WWanted to try out Lucid Lynx a.k.a Ubuntu 10.04 Linux on
Windows, but were worried to wipe-off a drive partition? Fear no more! In fact,
even if you have a single partition on your Windows machine, you can still try
out this
Linux distro without any worry. The tool called Wubi makes
this possible. It's an officially supported Ubuntu installer for Windows users,
allowing them to install Ubuntu within their Windows OS as an application. It
keeps most files in one folder, and if after trying Ubuntu you want to remove
it, you can simply uninstall it as any other application.
Direct Hit! |
Applies To: Windows users |
Even though a Live CD of Ubuntu is another alternative,
you still have to reboot your machine. Plus, Live CDs are read-only, and
generally meant for trouble-shooting or demonstration. Wubi installs Ubuntu just
like any other application on Windows. It simply creates an extra option to boot
into Ubuntu. Plus, it does not install any special drivers on your Windows
installation, and requires only around 4 GB of your hard drive space to
install. So with Wubi, even the basic users can try out Ubuntu. The ISO for
Wubi can be downloaded from the link given in the box above. The software has
been distributed with last month's DVD. In case you don't have that, send us a
request mail at pcquest@cybermedia. co.in, and we'll be glad to send you a
complimentary copy of the DVD.
Burn the Wubi/Ubuntu ISO on a CD/DVD, mount it, and follow
the steps mentioned below to install and run Ubuntu 10.04 on Windows.
With autoplay enabled, once you insert the Ubuntu CD or mount the ISO, Ubuntu's umenu loader pops up. From the three options, select 'Install inside Windows' option to proceed. |
When you get the Wubi installer, select the installation drive, set username and password and verify the desktop environment. |
Once you have selected the drive partition with enough free space for Ubuntu's installation, you can allocate the amount of free space to Ubuntu. |
You can set the accessibility settings like Braille terminal or mobility settings that allow sticky keys or on-screen keyboard |
After you have set the username and password and allocated the installation space for Ubuntu, click on the Install button. |
Once the Ubuntu setup wizard completes, you just need to reboot the system. Windows Boot Manager will now offer you Windows as well as Ubuntu, as options. Select Ubuntu. |
During Ubuntu configuration, the update packages also gets downloaded, if connected to Internet. After login, you can download from Ubuntu Software Center. |
Wubi is an uninstaller too. If you want to remove Windows, just go to Control Panel > Programs and Features and select Ubuntu for uninstallation |