Install Ubuntu with Windows

**dirtydog** · 09-07-2010, 01:31 AM

So I got or had only windows running on this pc so thought it was time to add linux to it yesterday, got to admit I am amazed at how simple it has become, if you can set up an email account for your self you can run Ubuntu with your windows system, it really is simple now and makes no sense in wasting 150baht for the latest addition of windows as Ubuntu has everything for free anyway.

So first off go to Ubuntu Downloads, this gives you a load of options such as setting Ubuntu up on a USB stick or burning it to a CD, but we shall ignore them, now look down a bit for the "Ubuntu Windows Installer", this is the Wubi, download that's about 1.5mb, run it and stick in a user name and password, this will be your Ubuntu user and password, now let it download Ubuntu, 700mb so may take a while.

Next click install, eventually it will ask to reboot and thats it your all done, when you start your pc you get about 10 seconds to choose between your new shiny Ubuntu or your crappy old windows, it doesn't mess up your windows or anything and to switch over just do a reboot and choose which you want.

Really is no excuse at all for anyone not to have a dual boot system.

Using a USB for dual boot system.

**Butterfly** · 09-07-2010, 09:42 AM

it's a great system, I have done it. The boot manager point to a linux filesystem on your WinNT partition, very easy.

**mc2** · 09-07-2010, 09:47 AM

using a virtual machine is less painless and you will have no trouble with drivers... if you llike it enough you can then go ahead and do the native install, if not just delete the vm file

agree ubuntu is great

**Nawty** · 09-07-2010, 09:53 AM

Why is ubuntu so good...

apart from sounding african and black and primevil and black and stuff

**Nawty** · 09-07-2010, 10:03 AM

so maybe I want to be daffney for a day

**Butterfly** · 09-07-2010, 12:17 PM

^ it's not great, but it's fast and recognize everything and their menu system is quite simple and basic and still elegant. Their filemanager is not the best though, but overall the user experience is quite satisfying. If I want to do any real work, I usually use the shell or Windows

**Katana** · 09-07-2010, 01:27 PM

Ubuntu is great.

I had my personal machine on win2k and one day it carked it when the power browned out.

I had 2 win2k cds both were buggered..... what to do.

I downloaded ubuntu installed 99.9%, just needed to add a wifi driver.

The only downside is you can't use windows software. The upside is there is generally similar quality free downloadable software available.

I have had it running for more than 2 years and is great.

Mark

**harrybarracuda** · 09-07-2010, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by mc2

using a virtual machine is less painless and you will have no trouble with drivers... if you llike it enough you can then go ahead and do the native install, if not just delete the vm file

agree ubuntu is great

Can I suggest you actually look at Wubi before you start telling people installing VMWare or the like is "less painless"!

Wubi - Ubuntu Installer for Windows

By the way, this issue has been covered in a previous thread, along with other Linux questions.

I still like Meego myself, although it takes a tweak or two to dual boot it with Win 7.

**mc2** · 09-07-2010, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Originally Posted by mc2

using a virtual machine is less painless and you will have no trouble with drivers... if you llike it enough you can then go ahead and do the native install, if not just delete the vm file

agree ubuntu is great

Can I suggest you actually look at Wubi before you start telling people installing VMWare or the like is "less painless"!

Wubi - Ubuntu Installer for Windows

By the way, this issue has been covered in a previous thread, along with other Linux questions.

I still like Meego myself, although it takes a tweak or two to dual boot it with Win 7.

VMWare has all the drivers to get everything up and running, it is a one click installation... Wubi needs the specific drivers for the hardware it is running on, which more often than not requires the usual google fix search and command line installation, tweeks etc... but im sure you knew that already

**harrybarracuda** · 09-07-2010, 03:21 PM

Unless you're installing on some dodgy chinese computer with a host of unheard of components, drivers aren't an issue. When did you last install WUBI and experience such problems?

**mc2** · 09-07-2010, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Unless you're installing on some dodgy chinese computer with a host of unheard of components, drivers aren't an issue. When did you last install WUBI and experience such problems?

hahaha, just look in the ubuntu forums to see the vast range of hardware issues and fixes to get even basic things like video card and wireless working. ps. in this respect, WUBI is the same as a native install. Surely you dont think it uses windows drivers, or uses special "WUBI" drivers do you ??

Yes, my laptops video card and wireless doesn't work out of the box and my netbooks wireless doesnt work out of the box (Dell and Lenovo) but VMWare works with 1 click installation.

