Wubi: install Ubuntu Linux from within your Windows environment
Description: Wubi is an Ubuntu Linux installer designed to be run from within a Windows environment in order to create a dual booting Windows/Ubuntu machine. Wubi is an officially supported Ubuntu installer and is open source.
I install a lot of software every day. I am always on the lookout for good software, always researching and testing programs. If I had a nickel for every program I have installed in the past year I would have a nice stash.
I am also curious about Linux, and have caught myself at times mulling the idea of a dual booting XP/Linux setup on my computer. But installing an OS is not quite like installing an app; you don’t just click on an installer and click “next” a bunch of times; first, you have to create a new partition on your hard drive (which likely involves moving a lot of your data around), then figure out which Linux build to use and download it, then figure out the steps needed to install Linux and their sequence, as well as all the tools needed which you will likely have to add to you Linux boot CD, etc, then perform a whole bunch of steps to make it dual bootable. Wouldn’t it be great if instead of this drawn out process all you had to do was run an installer from within Windows much like you would install any application?
This, in fact, is exactly what Wubi does. In order to install Ubuntu you simply download this 1 meg executable and run it within Windows just as you would any other setup program. Here are more notes on this program:
- How to use: download and run the installer in Windows. You will be asked to specify a folder to install into, and asked to specify your login passwords. Wubi will then proceed to download Ubuntu for you (approx 700 megs), save it into your specified folder, and install it for you. (Or if you have an Ubuntu CD it will be automatically detected).
- Prerequisites: you need to have at least 5 gigs of space on your chosen hard drive partition. You do NOT have to re-partition and/or move data around. Minimum memory requirement is 256 Megs.
Dual booting: the next time you boot your machine you will be asked whether you want to boot into your Windows OS or into Ubuntu. Very cool! The folder where you installed Wubi will be mounted as a partition.- Access to your Windows partitions: you can mount and access the Windows partition where you installed Wubi from within Ubuntu and get access to your Windows files.
- Ubuntu: is very cool. Comes pre-loaded with free and/or open source versions of most of the applications that an average user would need, many of which you might be familiar with in their Windows incarnations (OpenOffice, Firefox, Pidgin, GIMP, etc).
- Performance: “identical to a standard installation”, to quote the Wubi site (i.e.very fast); in theory hard disk accesses would be faster if installed on a dedicated partition, but in practice I doubt it makes any difference.
- Uninstallation: to uninstall simply re-run the Wubi executable from within Windows to uninstall Ubuntu (it will give you the option to preserve the downloaded installation CDs in case you want to re-install later). After uninstalling you can simply delete the original install folder .
The verdict: simply brilliant!. This has to be the world’s easiest, most user friendly way to install a dual-booting Ubuntu OS next to your Windows installation. If you’re curious about Linux but hitherto haven’t reached the “tipping point” that would compel you to undertake the process of installing Linux next to your Windows, you will definitely appreciate this software. Fantastic!.
[Thanks go to my friend Diablo for letting me know about this one].
Version Tested: 8.04 Compatibility: Windows 98, 2000, XP, Vista.
Go to the Wubi home pageto download the latest version (approx 1.1 megs).
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Well, how did you like Ubuntu?
It’s got some kinks but all in all it’s a HUGE step forward in getting those dependent on Windows to take a walk on the Linux side. Don’t change the distribution option else it might crash. Just stick with the Ubuntu distro and you’ll have Linux in no time with little effort.
@Schmappel: I have to admit Ubuntu is pretty darn cool!
Error 15, every time, and every way I tried to install - from Wubi, to the live CD.
After reviewing the Ubuntu forums, I’m not the only one having these issues. Alas, Ubuntu and Linux live up to the “not ready for prime time” label, yet again.
[...] Wubi: install Ubuntu Linux from within your Windows environment | freewaregenius.com [...]
Ubuntu 8.04 includes virtualization in the kernal so you should be able to make a virtual Windoze machine that is properly and easily integrated. I’m trying to figure out how to do that now. I’m tired of rebuilding Windoze every few months and a VM would be a great way to “start fresh” and have Linux stability.
