I created a Windows 11 digital machine to check DeepSeek safely – this is how you are able to do it at no cost

1. Download and set up VirtualField

The very first thing you will must do is obtain and set up the VirtualField software program. From the obtain web page we have linked right here, choose the model below ‘VirtualField Platform Packages’ for the working system you utilize. For this information, I chosen Windows hosts.

Once VirtualField has downloaded, double click on the downloaded program file to run the set up course of and observe the directions to put in it in your PC.

2. Download the Windows 11 ISO

You additionally want an ISO file of an working system. ISO information are a kind of file that was often known as disc photographs, and whereas we do not normally use CDs or DVDs with our PCs lately, ISO photographs are nonetheless extensively used – type of like a digital CD that your PC can run even with out an optical disc drive.

You can use ISO information of Linux distros or different working programs, however for this walkthrough, we’ll use Windows 11, as Microsoft has made it straightforward and protected to obtain the ISO picture for.

Go to Microsoft’s official Download Windows 11 web page and scroll right down to the place it says Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 units then click on the drop-down field and choose Windows 11 (multi-edition ISO for x64 units), then click on Download Now and save the file to a location in your exhausting drive.

The file is slightly below 6GB, so be sure you have sufficient room.

3. Create the brand new digital machine

Open up VirtualField and choose New (with a blue icon). When the Create Virtual Machine window seems, enter within the identify of the digital machine you wish to create (this may be something, but it surely’s finest to present it a descriptive identify reminiscent of ‘Windows 11 check’).

The Folder textual content field reveals you the place the digital machine goes to be saved, you possibly can depart this as default except you need it created some place else. In the ISO Image field, press the down arrow, then choose Other…

Browse to the situation the place you downloaded the Windows 11 ISO and choose the file. VirtualField ought to detect that it is a Windows 11 set up and fill in the remainder of the containers. Once executed, click on Next.

4. Hardware configuration

In the subsequent window you possibly can configure the Windows 11 set up. You need not change something right here, although I like to recommend you select a brand new username and password, which will probably be used to log in to Windows 11.

Once executed, click on Next. You’ll then must allocate the {hardware} for the digital laptop. This is a crucial stability to get proper, because it dedicates components of your bodily PC’s {hardware} to be used by the digital machine.

First is a slider for the reminiscence. On the far-right facet is the quantity of RAM your bodily PC has (in our case 16GB). By default, VirtualField will give your digital machine 4GB. This is the minimal quantity you might want to run Windows 11.

You can change the quantity of RAM allotted to the digital machine by sliding the bar from left (much less) to proper (extra). The extra RAM you allocate to the digital machine, the sooner it’ll carry out – however keep in mind that allocating an excessive amount of RAM will depart your foremost PC with much less RAM to make use of whereas the digital machine is operating. So, you wish to strike a stability between giving the digital machine sufficient reminiscence to carry out effectively, with out impacting the efficiency of your whole PC.

Underneath, you’ll see ‘Processors’ and right here you possibly can allocate processor cores to the digital machine. Again, this needs to be a cautious stability as allocating too many might make your PC run slower. By default, it’ll allocate two cores, and I’ve discovered that to be completely high-quality for utilizing DeepSeek in Windows 11. If you’re anxious about this step, simply depart the settings at their default and click on Next.

5. Set up a digital exhausting drive

Like within the earlier step, you will must allocate a digital exhausting drive out of your bodily exhausting drive for the digital machine to make use of. This is particularly vital when operating software program in a sandbox, because it ensures that something that occurs within the digital machine is stored throughout the digital drive, moderately than impacting your information and folders in your PC’s exhausting drive.

The default choice is 80GB which needs to be greater than sufficient for putting in Windows 11. It’s vital to notice that whereas 80GB appears like a scary quantity of disk house to allocate, VirtualField would not partition off that quantity immediately (except you test the field saying ‘Pre-allocate Full Size’). Instead, the digital exhausting drive will develop in dimension as you utilize it, with the scale you choose right here being the utmost dimension the digital exhausting drive can develop to.

It’s vital that you do not choose a dimension that’s near the entire capability of your PC’s exhausting drive, as you do not need that filling up! Of course, should you want more room in your PC sooner or later, and need not use the digital machine any extra, you possibly can simply delete the digital drive.

Click Next to proceed, then Finish.

6. Install Windows 11

Your digital machine will now boot. You may see a message saying ‘Press any key to proceed’ – click on the VirtualField window then press any key in your keyboard to proceed.

VirtualField will cleverly determine when your mouse is over the window, and can routinely swap so your mouse controls the cursor within the digital machine. Clicking someplace within the digital machine the place you possibly can kind will routinely swap your keyboard to work within the digital machine. Clicking outdoors of the VirtualField window will return your mouse and keyboard to manage your bodily PC.

The Windows 11 Setup window ought to seem asking for a product key. As we’re simply utilizing this for a short lived check digital machine, do not put any key in right here – simply click on I haven’t got a product key.

Windows 11 will then be put in on the digital machine.

7. Start up Windows 11 and check in to DeepSeek

Windows 11 ought to now boot, and you can use your digital machine identical to a traditional PC – however inside a window!

Now we will safely use DeepSeek (and different purposes) in a sandbox. Open up the Edge net browser and head to the DeepSeek web site. You can then create an account or log in utilizing your Google account.

Due to the privateness considerations at present surrounding DeepSeek, I strongly suggest that you just do not use your Google account to log in. Instead, click on Sign up after which enter your e mail handle (this may be your Gmail), create a password (and make sure it), tick the field to verify you conform to the phrases of use, then press Send code. When you get the code, enter it within the textual content field.

You’ll then be signed as much as DeepSeek and can be capable of use it as you’d usually.

8. Turning off your digital machine

When you have completed utilizing your digital machine, you possibly can flip it off the same old method by opening the Windows 11 begin menu and urgent the facility icon and selecting Shut down.

You may also click on File > Close within the VirtualField menu bar on the prime of the window. This shows the Close Virtual Machine window. By choosing Save the machine state after which clicking OK, VirtualField will basically pause the digital machine the place you’re. When you load up the digital machine sooner or later, you can proceed the place you left off.