link, just open the downloaded file by double clicking on it and complete the installation process. After

   successful installation, you’ll be greeted with a “Welcome to VirtualBox!” message in VirtualBox Manger window.

   
   
   

   Image 1: VirtualBox Manager Window

2. Specify Name to your Virtual Machine
   

   Now click on “New” to proceed with the Windows Server 2016 installation process. Once you click on “New”, you’ll see a window asking you need to enter a descriptive name for the new virtual machine and select operation system from

   the dropdown list. In this article, as you can see I have given my new virtual machine the name  “Windows Server 2016” and selected Windows 7 - 64 bit Operating system. (See image below)
   
   
   

   Image 2: Enter Name for your VM and select operating system from Version dropdown list.

   
   

3. Specify memory (RAM) size to the Virtual Machine
   

   I would recommend you to allocate at least 4Gb of RAM to the new virtual machine.
   
   
   

   Image 3: Allocate memory (RAM) to new virtual machine.

   
   

4. Add Hard Disk to Virtual Machine
   

   If you wish to add a virtual hard disk at this step, just select the radio button that says “ Create a virtual hard disk now”. See below image.

   The recommended size of the hard disk is 25.00 GB, but you can allocate whatever you like…
   
   
   

   Image 4: Adding virtual hard disk to the new machine.

   
   

5. Specify Hard disk file type
   

   Once you specify the size of the hard disk, you need to select the file type that you’d like to use for your virtual machine.
   
   
   

   Image 5: Select hard disk file type

   Now you will be given two option to choose the size of the hard disk file ( dynamically allocated or fixed). You can choose anyone from these two options
   
   
   

   Image 6: Select storage on physical hard drive

   
   

6. Specify Hard disk size
   

   As I mentioned in the beginning of this article, the recommended size of the hard disk is 25 Gb. But you can also allocate more than that..
   
   
   

   Image 7: Specify hard disk size

   After allocating the size for the new virtual hard disk, it will start creating the storage for your virtual machine, since i selected “Fixed size” storage ( In Image 6) , it is creating fixed storage ( see below image).
   
   
   

   Image 8: Creating storage for virtual machine.

   Once storage has been created for the new virtual machine, you’ll find your virtual machine on the list (left side) with all the specification you’ve provided..
   
   
   

   Image 9: Virtual machine has been created.

   Now select your virtual machine and click “start”..Here you need to choose a virtual optical disk file..
   
   
   

   Image 10 : Select windows server 2016 ISO file from your downloads folder.

   Please click on the folder icon to browse your computer to select the windows server 2016 ISO file (Downloaded from Microsoft website in the beginning of this article) and click “Start” button.

   That’s it. You will see windows server 2016 loading and running :) . You’ll be asked to set your country , language and password for your windows server 2016.. You’re all set now! You’ve been successfully installed windows server 2016

   on your Mac using VirtualBox! :)
   
   
   

   Image 11: Windows Server 2016 is up and running!