Many novice users fear the technical process that has do be done before or during the installation of a Linux distribution. Partitioning is something that most are not familiar with and the fear to do something wrong and wreck their standard operating system is probably one of the main reasons why many users do not install a Linux distribution.
Wubi is a sweet little program that lets us install Ubuntu – or Kubuntu, Xubuntu and UbuntuStudio – without partitioning your hard disks at all. “Wubi adds an entry to the Windows boot menu which allows you to run Linux. Ubuntu is installed within a file in the windows file system (c:\wubi\disks\system.virtual.disk), this file is seen by Linux as a real hard disk.”
So, the main difference is that Ubuntu is installed into a file instead of its own partition which is a great way to test the Linux distribution without having to partition your hard drives. Ubuntu is not running in a virtual environment at all, this is a real installation. The Windows boot manager will give you the choice to either boot Windows or Ubuntu at every startup from then on.
It is also easy to uninstall Ubuntu again by simply using the Add or Remove Programs dialog in Windows.
I can’t think of an easier way to try and test Ubuntu on your computer without installing it. Live CDs are nice but I personally do not like to play disk jockey whenever I want to try the Live CD.
Wubi is workinx extremely stable although it is currently in beta.
Related posts:
With Ubuntu 9.10 Arrives Wubi 9.10System Partitioning with Vista
Portable Ubuntu For Windows
Ubuntu 8 makes it even easier to try out Linux
My first day with Ubuntu
Triple Boot Vista, XP and Ubuntu
What makes Ubuntu so user friendly?
How to create a bootable USB Ubuntu drive
18 Responses to “Install Ubuntu without partitioning with Wubi”
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[...] puţin în cazul meu nu a mers, până nu am făcut o instalare… normală. Iată că astăzi GHacks semnalează o altă metodă care pare de succes. Soluţia poartă numele Wubi, fiind un program [...]
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[...] cel puţin în cazul meu nu a mers, până nu am făcut o instalare… normală. Iată că astăzi GHacks semnalează o altă metodă care pare de succes. Soluţia poartă numele Wubi, fiind un program [...]
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[...] right from within Windows, simplifies the installation of Ubuntu Linux even further. We reviewed Wubi back then when it was released publicly by the developers for the first time. It has been updated [...]
this seems like a handy piece of software for folks who are clueless or uncomfortable about things like booting from live CDs. Its nice to see linux stuff being simplified as well.
wow…nice find.. will give it a try!!!!
My problem is Wubi tries to download Ubuntu when installing.
It would be much better if I could download the Ubuntu image separately and run Wubi setup so it doesn’t download the image itself. I read in some forums that it could be done by placing the Ubuntu image in the same folder as the Wubi setup file.
Did you install Wubi directly?
nice thing~ thanks ;)
hope i got this software earlier… installed ubuntu just 48 hrs ago….
Hello
I have the same problem as Vijeesh. I have got an copy of Ubuntu Desktop Edition (I got it last night). Every day I look at your website, and stumbled Wubi, downloaded it and noticed as I click on the setup, it will start to download Ubuntu, as I have a very slow internet connection it will take close to 24hours! What can I do? Is there any way I can come accross this, please reply!
Great website btw!
Neil
You need to have the alternate version. You have to check “Check here if you need the alternate desktop CD. This CD does not include the Live CD, instead it uses a text-based installer.” during download.
If you did this you got the right version. I got a fast connection (16Mbit) which means I let the installer download the latest Ubuntu version.
Yeah, I’m still not getting that people are afraid to let go of Windows. ??? Install Linux inside of Windows? That’s the way to go, for insecure, masochistic followers.
Hi,
if you want to dual-boot with Vista installed in the first place you will need an additional program called EasyBCD available from Ubuntuforums (registration needen in order to download).
Vijeesh and WizzKid, if you have the correct ISO of the latest Ubuntu alternate CD just place it in the same directory as you Wubi installer and it will pick it up and use it (skipping the download process).
I tried it on an IBM Netvista M42 (Celeron 1.7, 512MB ram and integrated graphics) and the video detection did not work correctly. Ubuntu would only run at 640×480, I couldn’t change the resolution.
Hello,
I have “ubuntu-7.04-desktop-i386.iso” on my D:/ drive and “Wubi-7.04.04″ on the D:/ as well. Do I have to make a folder for them both so that they are “in the same directory”? It started to download every time, I canceled, and then deleated the folder it made called “wubi” that had the grub booter, some .msi files, etc. Anyway, help!
Nate
Hello,
i have an ASUS A6 laptop with an Intel Celeron 1.86 GHz. processor, memory 384 RAM DDR II, ATI Radeon Xpress200M 128 MB video card (integrated) and 80 GB HDD.
I just recieved the Ubuntu CD’s i’ve ordered (normal PC edition) and I am unable to launch the LiveCD. I changed the boot device order to optical drive first then HDD. The Ubuntu screen appears, i select “Launch or install Ubuntu” then the ” loading Linux kernel” window appears, but after that the screen turns black and a horizontal white line blinks in the top left corner. I have waited around 20 minutes and the program did not start; I restarted the computer and tried again, but the same problem occured.
I would appreciate your help.
I tried wubi and is that easy as they say, but don’t tell me that is reall installation, i was trying to work on cpp files and i couldn’t, if you want to work on Linux wubi its not what you are looking for, except if there is a way to work normal and i haven’t find it yet. Wubi is only for try, if you have serious job on your computer, format, partitioning and install. No other way.
See, this works out well for me. I mess with Ubuntu when it first became publicly known. I liked it, but back then (like now) for work and school I simply have no choice but to use windows for the software options. While Ubuntu (And other Linux Destros) have come closer and closer to a point I “might” be able to to switch I don’t do so not of fear, but because my career doesn’t grant me this option.
Now I know I can dual boot, and have on more then one point, but I fast let go of Ubuntu (Fedora, or whichever dirsto I’m working with) because having stuff in 2 different worlds quickly becomes more annoying then it’s worth.
This however gives me the chance to test Ubuntu as it goes along in hopes some day the software I need will work (or an equivalent that can save in the same file formats) under Ubuntu. Which I know there is Wine etc, but many of the programs I need take a performance hit that Is beyond tolerance.
I hope Wubi will help me keep an eye for the day I can switch without drastic drawbacks, cause I love open source (I’m a proud user of Songbird, Pidgin, among other opensource programs and have contributed with various projects when I have a gap in my schedule)