Installing Latest Vanilla OS2 (Orchid) in Virtualbox

Looking to try out the latest Vanilla OS 2 (Orchid) on your system without touching your main setup? VirtualBox makes it easy. Here’s a no-nonsense guide to get you up and running with Vanilla OS 2 inside a virtual machine.

What You’ll Need

• VirtualBox installed (Windows, Linux, or Mac)
• Vanilla OS 2 (Orchid) ISO file
• At least 2GB RAM (4GB+ recommended)
• Around 20GB free disk space

Step 1: Download Vanilla OS 2 (Orchid)

Head to the official Vanilla OS downloads page and grab the latest Orchid ISO. Make sure to note where you save it.

Step 2: Set Up a New Virtual Machine

1. Open VirtualBox and click “New”.
2. Name it “Vanilla OS 2” and set Type to “Linux”, Version to “Ubuntu (64-bit)”.
3. Allocate RAM — 4096 MB is ideal if you can spare it.
4. Create a virtual hard disk (VDI), at least 20GB.

Step 3: Attach the Vanilla OS 2 ISO

1. Select your new VM and hit Settings.
2. Go to Storage > Empty under the Controller: IDE section.
3. Click the disk icon on the right and choose “Choose a disk file…”.
4. Find and select your downloaded Vanilla OS 2 (Orchid) ISO.

Step 4: Tweak a Few Settings (Recommended)

• Under System > Processor, allocate 2 or more CPUs if your hardware allows.
• Under Display, bump video memory to at least 64 MB.
• Optional: Enable 3D Acceleration.

Step 5: Boot Up and Install

1. Start your VM.
2. You’ll boot into the Vanilla OS 2 live environment.
3. Double-click “Install Vanilla OS” on the desktop.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions:
   • Pick your language and keyboard layout
   • Select your timezone
   • Set up a username and password
   • When asked about disk setup, select Erase disk (this only affects the virtual disk)
5. Wait for installation to finish, then restart the VM.

Step 6: Remove the ISO and Start Using Vanilla OS 2

• After rebooting, if it boots back into the installer, shut down the VM.
• Go to Settings > Storage, select the ISO under the IDE controller, and click the remove icon.
• Boot again—you should land on your new Vanilla OS 2 desktop.

Make Vanilla OS Full Screen in VirtualBox

If you want Vanilla OS to fill your entire display (rather than sitting in a small window), you’ll need to install VirtualBox Guest Additions. This is the same process as for Ubuntu, and you can follow this easy guide:
How to Make Ubuntu Full Screen on VirtualBox in Windows 10 and Windows 11
The steps are nearly identical for Vanilla OS.

Final Touches

• Install VirtualBox Guest Additions for better performance:
  • With the VM running, click Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD image…
  • Run the installer from within Vanilla OS.

Now you’re ready to explore Vanilla OS 2 (Orchid) in a safe, isolated environment. You can test features, try software, and see what makes this Linux distro unique—all without risking your main system.

Got questions or run into trouble? Drop a comment below!

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!