Windows 8 Installation in VirtualBox

If you only want a quick look round at the  Windows 8 highlights, then, the safest approach is to install it on a VirtualBox virtual machine. You won’t have to spend time freeing up a laptop or creating a new partition, and can browse the new Metro interface in a window on your desktop: far more convenient.

And it’s easy to set up, too.Start by downloading and installing a copy of the latest Oracle VirtualBox.
Or, if you have it already, make sure you’ve an up-to-date version (click Help > Check for Updates).

Then download a copy of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, either the 32-bit  or 64-bit  edition, depending on which version of Windows you have. (If you’re not sure, click Start, right-click Computer, select Properties and check “System type”.

1. You can download VirtualBox from Here.
2. Install the software.
3. Run the program and click on the blue coloured “New” button.
   
4. The “Create New Virtual Machine wizard will run and click “Next.
   
5. Enter a name for the VM (Windows 8 in this case) and select “Microsoft Windows” and “Windows 8” as the Operating System and Version respectively and click “Next”.
   
6. Allocate at least 1GB of RAM using the slider. Click “Next”.
   
7. Create a new virtual hard disk (if you don't already have one) by clicking on the radio button and hitting “Next”.
   
8. Select the type of virtual hard disk that you want and click “Next”. The default option should be enough for most users.
   
9. Select “dynamically allocated” if you are not very finicky about performance.
   
10. Give the virtual HD a name and allocate some memory for it, make sure that you allocate at least the minimum required space as specified in the requirements and click “Next”.
    
11. Verify the details at the Summary and hit “create”.
    
12. Next, select the new Virtual Machine you created, from the main screen of VirtualBox and hit Start.
    
13. Follow the instructions of the “First Run” wizard and hit “Next”.
    
14. Mount the Windows 8 ISO file or insert the bootable USB or DVD drive that you created (to know how to create a bootable DVD of Windows 8 go to   Windows 8 Installation Guide ).
15. Select the correct drive from the “Host drive” window that pops up and hit “Next” and “start”
16. If you followed all the instructions correctly and there are no other unforseen problems, the virtual machine will boot and you should be ready to begin your Windows 8 trial.
17. Follow this post to complete installation
    Windows 8 Installation Guide
    installation instructions specified earlier and you are good to go.