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Easy Way to Install Ubuntu - from within Windows
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Introduction
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A full installation of the Ubuntu Linux system into your computer requires selecting or re-formatting a partition with the ext4 or other file system. This procedure might look complicated to newbies. For average Windows users who just want to try out Ubuntu without this complication, wouldn't it be easier to install Ubuntu Linux just like any other Windows application? Wubi, which is Windows-based Ubuntu Installer, is a good solution. It provides the easiest way to install Ubuntu for Windows users, without the need to mess around with the existing partitions in the hard disk. When you run Wubi in Windows, it adds an entry to the boot menu and install Ubuntu within a file in the existing Windows file system. This file is seen by Ubuntu as a loop-mounted virtual partition so that it can run from there like a real system and not just a virtual machine. |
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These are basically two options for running Wubi from Windows to easily install Ubuntu Linux into your computer: Easy Installation -Option A: Use Ubuntu CD Image The Ubuntu CD Image (about 706MB, ISO file) is freely available for download and can be burnt into a CD ("LiveCD") using burning software. The CD Image officially includes the installer wubi.exe. You might want to refer to following steps for installation of Ubuntu after placing the LiveCD into a CD/DVD drive (or mounting the ISO file on a virtual drive using emulation software).
Easy Installation -Option B: Download Wubi Installer This option is to let Wubi Installer download the Ubuntu CD Image during installation. To start with, you would just need to download the installer file wubi.exe (1.4MB) from here. After download, double-click the installer file from Windows and it will show up an Ubuntu Installer window same as after Step 2 above. The rest of the steps for installation are basically similar, except that at Step 4, the installer will download the Ubuntu CD Image from the server to the hard disk, instead of getting it from the cd/dvd drive. The download of the CD Image can take some time during the installation depending on your bandwidth.
Un-install Ubuntu from Windows If you like to uninstall Ubuntu, open the Control Center in Windows, choose "Ubuntu" to uninstall, just like any other Windows applications.
Limitations Wubi requires existing Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista or 7 to install Ubuntu Linux into the existing file system. While Wubi makes installation and un-installation of Ubuntu easier from Windows, it comes with some limitations -- the hibernation is not enabled in this mode and the disk performance might be relatively reduced, but I don't see these limitations are strong enough for not trying out installation of Ubuntu from Windows. |
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Comments
I got a new compaq-hp laptop last year and installed ubuntu into the partition of the drive which I created during the installation process. Ubuntu was fine, and I could access windows files from ubuntu, but I could no longer get Vista to come up again. Kept getting a black screen with two OS options. Ubuntu went right on in, but Vista was shot. No way to get back in. good luck. I'd stick with Wubi as long as it does not corrupt Windows from inside.
Very helpful for beginners although I don't recommend Wubi and think that partitioning is a better idea
Can I install inside WinXP [on my laptop] and then from that installation run the same installer that can be run from the liveDVD, to install a more permanent version onto a separate ext3 partition on same laptop? The reason is that liveDVD cant detect my partitions on my laptop, but installer running inside WinXP can. Unless I can do this there seems to be no way to get it onto its own partition on laptop until this bug in the bdistro is fixed. I think this new distro doesnt like my bios, but earlier versions installed on laptop without any problem. Cheers, Canopic8
hi,
I have been looking for a detailed simple way to completely wipe my computer's hard drive....one of my cpu's operating system is really messed up the other has windows operating system.
So how do I completely wipe a hard drive that had windows on it....
how do I partition ubuntu operating system...alone...no other operating system
From a newbie to computers...
simple, detailed, with examples, step by step
completely wipe a hard drive ...with a working operating system and with a non working operating system
how to partition the hard drive
how to install ubuntu alone...
thanks in advance
Bill
I know that there a a lot of people out here that are trying to do the above...
Such questions are better to be asked in the forum, where better help can be provided. Here, it will be restricted. Please register, and post on the forum :).
Will it work with Windows 7?
Yes, it is supported as updated in the Ubuntu Documentation on Wubi.
It kind of is a full install in a way, just not fully optimised with partitons and such meaning it will not run as well or smooth as a fresh install.
But this being said it runs great anyway
Wouldn't it be better to install it as a Virtual Machine than like this.
This can be installed in another partition or hard drive and there will be no limitations.
But, This is only for people who want to try as this will not provide dual booting option.
Actually installing in a virtual machine would not be as good as this. The problem is that installing in a virtual machine means you are also sharing resources with your current operating systems. What wubi does is create a somewhat semi dual boot system which means that almost all resources you are using is from the hardware itself and not being shared and thus if you have 512 MB or ram, your ubuntu install can use 512 MB of ram unlike in a virtual machine where your host OS is already using a certain amount of RAM and the virtualization software is using some other part.
Of course the best way is just a true dual boot with a separate partition. However the advantage of wubi is that it allows non-techy people to easily uninstall ubuntu if they decide to stay with windows without having to uninstall the bootloader and reclaim the partition.
This is true only for older machines. With a decent intel processor and say 2-4Gb ram, Ubuntu on virtuabox feels the same. Here's a video on installing Ubuntu in virtualbox - http://goo.gl/Dn6sj
There is added advantage that you don't mess around with bootloader as well.
And yes, the real solution is just a true dual boot with a separate partition.
You're right that Virtual Machine is another option. After installation by Wubi, it does provide a dual booting option, and allow for easy un-installation after booting into Windows.
Very Interesting for people who don't want to fully install Ubuntu on their computer, it’s also good for the ones that don't know how to completely install and for those who just want to test linux but don’t want all the hassle of a full install. Good article.
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