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In-Windows Linux Installation, with No Virtualisation
By Martin English | May 16, 2008
Wubi, which stands for Windows Ubuntu Installer, was designed to make dual-booting as easy as possible. The project hasn’t been around very long, but it has already gotten to the point that it will be included on the Live CD (”desktop cd”) for Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, the Hardy Heron.
Wubi installs Ubuntu on a drive embedded inside an *.ISO disk image that sits right on your Windows NTFS partition, and then it convinces Windows’ bootloader to boot Linux at your request. If it didn’t make sense, don’t worry about it. You can use it without understanding it. Assume it’s magic if you like.
Using Wubi, the installation takes as much as it can from your Windows installation (timezone etc). Unless, you want to just run the default applications, you will need more than 5GB. Unless you’re pushed for space, give 20GB or more. Once you hit the install button, Windows will ask you to reboot. The first thing you should notice is that your computer now asks if you want to run Windows or Ubuntu.
There are some caveats; for example, suspend and hibernate are tricky on some hardware on Linux in general, and are impossible if you’re using this method to install an OS.
Topics: Technology |