You might also want to try andLinux which folds Ubuntu under the Windows shell. It’s still in beta. http://www.andlinux.org/index.php
as usual, some hardware not recognized, quite hard to install drivers (don’t want to bother with it) but the idea is very good and it installs very easily
Great app, thx very much!!!
“install Ubuntu Linux from within your Windows environment”
The question that bothers many of us, of course, is “why?”
Seriously, I know of Linux users running/emulating Windows for application compatibility and/or gaming options, but I’ve never heard of anyone seriously wanting to do the opposite. Most who choose Linux distributions do it either to avoid paying for Windows licensing or think of it as a superior OS - mistakenly, since it is really a matter of taste and personal needs. Yet, I can’t think of a single Ubintu feature I’d want to access from the Windows environment. Any insight? I’m not that closely familiar with this particular distribution.
This appears to be built into 8.04, as I used this function to install it from the Live CD just last week without any knowledge of this extra software.
I personally would not touch Linux with a barge pole anymore. I had so much hassle with it before now. screwed my computer up rendering it non usable for 2 days! wasn’t best pleased.
Cheers anyway though Samer, sure some people will find this very useful.
“Why”
Because it is scary to sever the umbilical cord of microsoft. “What if I need windows for something that won’t run for linux” I can use this and have both incase I ever ‘have’ to have windows again. But vista is making me pull my hair out and I just want to move to something else.
why do you have a Freeware Pick! graphic, but not tag or link to pull up all of the sites best of the best picks?!???
@Ranne - Because it uses less resources than Windows and there is almost zero chance of getting a virus or infected by malware.
@Relequestual - This does nothing but installs Ubuntu (or Kubuntu or Xubuntu depning on your choice) on a virtual drive on your chosen partition and then adds it to the boot up options so at boot up you can select either Windows or Ubuntu.
So I say that both of you should put your prejudices aside and try this. You really have nothing to lose and can uninstall it by running Wubi again.
Hey Samer, been lurking on your feed for a while now, quality writeups and more importantly quality apps, keep up the good work.
While I do like Wubi and have used it on occasion I find it hugely ineffecient to have to reboot in order to compare a linux vs windows app. The andlinux.org project, which is a complete Ubuntu Linux system running seamlessly in Windows, not only solves the reboot/wait issues that I hate, but is far more accessible for the neophytes in our lives.
This is not a mockup or fake its a screenshot of real (non emulated) linux apps running side by side with windows apps.
http://andlinux.sf.net/screenshots/screenshot.png
Can’t recommend it highly enough.
Hi guys,
I’m familliar with AndLinux, but haven’t been able to get it to work on my computer. You’re welcome to write a review of it and publish it here: I would pay $20 for a quality, verbose review of AndLinux with a good step by step how to as a part of it.
@whatinthe: a “Freewaregenius Pick” category will be coming soon.
Carbonize, with all due respect, it is not true. Ubintu system requirements are higher than those of WinXP and running that OS from the Windows environment will certainly not reduce any resource consumption. Also, Linux-oriented malware (viruses, trojans, rootkits, you name it) has been on the rise for several years now. Regardless, I believe malware a not a serious issue for any experienced and careful user. What I was asking is not whether Ubintu is better than XP but whether it has any useful features and applications that do not have worthy counterparts in Microsoft-made operating systems. As of the umbilical cord comment, practicality has nothing to do with fear. I’d switch to an superior OS in a second… that is, if I ever saw one, all things considered.
@Ranne - You seem to be misunderstanding what Wubi does. You are not running Ubuntu in a Windows enviroment, it is running on it’s own off a virtual disk/partition. You are booting straight into Ubuntu not into Windows then loading Ubuntu. And whilst Linux malware etc may be on the rise you are still less liekly to get infected on Linux than on Windows.
Again I say try it. You have nothing to lose and can just uninstall it if you don’t like it.
You got to have more than 256MB of RAM, because I tried it one of my old PCs wilth 256MB RAM, it still gave me the error and did not proceed with the installation.
This looks like it could be a great way to try Linux before actually taking the plunge. Hopefully it will help convert more people over from Windows.
Yeah so im doing it right now and it is HELLAH slow like 25kb/s now i got to keep it on all night…..