Windows Server 2025 brings exciting new features and enhancements to the Windows Server family, but before you can enjoy its power, you need to get it installed in a virtual environment. Oracle VirtualBox is a free, open-source virtualization tool that allows you to run multiple operating systems on a single machine. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the process of installing Windows Server 2025 in Oracle VirtualBox, from setting up the VM to completing the installation.
Table of Contents
System Requirements:
Before proceeding with the installation, let’s check the system requirements for Windows Server 2025.
Windows Server 2025 Requirements:
To run Windows Server 2025, your host machine should meet the following minimum system requirements:
- Processor: 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor or faster
- RAM: 2 GB minimum (4 GB or more recommended)
- Hard Drive Space: 32 GB minimum (64 GB or more recommended)
- Graphics: DirectX 9 graphics device with a WDDM 1.0 driver
- Network: Ethernet adapter with a connection to the Internet
- Other: UEFI firmware with Secure Boot enabled (optional but recommended for security)
Additional Tools:
- Oracle VM VirtualBox: Download it from Oracle’s official website
- Windows Server 2025 ISO: Download the ISO file from Microsoft’s Evaluation Center website or through your Volume Licensing Service Center.
Step-by-Step Guide to Install Windows Server 2025 in Oracle VirtualBox:
Step 1: Install Oracle VirtualBox
If you haven’t already installed Oracle VirtualBox, follow these steps:
- Download Oracle VirtualBox from here.
- Run the installer and follow the installation wizard. It’s a straightforward process and usually just requires accepting the default options.
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Step 2: Create a New Virtual Machine
Now, let’s create new virtual machine for Windows Server 2025.
Open Oracle VirtualBox and click the New button at the top of the window.
Name your virtual machine (e.g., “WS2025”).
Select the Operating System Type:
- Choose Microsoft Windows as the OS.
- Set the version to Windows Server 2025 (64-bit)
Click Next to continue.
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Memory Allocation:
- Allocate at least 4 GB of RAM (recommended).
- Select the number of processor cores you want to allocate to the virtual machine. Choose an appropriate amount based on your system’s capabilities and the requirements of your workload.
- Make sure Enable EFI (special OSes only) is checked, as Windows Server 2025 might require UEFI support.
Click Next to continue.
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Create a New Virtual Hard Disk:
- Choose Create a virtual hard disk now.
- Set the virtual hard disk size to at least 100 GB (you can increase this if needed).
Click Next to continue.
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On Summary page, review your selection and if it is OK then click on Finish to create a new virtual machine for Windows Server 2025 installation.
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Step 3: Adjust VM Settings
Before starting the installation, we need to modify some VM settings:
Click on your VM (WS2025) in the VirtualBox Manager and click the Settings button.
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Under Storage:
- Click on the Empty drive under the Controller: SATA section.
- On the right, click the disk icon and select Choose a disk file….
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Select the Windows Server 2025 Evaluation ISO file you downloaded earlier. Click Open to attach the ISO image to the selected VM.
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Under Network:
Set the Adapter 1 to Bridged Adapter for internet access if you need it. Otherwise, use Host-only Adapter. Click OK to apply the settings and close the Settings window.
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Step 4: Start the Virtual Machine and Begin Installation
Now that your VM is configured, let’s start the installation. Select the VM (WS2025) and click Start.
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Press any key on your keyboard to boot the VM from the attached ISO file, and the Windows Server 2025 installation will start.
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Upon booting, the following screen will appear, allowing you to select the language, and time and currency format. Click Next to Continue.
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Select the keyboard input method and click Next.
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On the “Select Setup Option” page, choose the “Install Windows Server” option to perform a clean installation. Also, check the box labeled “I agree everything will be deleted, including files, apps, and settings.”
Click Next to initiate the installation process.
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If prompted, enter your Windows Server 2025 product key to activate the system. This prompt will not appear if you’re using the Windows Server 2025 Evaluation ISO image.
Next, you’ll be prompted to select the version of Windows you want to install. Choose the appropriate edition of Windows Server 2025 from the available options. The first option is the Server Core version, while the second option includes Desktop Experience for a GUI-based Windows Server.
For this example, we’ll select Windows Server 2025 Standard (Desktop Experience), which offers the full graphical environment.
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Read the license agreement, then click Accept.
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You will now be prompted to select a disk or partition to install Windows Server. If the disk is unallocated, you may need to format it.
You can optionally create new one partition or use total available size. Click Next to proceed.
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Now you are ready to start the Installation process. Click Install to begin installing windows by copying the files from ISO image to the hard disk and then expanding the files on the hard disk. During the installation process, your system will restart multiple times. This may take up to 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
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Once the installation is complete, your server will automatically reboot and boot into Windows Server 2025 OS and you will be asked with set a new password for Administrator.
Set password for the built-in Administrator and click Finish.
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Once the system is ready, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and type a password for the administrator account you set up in the previous step to sign in to this computer.
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On the “Send diagnostic data to Microsoft” page, select the “Required Only” option and click “Accept” to send only the necessary diagnostic data.
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After successfully logging in, the desktop will appear, and the Server Manager Console will load. A “Try Windows Admin Center” popup will appear; click on “Don’t show this message again” and close the popup.
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At this point, you have successfully installed Windows Server 2025 with Desktop Experience on Oracle VirtualBox.
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Conclusion:
Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed Windows Server 2025 on Oracle VirtualBox. By following these simple steps, you now have a fully functional virtual machine running Windows Server 2025. You can begin exploring the new features, configurations, and tools that come with this version, all while keeping your physical system safe. Enjoy experimenting!
If you have any questions or encounter any issues, feel free to drop a comment, and I’ll be happy to assist you!