Installing Ubuntu (almost) like a Windows application

Second easy way to install Ubuntu, I described in "Become a friend with Ubuntu Linux" article, is using Wubi installer. It allows you to install and un-install Ubuntu directly from Windows like any other application.

What is Wubi and how it works?

Wubi (Windows-based Ubuntu Installer) is small program providing possibility to install and uninstall Ubuntu Linux in your Windows, like any other application. Actual installation creates a folder on your harddrive in chosen destination where Wubi puts Ubuntu system. This easy installation makes you start using Ubuntu immediately without risking any loss of information due to disk formatting or partitioning that occurs during standard installation. Your Windows system will be kept untouched.

Later, if you decide to uninstall Ubuntu for whatever reason (you plan to install it the standard way or you just don’t like it), the procedure is just as simple as removing any other application from Windows.

Many people ask if Wubi decreases the performance of Ubuntu somehow. Well, I’m using Wubi Ubuntu installation for over a year and haven’t experienced any significant slowdown in comparison to standard Ubuntu install. Wubi is simply the best way for Windows user to try Ubuntu (or its other derivate, like Kubuntu, Mythbuntu or Xubuntu).

For the procedure described below you will need to download current Wubi installer and Ubuntu ISO disk image file (or if you like, download other Ubuntu derivate from their websites).

Installation procedure

To install Ubuntu on your computer and use it besides your main Windows system follow these steps:

  1. After downloading Wubi and Ubuntu ISO image, place both files into the same directory.
  2. Run Wubi and choose installation drive, size of Ubuntu installation (I recommend at least 12GB), choose desktop environment (whether you’re installing Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu or Mythbuntu, depending on what ISO image file you downloaded), set the language you want Ubuntu to speak in and type your username and password (will be used to log into the system or to perform administration (root) tasks). Press [Install] button to begin installation.Setting up Wubi Ubuntu installation
  3. Wubi will start copying files.
    Wubi copying files needed for installation
  4. To complete installation you need to reboot your computer.
    Reboot the computer to start Ubuntu installation
  5. After rebooting the computer choose “Ubuntu” in Windows Boot Manager using arrow keyboard keys and press [Enter]. Actual Ubuntu installation wizard will run and you just need to relax and wait for the end of installation process. There will be no questions asked and whole installation should take around 10 or 15 minutes.
    Select Ubuntu in Windows Boot Manager
  6. When Ubuntu finishes the installation, computer reboots automatically. Again choose “Ubuntu” in Windows Boot Manager to have a look at your brand new Ubuntu system. GRUB, Ubuntu’s boot loader, will be displayed with list of different Ubuntu Linux kernels or operating systems, so just press [Enter] or wait a few seconds. Then log into system with username and password you typed in the 2nd step of this tutorial and enjoy and play with Ubuntu!

As you can see, this is very easy procedure and takes just few minutes. To use your Windows system again simply choose it in Windows Boot Manager when computer starts or just wait until it runs automatically. If you later want to uninstall Ubuntu, just double click on Wubi in Windows and choose to remove it or use Control Panel → Programs and Features to remove Ubuntu.
Uninstalling Ubuntu in Control Panel, Programs and Features

That’s it, next time I’ll show you how to customize the look of Ubuntu.

(Pictures were taken from Wubi’s homepage.)

Oliver Juhás 11.11.2009, 16:43 Linux