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Windows 8 and 10 includes Hyper-V as a virtualization platform, but since not everybody will use this feature, it's not enabled by default. Here's how to enable it on your Windows 8 or Windows 10 PC.

Confusion

Hyper-V only allows you to create a new virtual machine on 64-bit versions of Windows 10 or 8, but the client tools are available on both versions. If you are running 32-bit, you'll be able to do the installation, but you won't be able to actually use it to create a new VM.

Installing or Enabling Hyper-V

Hyper-V is installed in the add features section of the add or remove programs dialog. To get there we need to open a run box by pressing Win+R, now type appwiz.cpl and press enter. You could also get to the Programs and Features box through Control Panel or the Start search, but this is easy and geeky.

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Once the Programs and Features dialog opens, select the Turn Windows features on or off link on the left hand side.

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When the Windows Features open, check the Hyper-V option. Then click Ok.

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Windows will now add the Hyper-V binaries to your Windows installation.

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You can now launch the Hyper-V manager from the Metro dashboard, or from the Start Menu in Windows 10.

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