5 replies to this topic

[Daryl]

Ubuntu has released it's new 6-monthly operating system yesterday to version 13:04, replacing Ubuntu 12:10... Scatty Nitwit (or something similar to that anyway! )

I have it running through a Windows program called WUBI, which lets you install a limited partition through Windows to run the Linux OS - it gives you a choice at boot up on what run then. If you don't like it, you just go to Add/Remove Features in Windows XP or Programs & Features in Windows 7 and Windows 8 and uninstall it - it's totally removed then - simples!

I've used WUBI for many year now, since Ubuntu introduced it and have never found a problem with it!

[Bencrest]

I haven't used a Linux distro for ages, I always used to have an installation of Mandrake / Mint / Ubuntu or Fedora on one of my machines. It's absolutely fine if you are into open source and 'tweaking', and don't mind the fact that your choice of applications is greatly limited, compared to Windows at least. I used to sit in the canteen at college and play KTron (at least I think that's what it was called!).

 

Can't argue for free, just for a newbie, especially if you struggle finding your way around Windows, probably best to do a fair bit of research and make sure it's for you, and for god's sake don't start reparitioning drives if you don't know what you are doing, I like the sound of WUBI, never heard of that before, I always used to have a dual / tri boot, normally XP (old games), Vista (modern stuff) and a Linux distro, but now all my PCs are exclusively Windows 7. 

[nails]

ok lay it to me like a 5 yr old. what would i have to get to have it running.  just WUBI and ubuntu ?

[Daryl]

ok lay it to me like a 5 yr old. what would i have to get to have it running.  just WUBI and ubuntu ?

- Go to Ubuntu website mate: www.ubuntu.com

- Search for Windows Installer (WUBI) in the Search and it should take you to the download section for installing Ubuntu with WUBI.

- Install WUBI onto your Windows (XP, Vista, 7 or 8) and you should have a pop up window show with details on what to do from there.

The pop up window asks you which partition you want to install Ubuntu on (recommended to install to your local Windows drive, usually "C").

It offers you how much you wish the partition it creates 'virtually' in C drive, although infact it installs to a folder in C drive named Ubuntu... this drive can be from just 8GB to test it, to a modest 30GB, which is ample for Ubuntu in my opinion.

It asks you which type of Ubuntu you wish to install... there are many Linux distros, and Ubuntu, using Gnome is the main option, although there is also the option to download Kubuntu, which is Ubuntu's KDE version, a more candy UI and Windows feel to it. There are a few other Ubuntu distros too in the pop up menu, but they are the main two.

You then enter your user details on the right hand side of the menu... your username can only be in lowercase letters and you have to enter a password.

...after you have chosen what you want to select and do;

- Click OK and the installation will begin... at the end you will be offered the choice to reboot or not. It is usually selected as "manual boot later" but I do it straightaway - because I didn't once, and forgot I had installed WUBI and wondered what the bleeding hell was going on when my computer launched and started setting up Ubuntu!

The PC will restart and go through some steps... the screen may go garbled and flash... this is normal as it installs in quiet mode mostly, although you may see the setup screens. When Ubuntu is finally installed it will take you to the Welcome screen where you can log in... and that's it - you're in Linux running through your Windows OS!

When you've finished, and reboot your PC your computer will offer you the Windows Bootloader screen, offering the choice of Windows or Ubuntu - select which one and you will be booted into it.

If you've ever had enough of using Ubuntu altogether (though I can't imagine why) just go to your Add/Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs & Features in Windows Vista, 7 and 8, and uninstall it... it will remove the Ubuntu folder in your C drive, and also the partition that Windows Bootloader created and Windows will run normally.

I hope that explains it all - I have tried to do it as simple, and as easy as I can remember

[nails]

fantastic reply Daryl. 

 

Whilst i loved xp, i now use win7 with a copy startmenuXP so it acts and feels just like XP. that said, i hate the fact that you have to pay for an operating system, not only was thew amiga OS free, you could strip it down as much as you liked to do what you wanted. microsoft operating systems of course are designed to be paid for and not let you bypass certain things. i`ll give it a bash very soon and report back to base. if its any good i`ll install it to a seperate drive