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8.1 Enabling Hyper V In Windows 8

Important Question! Can your PC Run Faster?

Hyper V, Microsoft's virtual machine software has, for the first time, been incorporated in the Windows Client software. Prior to Windows 8 Hyper V had been packages only with the Windows Server versions.

To utilize Hyper V your system must support 64 Bit Second Level Address technology. Fortunately, current versions of Intel and AMD processors support this form of technology. As well as your processor supporting SLAT you are also going to need a minimum of  4GB of Random Access Memory (RAM). This allows for a minimum of 1GB of RAM allocation per virtual machine. With this configuration it is possible to run 3 virtual machines. The guest operating system, i.e., Windows 8 would also be running on 1 GB of RAM. Further virtual machines will, of course, require more RAM.

While Microsoft insist that 4GB of RAM is the minimum, we can say that, we have successfully run a virtual machine with a minimum of 3GB system RAM.

Hyper V isn't enabled by default so if you want to try it out the first thing you need to do is enable it. To do that follow the instructions below:

  1. On the Metro screen touch the Control Panel App.
  2. When the Control Panel opens scroll down the list of options until you come to More Setting.
  3. Click on More Settings and Control Panel will open.

    4. Fig: 8-1-1 Control Panel Window

    Fig: 8-1-1 Control Panel Window

  4. In the Control Panel Window, Click on the Program and Features option

    5. Fig: 8-1-2 Click the Program and Features to make the necessary changes

    Fig: 8-1-2 Click the Program and Features to make the necessary changes

  5. In the Program and Features Window look to the left of the Window and under Control Panel Home you will see an option marked Turn Windows Features On or Off.
  6. Click on the Turn Windows Features On or Off to open up the next window.

    7. Fig: 8-1-3 On the Control Panel Home pane you will see the Turn Windows Features On and Off option

    Fig: 8-1-3 On the Control Panel Home pane you will see the Turn Windows Features On and Off option

  7. The Windows Feature window will now appear.
  8. Look down the list of options and place a Check Mark (Tick) next to the Hyper V option.
  9. Next Click the OK Button.

    10. Fig: 8-1-4 Enable the Hyper V option by placing a check mark in the box to the left of the Hyper V option

    Fig: 8-1-4 Enable the Hyper V option by placing a check mark in the box to the left of the Hyper V option

  10. An Applying changes to features box will now appear.

    11. Fig: 8-1-5 The Progress bar shows that changes are being made

    Fig: 8-1-5 The Progress bar shows that changes are being made

  11. Once the changes have been implemented you will see a window which states that Windows successfully completed the requested change.
  12. At this point you will need to Restart your PC.
  13. Click the Restart Now button to continue.

    14. Fig: 8-1-6 Once the changes have been made, Restart your computer

    Fig: 8-1-6 Once the changes have been made, Restart your computer

  14. After your PC has Restarted you should find an Hyper V Manager Application icon on the Metro GUI.

    15. Fig: 8-1-7 The Hyper V Manager is your starting point for creating a new Virtual Machine

    Fig: 8-1-7 The Hyper V Manager is your starting point for creating a new Virtual Machine

  15. You can begin to create a new Virtual Machine from the Hyper V Manager GUI.