The mechanism for launching ''VirtualBox'' differs depending on the host operating system as follows:
* '''Linux Host''' - With some desktop environments, a ''Sun xVM VirtualBox '' option will be available from the ''Applications->System Tools'' menu. The executable is also located in ''/usr/bin'' and may be launched from by entering ''VirtualBox'' at a terminal window prompt. If ''/usr/bin'' is not currently in the user's $PATH environment variable, the entire path to the executable (''/usr/bin/VirtualBox'') will need to be entered.
* '''Windows Host''' - On Windows hosts, VirtualBox can be launched by selecting ''Start->All Programs->Sun xVM VirtualBox->VirtualBox''. Alternatively, the tool can be launched from the command prompt by changing directory to the VirtualBox installation folder (C:\Program Files\Sun\xVM VirtualBox'' by default) and executing ''VirtualBox''.
* '''Solaris Host''' - With some desktop environments, a ''Sun xVM VirtualBox '' option will be available from the ''Applications->System Tools'' menu. The executable is also located in ''/usr/bin'' and may be launched from by entering ''VirtualBox'' at a terminal window prompt. If ''/usr/bin'' is not currently in the user's $PATH environment variable, the entire path (''/usr/bin/VirtualBox'') will need to be entered.
* '''Mac OS X Host''' - VirtualBox can be launched by double clicking on ''VirtualBox'' in the Applications folder of the Finder.
Before == The VirtualBox First Run Wizard == It may not have gone unnoticed that none of the above steps involved configuring a CD or DVD drive for the virtual machine. This raises the obvious question of how to install the guest operating system can be installed. Fortunately, this issue is resolved by the VirtualBox ''First Run Wizard''. This wizard is invoked automatically when a new virtual machine which has a new virtual disk as the boot device (VirtualBox assumes that an existing virtual disk already has a guest operating system installed on it ) is likely started as illustrated in the following figure. [[Image:virtualbox_first_run_wizard.jpg|The VirtualBox First Run Wizard]] Note that VirtualBox will only display this wizard the first time a virtual machine is run, regardless of whether the guest operating system installation is successful or not. If the installation fails the first time, you will need to know how to manually configure a virtual CD/DVD drive will need . This topic is covered in the [[Configuring VirtualBox Virtual Machine Settings]] chapter of this book. The purpose of the First Run Wizard is to be configured into configure the virtual machineso that it can find the guest operating system installation media. Details Clicking ''Next>'' on these and other the ''Welcome'' screen displays the ''Select Installation Media'' settings relating to screen as shown in the following figure: [[Image:virtualbox_select_installation_media.jpg|Selecting installation media for a new VirtualBox virtual machines are covered machine]] The installation media may be in the form of a physical CD, DVD or floppy installed into a drive connected to the host computer system. Alternatively, the media may be an ISO image file which is accessible to the host operating system. In the case of physical media, select the ''Host Drive'' from the ''Media Source'' section of the screen and select the drive into which the disk has been mounted. When using an ISO image file, the file must first be added to the VirtualBox virtual media library. If the image file has not already been added, click on the button next chapter - to the ISO image name to launch the Virtual Media Manager, click the ''Add'' button and navigate to the file. Once the file has been added by the Virtual Media Manager it will appear in the drop down list of files ready for selection. Once the selection has been made, click ''Next>'', review the summary information displayed and click ''Finish'' to boot the virtual machine and begin the guest installation process from the designated media: [[Configuring Image:virtualbox_running_vm.jpg|WIndows Vista installation in a VirtualBox Virtual Machine Settingsvirtual machine]].
