Windows 10: Where to find a minimal windows 10 installation image or virtual machine

Discus and support Where to find a minimal windows 10 installation image or virtual machine in Windows 10 Ask Insider to solve the problem; Hello! I hope i am on the good sub, I need to use some software (due to lockdown) but unfortunately they work only on windows. So I would like to... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Ask Insider' started by /u/TomFou, Nov 19, 2020.

  1. /u/TomFou Win User

    Where to find a minimal windows 10 installation image or virtual machine


    Hello! I hope i am on the good sub, I need to use some software (due to lockdown) but unfortunately they work only on windows.

    So I would like to create a virtual machine on my computer. But the only official windows virtual machine is a 20GB iso full of stuff i will never need.

    So do you know where i could find a safe iso less heavy ? It's not a problem for me to buy a key, i found some at approx 2 or 7 $ for home or professional.

    Thanks

    submitted by /u/TomFou
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    :)
     
    /u/TomFou, Nov 19, 2020
    #1
  2. S_and_S Win User

    Installing a Virtual Machine in Windows 10

    Step #1 is to decide which virtual machine software you wish to install.

    The three most popular choices are:

    • VirtualBox (from Oracle)
    • VMWare Workstation Player (from VMWare); and
    • Hyper-V (from Microsoft)

    Once you've made your choice you can find detailed, illustrated instructions for installing each one on the internet.

    As a personal suggestion: You might find it easier to use either VirtualBox or VMWare Workstation Player. Hyper-V is more complicated to setup.

    Between VirtualBox and VMWare, I think you'll find VirtualBox more user-friendly, and it has the advantage of allowing you to create checkpoints - backups of your virtual machine - whereas to do that in VMWare you'll need to upgrade to their (expensive!)
    paid version.
     
    S_and_S, Nov 19, 2020
    #2
  3. Kari Win User
    Clean install of W10 not possible in Virtual Machine.


    Please get a cup of coffee, lean back and think an answer for these two questions. Take your time, then check the answers below the questions:

    Questions:
    1. If you do a clean install of let's say Windows 10 Insider Build 10525 on a totally new computer which has never had an activated Windows 10 on it, does it activate?
    2. If you do a clean install of Windows 10 Insider Build on a computer where the underlying Windows 10, upgraded from a qualifying old operating system has already been activated, does it activate?

    Answers:
    1. No, of course not.
    2. Yes, of course.

    Why do you think that a virtual machine would make any difference? You have tried to install Windows 10 on a totally new machine which has never had an activated Windows 10 installed, therefore the Microsoft activation servers block the activation due invalid machine ID. In the highlighted part in below quote you admit your mistake yourself, plain and simple, yet you when doing this wrong draw conclusion that even if done correctly it would not work:

    What you have tried is essentially the same as if you took a brand new real physical PC without any operating system, which has never had any operating system, and then installed Windows 10 Insider Preview wondering why it does not activate! Virtual Machines behave exactly the same way; if you want to clean install Windows 10 Insider Preview and get it activated you must do it on an existing virtual machine, one which has already had an upgraded Windows 10 activated. This "computer", the virtual machine, its machine ID is marked on activation servers as valid and activated and it will of course activate.

    Be it a virtual machine or a physical computer, you cannot activate a clean installed Windows 10 Insider Preview on a totally new machine. How difficult can this be to understand?

    When clean installing Windows 10 Insider Preview on a computer which has already had a previous Windows 10 Insider activated, you do not use the product key! It will be asked twice, once before the installation starts and once after the last reboot to OOBE phase. In both cases you skip the product key and your Windows will be automatically activated.
     
  4. xkm1948 Win User

    Where to find a minimal windows 10 installation image or virtual machine

    Install Linux in a Windows 10 Virtual Machine?

    What is a good virtual machine software I can use to setup a Linux environment? I am having too much trouble dual booting Mint with my Windows 10. Is there a quick way to setup up VM for Linux?
     
    xkm1948, Nov 19, 2020
    #4
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Where to find a minimal windows 10 installation image or virtual machine

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