Raspbian on Windows With VM Tutorial

Because of the current COVID-19 Situation, I did not have my Raspberry Pi with me. Due to this I figured out how to run Raspbian on VirtualBox so I can have access to a Pi from anywhere.

Required Downloads:

Download page for VirtualBox available here: https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

Download page for Raspberry Pi desktop here: https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspberry-pi-desktop/

ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE ENABLED CPU VIRTUALIZATION IN YOUR BIOS: (Google "how to access bios" if you do not know what this is)

This can usually be found in advanced settings > CPU > Then CPU virtualization (sometimes referred to as SVM Mode)

How to add a virtual machine:

Select new to create a new virtual hard drive.
Enter virtual drive name, of Linux type, and Debian (64-bit).
1024MB memory size. (Or however much more you need)
Select the option to create a virtual hard disk now.
Choose VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image).
Select dynamically allocated hard drive.
Use 16GB for the hard drive space. ( Since the storage is dynamically allocated, it will not use all of this until needed.)
Select a hard disk and folder to store the virtual hard disk.
Virtual hard disk created.

Install the Raspbian Iso into the new Virtual Machine:

Now that the Raspian virtual machine hard disk is ready, we can install the Raspberry Pi Desktop OS. All we need to do is download the desktop OS image file. Then attach the file as a virtual CD drive.

Click the highlighted button in the image below:

From the drop down menu, select Choose Optical Disk File
- Then find the Raspberry Pi Desktop OS file that you downloaded from the Raspberry Pi site.
- Load this file, and the virtual machine will be ready to use!

Setting up Raspbian:

Click start from the menu on top of VirtualBox to begin the VM
- This will open the Debian GNU/Linux installer boot menu
Select Install
- You will now be brought to the configuration settings for the OS
Select 'Guided-use entire Disk'
Select the default disk. There should only be one option
Select 'All files in one partition'
Confirm disk configuration by pressing enter
Another confirmation menu will appear. Select 'Yes' to continue
The GRUB bootloader should now appear. Select 'Yes' to install the GRUB loader to the master boot record.
For the next window, do not select enter the device manually unless you know what you're doing.
- Select the next option which is the virtual disk
Finish Installation

Post-Installation

Once the Installation is complete, follow the Raspbian setup guide and choose the proper options to fit your needs.
Next, this is a good opportunity to make sure all of your packages are up to date.
- Enter the following commands in the terminal:

Congratulations! Your new Raspbian Virtual Machine is now setup!

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