Ubuntu Template
Start by downloading Ubuntu. You can download either the LTS or the Stable version. The Stable version is the latest, and the LTS will be considered supported for longer.
LTS stands for Long Term Support.
Both are good options. For these instructions I downloaded the LTS version, which is my preference.
After you've downloaded Ubuntu, start virtualbox on your Host machine.
Click the "New" button and not the "Add" button to get started.
Sometimes developers will have a full VM download available for you so that you don't have to install their operating system into a VM. In that case you are "Adding" a VM instead of creating a "New" VM. For Ubuntu, we are creating a "New" VM.
Lets use the name "Ubuntu LTS Template". If you downloaded the Interim version, name it "Ubuntu Interim Template". Leave default the "Machine Folder" dropdown. If it doesn't automatically choose it for you, choose "Linux" in the "Type" dropdown, and "Ubuntu (64-bit)" in the "Version" dropdown. Then click "Next".
We need to assign some of the Hosts RAM to the VM. The default 1024 Megabytes is not enough, drag the slider to 2048 MegaBytes. You can always change the amount later while the VM is off, it cannot be changed while running.
1024 MegaBytes is one GigaByte.
Next, you can choose the hard disk option. We will be using the default option of "Create a virtual hard disk now", then click "Create".
For reference, you have the option of not having a hard disk for your VM. You would do this in the event you had an operating system that is meant to be run on a read only ISO. You can also use an existing VM disk instead of creating one.
Use the default "VDI" option and click "Next".
You have the option of either using a smaller VM file that will get bigger as necessary, or a fixed size file. The dynamically allocated option will not become smaller if you make space inside the VM after using it. For now, use the default "Dynamically allocated" option, and then click "Next".
Leave the location in the same place. An Ubuntu install takes up 32GB, I recommend increasing to 50GB. Click "Create" to finish creating your VM.
Before we start the VM up, let's change some advanced settings. Right-click on the "Ubuntu Template" VM in the left panel, and click settings.
Click "Display" in the left hand panel, and then drag the "Video Memory" slider all the way to 128MB from 16MB. Then click "Ok".
Now, select "Ubuntu LTS Template" in the left panel and click "Start" in the toolbar.
Now click on the small folder icon next to the dropdown.
Click "Add" to open the file dialog.
Navigate to your Downloads folder, and double click the Ubuntu "ISO" file you downloaded.
My personal preference is set your browser to download directly to the Desktop, that way you remember to delete things when you're done with them.
Click "Choose" to select your installer.
Then click "Start" to boot the installer.
Click the "X" on the popup at the top of the window. You can do this for all of these popups as they come up. Then click inside the VM window.
You will get a popup telling you that the VM will "capture" your mouse. Keyboard shortcuts for the Host will not work while the window has focus. You can drag your mouse out or click "Right-Control" on your keyboard to bring the focus back to the Host. Click "Capture" to go back to the VM, then press "Enter" on the default option of "Try or Install Ubuntu". You can also wait 30 seconds and it will continue with the selected option.
The Ubuntu installer will now boot. The Ubuntu installer runs on a custom version of Ubuntu, allowing you to click "Try Ubuntu" before you install it. Let's just get straight into the install, click "Install Ubuntu".
Select your keyboard. The default is "English (US)", which is probably what you want. Click "Continue".
Normal installation, yes on "Download updates while installing Ubuntu", but this is a VM so no need for third party software. Click "Continue".
Select the "Erase disk" option, this will not erase the Host's disk. It will erase the VM's disk, which is currently empty. Then click "Continue".
The popup is just warning you that it will erase the VM disk, click "Continue".
Select your time zone, then click "Next".
Next enter in your user information. You can just use "Theophilus". In this case, I'm going to enter the password as "theophilus" and click the checkbox to "Log in automatically". That way when I start the VM it'll just login for me. Click "Continue".
Ubuntu will take some time to install.
Once it's done, click the "Restart Now" button.
Next, the disk should automatically eject. You can just press "Enter" on your keyboard to boot into your Ubuntu VM.
The software updater will popup, click "Install Now".
It will ask for your password, enter it and click "Authenticate".
The screensaver may activate without virtualbox showing you, when you come back to your computer, click on the screen to see the screensaver. Log back in.
Now that the updates are complete, click "Restart Later". We will restart manually in a few moments.
On first login Ubuntu will try to push some things, just like Windows pushes Edge. Skip the "Online Accounts" page.
Skip Ubuntu Pro.
Do not send system info to Canonical.
Do not enable Location Services.
Here you can install the software you plan to use. However, we're just making the template. Click the "Done" button.
Click the button with three icons at the top right to restart the computer.
Click the "Power Off / Log Out" button, followed by the "Power Off..." button.
Then click the "Power Off" button. Yes this is way too many clicks... but if you're coming from bloatware like Windows, then bloatware like GNOME (The Desktop software the Ubuntu uses) is perfect for you to transition.
Finally, you can delete your ISO file out of your downloads folder and empty the trash. Do this by right clicking on the file and selecting "Move to Trash".
Then right click on the garbage bin in your toolbar and select "Empty Trash", then click "Empty Trash" in the popup.
With a template handy, we can setup more Ubuntu VMs without having to go through the full install process we just did. Right click on the "Ubuntu LTS Template" VM in the left hand panel, then click "Clone".
Make certain never to actually use the "Ubuntu LTS Template" for anything, as that only exists to be duplicated. If you notice one of your Ubuntu machines needs to update, you should update your template as well, obviously.
Name the clone to the specific task or purpose of the VM, I'll use "Ubuntu LTS Personal" for my example, then click "Next".
Verify that "Full clone" is selected, then click "Clone".
This progress bar is way faster than a full install by far.
Now you have a "Ubuntu LTS Template" VM, and a "Ubuntu LTS Personal" VM. Make sure you click on the "Ubuntu LTS Personal" VM before clicking "Start".
After boot and log in, click the suitcase in the sidebar with the "A" on it.
You can install apps on your VM from here. Click on the "Updates" tab to see more updates that can be installed.
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