VirtualBox Archives

AppWizard

November 10, 2025

Windows 11 ends Android app support: practical workarounds

Microsoft has discontinued the Windows Subsystem for Android and its integration with the Amazon Appstore on Windows 11 due to low demand. Users can no longer use an official Microsoft method to install general Android apps. The primary alternatives are Google Play Games on PC, which focuses on gaming, and third-party emulators like BlueStacks, LDPlayer, and GameLoop for a broader range of applications. To use Google Play Games, users need a PC with at least 8 GB RAM, a modern quad-core processor, hardware-accelerated graphics, SSD storage with 10 GB free, and hardware virtualization enabled. Users must enable virtualization in their UEFI or BIOS settings and activate the Virtual Machine Platform and Windows Hypervisor Platform in Windows. Emulators allow users to run full Android apps on Windows. They can download apps from the Google Play Store within the emulator or sideload APK files. Users should be cautious about security risks when sideloading apps and stick to reputable sources. Performance tuning for emulators involves allocating sufficient resources, resolving virtualization conflicts, and optimizing settings like resolution and frame rate. Users are advised to install on SSDs and minimize background tasks for better performance.

Winsage

October 28, 2025

Tested: VirtualBox now supports Windows on M-series Macs, but it’s not for beginners

VirtualBox has extended its support to Windows applications on M-series Macs, allowing users to run Windows alongside macOS. This free virtualization software is suitable for users with technical expertise, as setting up a virtual machine can be complex. While it offers a robust platform for running Windows applications, beginners may find the setup process challenging compared to other options. VirtualBox is particularly beneficial for professionals who need Windows-only software and for those who frequently switch between operating systems, though it may not be the best choice for users seeking a more user-friendly experience.

Winsage

October 5, 2025

How to switch your Windows 10 PC to Linux Mint – for free

The countdown for Windows 10 support is underway, prompting users to consider alternatives like Linux Mint, especially if they are hesitant about upgrading to Windows 11 or if their hardware does not meet the requirements. Linux has become more user-friendly, and Linux Mint is recommended for both newcomers and experienced users. To switch to Linux Mint, users need a Windows PC, an internet connection, and a USB stick with at least 4GB of storage, with an estimated installation time of about 2 hours. Users should compile a list of essential programs and check for Linux-compatible alternatives. Many cloud-based applications work on Linux, and Windows 10 can be run within Linux using Oracle VirtualBox for incompatible programs. The installation process involves downloading the Linux Mint ISO from the website, preparing a USB drive, and adjusting the boot order in the BIOS/UEFI settings. Users should disable Secure Boot to ensure a smooth installation. After rebooting, the Mint interface will appear, and the installation wizard will guide users through the setup process, including language preferences and partitioning the hard drive. Enabling Timeshift for system backups and using the Backup Tool for personal files is recommended. After installation, users should check for additional drivers and install multimedia codecs. Linux Mint requires a minimum of 2GB of RAM and 20GB of disk space and is compatible with most modern hardware. Running both Linux Mint and Windows on the same PC is possible, either by dual-booting or using a virtual machine. Most modern hardware is compatible with Linux, and testing Mint through a live session on a USB stick can confirm compatibility. Software-as-a-service applications generally work well on Linux, while older programs may require additional tools. Many popular applications are available on Linux, and Steam-based games perform well.

Winsage

October 3, 2025

How to switch your Windows 10 PC to Linux Mint

Windows 10 support is ending, prompting users to consider alternatives like Linux Mint, which is compatible with PCs running Windows 10 and allows exploration without altering the existing setup. To switch to Linux Mint, users need a Windows PC, internet connection, and a USB stick or DVD-RW with at least 4GB of storage, with an estimated installation time of about 2 hours. Users should back up important files before installation and may need to disable Windows Fast Startup, BitLocker, and Secure Boot for a smoother transition. Linux Mint requires 2GB of RAM (4GB recommended) and 20GB of disk space (100GB recommended), and it can run on older machines. Most modern hardware is compatible with Linux, and many cloud-based applications like Microsoft 365 work on Linux. Users can test Mint in a live session before installation to check hardware compatibility.

Winsage

September 29, 2025

Should you buy a Windows mini PC in 2025? My verdict after a week of testing

The Geekom A9 Max AI mini PC is priced at on Amazon and features an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, capable of up to 80 TOPS of AI performance. It has a compact size of 135 × 132 × 46.9 mm and runs on Windows 11 24H2. The mini PC supports up to 128GB of dual-channel DDR5-5600MHz RAM and includes storage options with 1 x M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD slot and 1 x M.2 2230 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD slot. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, 2 x 2.5 GbE RJ45 ports, multiple USB ports including USB 4.0 Type-C, 2 x HDMI 2.1 ports, and a full-size SD card reader. Users may experience noise from the cooling fans during intensive tasks, and the performance of the A9 Max AI was found to be limited by Windows 11 compared to other systems.

