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Creating a Virtual Machine using Hyper-V

This guide walks you through the steps to create a virtual machine using Hyper-V on Windows. Hyper-V is a native hypervisor built into Windows that allows you to run virtual machines (VMs) on your system.

Prerequisites

  • Windows 10/11 Pro, Enterprise, or Education edition
  • A processor that supports virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V)
  • At least 4GB of RAM (more recommended for running multiple VMs)
  • Sufficient disk space for your VMs

Step 1: Enable Hyper-V

Option A: Using Windows Features

  1. Open Control Panel

    • Press the Windows key, type "Control Panel", and open it

    Control Panel

  2. Navigate to Programs

    Programs

  3. Click Turn Windows features on or off

    Turn Windows features on or off

  4. Check the following options:

    • Hyper-V
    • Hyper-V Management Tools
    • Hyper-V Platform

    Enable Hyper-V features

  5. Click OK and restart your computer when prompted

Option B: Using PowerShell (Administrator)

Run this command in PowerShell with administrator privileges:

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V -All

Step 2: Open Hyper-V Manager

  1. Press the Windows key, type "Hyper-V Manager", and open it

    Open Hyper-V Manager

  2. In the right-hand pane, click New → Virtual Machine

    Create new VM

Step 3: Create a New Virtual Machine

1. Specify Name and Location

  • Enter a descriptive name for your VM
  • Choose a storage location (recommended: create a dedicated folder like "C:\Hyper-V\VMs")

Name and Location

2. Choose VM Generation

  • Generation 1: Legacy BIOS-based (compatible with older OSes)
  • Generation 2: UEFI-based with modern features (recommended for Windows 10/11, Server 2019+)
    • Supports Secure Boot and other security features

Choose Generation

3. Assign Memory

  • Recommended minimum:
    • 2GB (2048 MB) for basic VMs
    • 4GB (4096 MB) for Windows 11
  • Dynamic Memory: Enable to allow Hyper-V to adjust memory usage automatically
    • Can be configured after VM creation with min/max values

Assign Memory

4. Configure Networking

  • Select a virtual switch
  • If none exists, click Virtual Switch Manager to create one:
    • External: Connects to physical network (internet access)
    • Internal: Communication between host and VMs
    • Private: Communication between VMs only

Configure Networking

5. Create Virtual Hard Disk

  • Specify size (minimum recommendations):
    • 64GB for Windows 10/11
    • 32GB for most Linux distributions
  • The disk is dynamic by default (only uses actual space needed, up to maximum)

Create Virtual Hard Disk

Note: The Virtual Disk is dynamic, meaning it won't use the full allocated space immediately. It will grow as needed up to the specified maximum. Make sure your VMs don't exceed the capacity of your drive!

6. Installation Options

  • Choose one:
    • Install from ISO file (most common)
    • Install from physical media
    • Install from network
    • Install OS later

Create Virtual Hard Disk

Note: You can download legal evaluation copies of Windows directly from Microsoft:

7. Review Settings and Finish

  • Review your VM configuration
  • Click Finish to create the VM

Step 4: Start and Configure Your VM

  1. Connect to the VM

    • Right-click the VM in Hyper-V Manager and select Connect
    • A new window will open showing the VM console

    Connect to VM

  2. Start the VM

    • Click the Start button in the VM connection window

    Start the VM

  3. Install the Operating System

    • Follow the installation prompts for your chosen OS
    • The experience will be similar to installing on physical hardware

Step 5: Post-Installation Configuration (Optional)

  1. Install Hyper-V Integration Services

    • Improves performance and enables features like clipboard sharing
    • Usually installed automatically on Windows, may need manual installation on Linux

  2. Configure Additional Hardware

    • Add more virtual hard disks if needed
    • Adjust CPU cores (Settings → Processor)
    • Configure advanced memory settings

  3. Create Checkpoints (Snapshots)

    • Allows you to save VM state and roll back if needed
    • Right-click VM → Checkpoint

Troubleshooting Tips

  • VM won't start: Ensure virtualization is enabled in BIOS/UEFI
  • Network issues: Check virtual switch configuration
  • Performance problems: Adjust memory and processor allocation

For more information, visit the Microsoft Hyper-V documentation.