**harrybarracuda** · 09-07-2010, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by mc2

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Unless you're installing on some dodgy chinese computer with a host of unheard of components, drivers aren't an issue. When did you last install WUBI and experience such problems?

hahaha, just look in the ubuntu forums to see the vast range of hardware issues and fixes to get even basic things like video card and wireless working. ps. in this respect, WUBI is the same as a native install. Surely you dont think it uses windows drivers, or uses special "WUBI" drivers do you ??

Yes, my laptops video card and wireless doesn't work out of the box and my netbooks wireless doesnt work out of the box (Dell and Lenovo) but VMWare works with 1 click installation.

Yes there are lots of different types of hardware out there, and Linux coverage is not as as good as Windows, but they've done an excellent job on the most common hardware.

Given that Dell ship some of their laptops with Linux, I think you can safely say they tend to provide the appropriate drivers.

I have an Inspiron 9400 and it all works OOTB. What model do you have that doesn't support Video and Wifi?? (or better still, what is the video card and wireless radio make and model?).

Lenovo I've never tried. Chinese. But Ubuntu supports the RT2860 on my ASUS.

Wifi drivers on other distros msotly aren't an issue if you use NDISWrapper, which admittedly might be beyond the scope of a beginner.

I haven't got anything obscure enough that the standard Linux video driver won't work on it (mostly up to about 800x600, admittedly).

The only reason I've ever bother with VMware or the likes is that the appliances are fun to try out.

**mc2** · 09-07-2010, 03:49 PM

Its a GeForce 310M and DW1520 Wireless N half mini card for the Dell
and some broadcom driver for the Lenevo i think...

When I get some time im going to do a native install on the Lenevo... I already know how to fix it, I just need a wired internet connection to download the driver... not going to bother with the Dell for now...

**harrybarracuda** · 09-07-2010, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by mc2

Its a GeForce 310M and DW1520 Wireless N half mini card for the Dell
and some broadcom driver for the Lenevo i think...

When I get some time im going to do a native install on the Lenevo... I already know how to fix it, I just need a wired internet connection to download the driver... not going to bother with the Dell for now...

Is that a newish Dell then? If it is, not surpising Ubuntu hasnt added support - yet.

Will probably come in time.

Don't have the windows drivers for the Lenovo?

**mc2** · 09-07-2010, 04:52 PM

Its a newish dell; the lenovo came with XP installed but prefer Ubuntu netbook edition for everyday use

**harrybarracuda** · 09-07-2010, 04:58 PM

Not a big fan of the Netbook Remixes. Depending on what your netbook use is, have a look at Meego. It's dead quick.

**mc2** · 09-07-2010, 05:03 PM

cheers

**Bill Childress** · 13-07-2010, 06:09 AM

I've been thinking about doing just that for quite a while! Seeing that it's so easily done, I'm going to do it today. Thanks for the "how too" post!!

**Butterfly** · 13-07-2010, 08:11 AM

I am going to install unbuntu on a small USB memory stick

**Marmite the Dog** · 13-07-2010, 06:07 PM

I installed this on my old laptop to see how it compared to Win7.

It's certainly nice to use, but Win7 runs faster and videos play smoother with it. I'll stick with Win7.

**dirtydog** · 13-07-2010, 06:10 PM

I use xp and find ubuntu runs quicker and better, got to admit I haven't watched any videos in ubuntu yet though.

**harrybarracuda** · 13-07-2010, 06:57 PM

I bought Mandriva Instant On, which is a barebones version that includes web browser, email and media player.

It's nice and it boots in no time at all, but I really think they should have selected VLC as the default media player.

Maybe time to download the latest release.

I like Win 7 on my netbook, but like all Windows, once you install a few applications, it just p*sses me off having to wait for it to become ready, when I just want to watch a TV show or something in the airport lounge.

**Marmite the Dog** · 13-07-2010, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

I bought Mandriva Instant On, which is a barebones version that includes web browser, email and media player.

Bought?

**harrybarracuda** · 13-07-2010, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

I bought Mandriva Instant On, which is a barebones version that includes web browser, email and media player.

Bought?

It was only 10 euros, hardly worth pirating and I like to support open source.

InstantOn | Get wilder, get faster.

**Marmite the Dog** · 13-07-2010, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

I bought Mandriva Instant On, which is a barebones version that includes web browser, email and media player.

Bought?

It was only 10 euros, hardly worth pirating and I like to support open source.

InstantOn | Get wilder, get faster.

Fair enough, but I'm DLing a torrent to try.

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