Problem scenario: To install Oracle VirtualBox on a Windows host, use this link. Assuming you have Oracle VirtualBox on a Windows host, you now want to create a virtual server also known as a guest machine. You want Oracle VirtualBox to run a guest Ubuntu VM so you can have access to a Linux server straight from your laptop.
Solution
1. Open Oracle VM VirtualBox Manager
2. Click the "New" button
3. Give the server a name. For the "Type" drop-down, choose "Linux." For the version, choose "Ubuntu (32-bit)." (Selecting this means you'll need a 32-bit version of Ubuntu.)
4. Click Next.
5. For the Memory size, choose 1024 MB, unless you desire something else. Then click "Next."
6. Leave the option checked for "Create a virtual hard disk now. " Click "Create."
7. For the "Hard disk file type" choose the VDI option unless you desire something else. Click "Next."
8. Leave the "Dynamically allocated" option checked unless you desire something else. Click "Next."
9. For the "Create Virtual Hard Disk" window, leave it at the default 8 GB unless you desire something else. Click "Create"
10. Right-click the server (which should be in the upper left-hand corner with the name you entered). Go to "Start" -> "Normal Start."
11. You will be prompted with "Select start-up disk." Do one of two things:
i) Insert a DVD with a bootable .iso with a 32-bit version of Ubuntu. Then choose the DVD drive in the pop-up window for Oracle VirtualBox. Then click "Start." Finish the installation by following the directions in this link.
ii) Leave this prompt open and do the following substeps:
a) Download this file: http://mirror.pnl.gov/releases/16.10/ubuntu-16.10-server-i386.iso
b) Windows can mount this .iso as if it were a bootable DVD drive. ISO GUI viewers or DVD software applications will allow you to mount it. Using a CyberLink ISO Viewer (assuming it is installed), highlight the .iso file you just downloaded. Then click the icon for "Mount this ISO."
c) Go back to Oracle VirtualBox. Choose the drive letter that you mounted to in step "11.ii.b" (the previous sub-step). Install Ubuntu. For directions on how to install Ubuntu, see this link. Once Linux is installed as a guest server, you can use this link to get to the Internet from the guest.