Cannot install guest OS on VM on a Surface

[*****]

System only has a USB port (Surface).
1) A bootable USB is not an *.iso image and it generates that error.
2) Putting the *.iso file on the USB stick (bootable or not) gets a no-boot image error.

Looks like VM cannot be used on a Surface because either way, it generates an error saying the other way is required.

What is confusing is why it cannot read an iso image (put one on the host drive and it cannot be used by VM).

Any suggestions how to install a guest OS on a Microsoft Surface?

THanks,
Doug

[mpack]

The ISO on a USB stick will be fine, you must have used it wrong. If you want help then tell us what the problem is, rather than your own diagnosis. And give precise error messages.

Note that it can't be any old ISO. An ISO is an image of a CD/DVD. If you want to boot a VM from it then it has to be an image of a bootable CD/DVD.

[mpack]

Oh - and just for clarity: the Surface is an ARM based computer, it is not a real Windows PC despite marketing to the contrary. In particular it will not run third party Intel applications such as VirtualBox. In essence it runs a specially built version of Microsoft Office.

The Surface Pro has an Intel CPU and runs normal Windows 8.x and later. Still, it's designed for low power, not performance, so I doubt it'll do a very good job of running a VM. Still, it might be good enough for niche uses.

So I hope you actually have a Surface Pro, and not the Surface mentioned in your OP.

[scottgus1]

it cannot be used by VM

This depends on how you're trying to get the VM to use the ISO. ISO's have to be attached to the guest's CD drive. Then, if they're bootable, and the guest is set to look for an OS in the CD first, the guest will boot from the ISO.

Are you telling Virtualbox to put the ISO in the guest's virtual CD drive? See section 1.8.1, second bullet point, in the manual.