Setting up TensorFlow on Windows using VirtualBox
Hi there! I’m Jose Portilla and I teach Data Science online and in-person!
Step by Step Guide for Setting up TensorFlow on Windows using a VirtualBox that runs Ubuntu. For simplicity, we’ll show the installation process for CPU version.
Step 1: Download VirtualBox:
Step 2: Download Ubuntu:
Step 3: Install VirtualBox and run it.
Step 4: Click on the New button.
Step 5: Name and operating system
Choose a Name, and then select Type: Linux, and Version: Ubuntu (64-bit) or whatever version you downloaded from Step 2.
Step 6: Allocate Memory Size
This step will depend on your computer’s RAM, but you’ll want to give access to a reasonable amount of RAM here for you to operate the Ubuntu virtualization without any trouble. Depending on your applications choose somewhere between 4–8 GB , if you only have 8GB total on your computer, then just give the VirtualBox access to 4GB (4000 MB).
Step 7: Set Hard Disk
Choose “Create a virtual hard disk and the default 8GB (we will change this later)
Step 8: Hard Disk File Type
Choose VDI
Step 9: Storage on physical hard disk
Choose “Fixed Size”, dynamically allocated can slow down your input output speed. Then choose a decent amount of space, probably 20–50 GB. This will take a minute or two (or for SSD it will be much faster).
Step 10: Right-click on your new virtual machine and click on settings.
Step 11: Go to System and then click on the Processor Tab.
Depending on your computer, allow access the maximumpa CPUs in the green zone. You can also exceed this is you want, it really depends on what you plan to do
Step 12: Go to Display and assign more video memory, around 80MB. Optional: Enable 3D Acceleration
Step 13: Select Ok
Step 14: Double Click on your virtual machine.
Step 15: Select start-up disk.
Point your virtual machine to wherever you saved your Ubuntu iso file and select Start.
Step 16: Ubuntu should now be installing on your virtual machine.
Step 17: Select Install Ubuntu and Download updates while installing Ubuntu
Step 18: Select Erase disk and install Ubuntu
Don’t worry this only erases the disk space you set aside, not your actual Windows computer.
Step 19: Choose Default Location and Keyboard settings
Step 20: Wait for installation to complete
Step 21: Click Restart Now, press Enter if it asks you to Remove the Medium
If this takes too long (>10 minutes) go ahead and just reset the Virtual Machine with VirtualBox
Step 22: Ubuntu should now be running in the Virtual Box.
Step 23: Now just follow the instructions on TensorFlow’s homepage for Ubuntu Installation inside your VirtualBox!
I recommend just using the Anaconda version of the instructions:
https://www.tensorflow.org/versions/r0.11/get_started/os_setup.html#anaconda-installation
