Windows 8.1 VM - Oracle Virtual Box

Build VM

1. Collect your licensed windows iso [Used Window 8.1 iso image. Downloaded 3.65GB file locally]
2. Start Oracle Virtual Box
3. Click New in Oracle Virtual Box window
4. Name: 'Windows_8_1'
5. Type: Select 'Microsoft Windows' 
6. Version: Pick 'Windows 8.1 (64 bit)'
7. Memory size: pick 2048 [It is the default value picked for Windows 8.1. So leave it]
8. Hard drive: Check 'Create a virtual hard drive now'
9. Click 'Create'
10. In next window, leave all default: File size: 25GB, Hard disk file type: 'VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image)', Storage on physical hard drive: 'Dynamically allocated'
11. Click 'Create' in this window too
12. Now, you can see 'Windows_8_1' vm image created with 'Powered Off' state
13. Start the 'Windows_8_1' vm
14. In popup window, pick the iso file downloaded in first step and click 'Start'
15. It will go like regular Windows 8.1 installation
16. Pick zonal setting - I left as it is!
17. Click 'Install now' once prompted
18. 'Accept' the license terms in 'Windows Setup' and click 'Next'
19. Click on 'Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)'
20. Select default 25GB harddrive and click 'Next'
21. Let the process continue
22. Let it restart and restart
23. Once it is ready, give your pc name 'vm-pc'
24. Use 'Express setting' on next level
25. 'Create local account'
26. Enter your credentials and Password/hints
27. Finish - Your VM is ready. 
28. Windows 8.1 does some app installs and entertain you with some screen color changes. Please don't fall that cleverness. Still it is windows!

Export for future use

1. In Oracle VirtualBox, click File -> Export Appliance
2. Select 'Windows_8_1' from 'Virtual machines to export' list, then click 'Continue'
3. File: Update with correct file location and file name [Pick ova format in this window]
4. Format: Pick OVF 2.0 
5. Check 'Write Manifest file'
6. Click 'Continue'
7. In new dialog, check the options and leave as it is, click 'Export'
8. This creates the VM image for future imports
9. You can import the VM image to create new VM

Guest Additions

Ref: https://ludwigkeck.wordpress.com/2012/11/03/virtualbox-guest-additions-in-a-windows-8-virtual-machine/

Guest additions needed for seamless mode. Here is the steps I could use;

1. In VirtualBox VM: Devices menu, select 'Insert Guest Additions CD Image (Host+D)'. It suppose to popup some dialog, which didnt show up. 
2. Assume you didnt see any popups, in Windows 8.1 VM running instance, go to 'Explorer' and CD Drive
3. Double click on VBoxWindowsAdditions(.exe) file and follow the basic installation with default setup
4. At end of installation, select 'Reboot'
5. After rebooting, you can use normal VM and Seamless mode too.

Connecting To Local Domain

1. Right click on My Computers [For Windows 8.1, right click on desktop; In popup dialog click 'Change Desktop Icon'; In the following 'Desktop Icon Settings' dialog, check 'Computer' to show 'My Computer' in desktop. Pick other icons if needed], then select 'Properties'.
2. In 'System' dialog window, click 'Advance system settings'.
3. In 'System Properties' dialog, select 'Computer Name' tab
4. Click the 'Change' icon to change computer domain/workgroup
5. In bottom, 'Member of' section, check 'Domain' radio button, then fill the your local domain name [Check with your IT]
6. Depends your domain setup, you may prompted to enter user id and password; and possible restart too.
7. After restart, instead of login as default system user, click '<-' left arrow and select 'Other user'
8. Now, you see user name and password field and 'Sign in to:' DOMAIN name
9. Use your local domain account to login; Now your new domain profile is created in VM!