By default, a virtual optical device is attached to the virtual machines in VirtualBox. You can insert a disk image into the optical drive to install an application or a whole operating system. The disk image could be ISO 9660, Joliet, or Universal Disk Format (UDF) format used by devices such as CD ROM, DVD, or Blue Ray.

A disk image can be inserted into the virtual optical device on both running or stopped virtual machines in VirtualBox.

Steps insert disk image to optical device on running VirtualBox VM:

  1. Select the running VM window.
  2. Click on CD ROM icon at the bottom of window.
  3. Select Choose a disk file option.

    Select a CD or ISO image already listed from the list if available or click on Choose/Create a disk image to open the disk image creation and selection window.

  4. Select CD image from local storage and click Open.

Steps insert CD image to optical device on stopped VirtualBox VM:

  1. Right click on powered-off VM from VirtualBox's main interface and and click on Settings.
  2. Go to the Storage tab.
  3. Click on CD ROM device marked Empty.
  4. Click on CD ROM icon on the right.
  5. Select Choose a disk file option.

    Select a CD or ISO image already listed from the list if available or click on Choose/Create a disk image to open the disk image creation and selection window.

  6. Select CD image from local storage and click Open.
  7. Click OK.
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