Winsage

September 20, 2025

Here’s how I installed Windows 11 using a nano-sized 2.4GB ISO — final install weighed in at a mere 8.36GB, two-thirds the size of a normal Windows install, courtesy of Nano11 Builder

The author is transitioning to Windows 11 and is waiting to complete an IT request form. They are primarily a Linux and Raspberry Pi enthusiast but are interested in Windows 11 for video editing with DaVinci Resolve. The standard Microsoft Windows 11 ISO is 5,695,402KB (5.69GB), while the Tiny version is 10,865,098,752KB (10.1GB) and 59.1% smaller, and the Nano version is 8,984,236,032KB (8.36GB) and 66.2% smaller. The author used a VirtualBox virtual machine with 8GB of RAM and a Lenovo X220 for installations. The Nano and Tiny ISOs installed smoothly, while the full ISO faced issues despite meeting specifications. The Nano installation initially crashed at 75%, but after following a guide and reverting to an older setup process, it was successful. The author plans to submit the IT request form before October 14.

Winsage

September 10, 2025

5 ways to run Windows apps on MacOS – and 2 are free

VirtualBox is a free virtual machine manager that allows users to run Windows as a guest OS on MacOS. Kegworks is a free implementation of Wine for MacOS, optimized for versions 10.15.4 and later, supporting Windows applications and games. CrossOver is a paid solution that simplifies running Windows applications on MacOS, offering a free trial and user-friendly documentation. Parallels is a hypervisor that enables seamless virtualization of Windows and Linux on MacOS, available for a subscription with a free trial. Windows 365 Cloud PC is a cloud-based service that provides virtual Windows PCs, requiring a stable internet connection, with plans starting at a monthly fee.

Winsage

September 8, 2025

Yes, you can run Windows apps on Linux – here are my top 5 ways

Many users of Linux occasionally need to run Windows applications, and there are several methods to do so: 1. Wine: A compatibility layer for running Windows applications on Linux, it has user-friendly graphical interfaces like WineGUI and WineZGUI. Wine is free and available across most Linux distributions. 2. Bottles: Utilizes Wine to create isolated environments for Windows applications, allowing users to select different Wine versions for different apps. Bottles is free and recommended to be installed via Flatpak for security. 3. Steam: A platform for playing Windows games on Linux, it uses the Proton compatibility layer to facilitate this. Steam is free to install and compatible with most Linux distributions. 4. VirtualBox: Allows users to run a full Windows environment in a virtual machine on Linux. It is free and widely available but may not be ideal for gaming. 5. Winboat: An emerging tool currently in beta that aims to provide a user-friendly experience for running Windows applications in a containerized Windows environment. It requires Docker and specific kernel modules for installation.

Winsage

August 22, 2025

Linux Fu: Windows Virtualization The Hard(ware) Way

The Linux community faces challenges when certain applications are only available on Windows, despite solutions like Wine and virtual machines. A new approach using hardware instead of virtualization has emerged. The author received a Surface Laptop 2 that was non-functional until the keyboard was removed, revealing it was operational. While transitioning Windows installations from VirtualBox to KVM, the author discovered WinApps, a script that allows Windows applications to run on a Linux desktop via a virtual machine. However, this setup caused performance issues due to constant disk activity. The author experimented with connecting WinApps to a physical Windows machine on the network, successfully running Windows software directly on their desktop. The setup required executing an installation script on the Windows machine and making registry changes to enable RDP applications. Minor hurdles included compatibility issues with a dual-monitor setup and user permission bugs. Ultimately, Microsoft Word ran smoothly on the author's KDE desktop, demonstrating the potential for utilizing older computers for occasional tasks.

Winsage

August 19, 2025

Windows 11 insider builds have new File Explorer dark mode

Users of Windows 11 have experienced inconsistencies with dark mode, as some dialog boxes remain white despite the overall dark theme. A new beta feature in Windows 11 Insider Beta and Dev builds allows File Explorer dialog boxes to adopt a dark mode appearance, which was previously unavailable. This feature can be accessed by users on specific Insider builds (26120.5751 for Beta or 26200.5751 for Dev) released on August 15, 2025. To enable the dark mode dialog boxes, users must use ViveTool, a utility that unlocks hidden features, and execute specific commands after installing the Insider build. Although the dark mode dialog boxes are now available, some buttons within them may still appear in gray, indicating that Microsoft is still refining this aspect of the user interface. Other windows, such as the Run dialog box and Control Panel, still show inconsistencies in color schemes.