There are quite a few possibilities to take the Linux distribution Ubuntu for a test drive. It can be run from Live CDs, run in a virtual machine or installed on a free partition on the computer system even from within Windows (using Wubi). Portable Ubuntu adds another possibility to these choices by offering to run Ubuntu directly in Windows without installation or configuration at all.
The Linux distribution can be downloaded directly from its Sourceforge page. It comes as a 438 Megabyte self extracting executable that requires 1.86 Gigabytes on the computer’s hard drive after extraction. Users can then immediately start Ubuntu in Windows by clicking on the run_portable_ubuntu.bat file that is located in the root directory of the software program. Starting portable Ubuntu in Windows will open a command line window which will remain open all the time. This command line window contains information about background processes and the state of the Ubuntu system.
The Ubuntu dock at the top center of the screen will be opened and displayed giving users access to Applications, Places, System and applications like Firefox. Talking about applications. The usual add / remove applications menu can be accessed in portable Ubuntu to install additional applications on the computer system.
One could think that running an operating system inside another operating system would surely demand lots of system resources. This is surprisingly not the case. Running Ubuntu portable requires less than 50 Megabytes of computer memory that are occupied by its processes.
Main question however is why someone would use Ubuntu portable instead of the other options outlined above. One of the main reasons is that it is the least complicated to use. It cannot get easier than extracting and running the Linux distribution. Even Live CDs might require changing the boot sequence from hard drive to CD in order to run the distribution that way.
The portable application gives access to many Ubuntu applications and features which can be a great way of taking a look at the options the distribution offers.
It comes close to the Linux user experience but does not provide it fully. There is still the Windows Taskbar, icons and wallpapers that make the system look much more like a Windows system than a Linux system. Interested users can download it right at the developer’s website at Sourceforge.
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- What makes Ubuntu so user friendly?
- Windows Live Writer Portable
- With Ubuntu 9.10 Arrives Wubi 9.10
- My first day with Ubuntu
- Ubuntu 8 makes it even easier to try out Linux
geee….
CoLinux Rocks!!! so what will next? portable KuBuntu? portable XuBuntu?
Btw is there any way to automate portable build using the original CD (since likely we have one) so instead downloading the huge file(s), better to create it from our CD’s
I think it is useful.
I tried downloading and installing with wubi and it was a pain in the neck and took up at least 10 GB (and didn’t work at all well) so this looks like a good alternative for people without a lot of free space on their HD and with less hassle.
I’ll definitely try it.
Ever tried http://www.andlinux.org ???
In Ubantu running on top of Windows can I access Windows files??? e.g. C:\music\innagaddavida.mp3
Works pretty well on my XP box. Unfortunately I’m not able to change settings or to install new applications because it asks for the root pwd. Any ideas?
Answering my own question: The pwd is mentioned in the manual on the project page.
The guy earlier couldn’t make any system changes, I’m sure I read somewhere that the root password for pubuntu is 123456?
Hope this helps
The default password 123456 is not for root, but for the account you end up with when you start portable ubuntu. Type “id” in terminal window to find out who you are. If I remember right it is “pubuntu”.
Then type “passwd” and change that default password for your own.
To change root password type “sudo passwd root”.
this is good idea to explore linux from windows, for any one want to use linux natively and feel the linux but without losing windows which is not easy to reinstall as most of new pc won’t ship recovery mediums now a days.
To get rid of the taskbar use Taskbar Magic. http://rocketdock.com/addon/misc/3425
There is a new version. Portable Ubuntu Remix version DOS.
http://portableubuntu.demonccc.com.ar
[...]GHACK! JACK’S BACK![...]
Whatever :^{>
I ran Portable Ubuntu from XP, Service Pack 3, and Windows Blue Screened.
Then when I rebooted, the computer hung while reading the BIOS
Not gonna try that again…