If you’re a Chromebook user, you might have found yourself in situations where you needed to run a specific software or program that’s not accessible on a Chrome OS device. In such cases, a virtual machine comes in handy, allowing you to run other operating systems and software that you cannot install on your Chromebook. In this article, we’ll take you through the steps of downloading and using a virtual machine on your Chromebook.
Step 1: Install Linux on Your Chromebook
Firstly, you need to install Linux on your Chromebook. Chrome OS is based on Linux, but it still lacks certain programming features that are essential for running a virtual machine. Therefore, you’ll need to opt for installing Linux on your Chromebook.
To install Linux, follow these steps:
1. Click on the settings icon (gear icon) in the bottom right corner of your screen.
2. From there, select the “Settings” option, which will take you to a new page.
3. Scroll down to the “Linux (Beta)” option and click on it.
4. Turn on Linux by clicking the toggle button next to it.
5. From here, follow the prompts, and the installation process will start automatically.
6. Once the process completes, a terminal window will appear.
Step 2: Download a Virtual Machine
The next step is to download a virtual machine. There are various virtual machine options available online, such as VMware Workstation Player or VirtualBox. These virtual machines can run various other operating systems such as Windows, Ubuntu, or macOS.
To download a virtual machine, follow these steps:
1. Go to the official website of VMware Workstation Player or VirtualBox and click on the “Download” button.
2. Select the version suitable for Linux and then download the package.
Step 3: Install the Virtual Machine
Once you’ve downloaded the virtual machine, you need to install it on your Chromebook. Here’s how to do it:
1. Open the terminal on your Chromebook and type “cd Downloads” to access the Downloads folder.
2. Then type in the package’s name to execute it (replace “your_vm_package_name_here” with the name of your package).
3. The virtual machine installer will launch, and you can follow the prompts to install the virtual machine.
4. After installation, look for the virtual machine in your applications and double-click to open it.
Step 4: Create a New Virtual Machine
Now that you’ve installed the virtual machine, the next step is to create a new virtual machine on it and install the operating system that you need.
1. Launch the virtual machine and select the “Create a New Virtual Machine” option.
2. Choose the operating system that you want to install, such as Windows, Ubuntu, or any other operating system that you need.
3. Allocate a certain amount of RAM, disk space, and CPU cores for the virtual machine.
4. Select the location where you want to install the OS.
5. Follow the prompts to install the operating system.
Step 5: Use the Virtual Machine
Now that you’ve successfully created a new virtual machine, you can start using it to install and run the software that you need. To launch the virtual machine, you need to open the virtual machine application. Once you’ve launched it, enter the login details for the operating system to access it.
Conclusion
Running a virtual machine on your Chromebook can be a lifesaver when you need to run software that’s not compatible with Chrome OS. With the above steps, you can easily download and use virtual machines to install different operating systems on your Chromebook. By following these steps, you can access a wide range of programs and software required for work or personal tasks.