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.
Related posts:
Run Linux Live CDs In WindowsInstall Ubuntu without partitioning with Wubi
Ubuntu 8 makes it even easier to try out Linux
With Ubuntu 9.10 Arrives Wubi 9.10
Help, I Use Ubuntu and There’s No “su”!
What makes Ubuntu so user friendly?
My first day with Ubuntu
Ubuntu Guide
36 Responses to “Portable Ubuntu For Windows”
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
-
[...] gHacks. GA_googleFillSlot(”post”); Condividi o [...]
-
[...] Portable Ubuntu is a free, portable download that runs from Windows systems only. Drop your Linux-inside-Windows ideas and other geeky stuff in the comments. Portable Ubuntu for Windows [via gHacks] [...]
-
Portable Ubuntu – 在 Windows 里运行 Ubuntu…
Portable Ubuntu 是一个无需安装虚拟机，就可以让你在 Windows 里运行 Ubuntu！
从我测试的感觉来看，运行的时候比较卡。这个卡不是整个 Windows 跟着卡，而是 Ubuntu 的运行慢了一拍。具体表现是菜…. -
[...] Portable Ubuntu is a free, portable download that runs from Windows systems only. Drop your Linux-inside-Windows ideas and other geeky stuff in the comments. Portable Ubuntu for Windows [via gHacks] [...]
-
[...] Portable Ubuntu For Windows (via ghacks) [...]
-
[...] Linux-inside-Windows ideas and other geeky stuff in the comments. Portable Ubuntu for Windows via gHacksShare/Save 标签：diy, downloads, firefox, internet, lifestyle, linux, portable applications, [...]
-
[...] – Original Article on gHacks.net – [...]
-
[...] Ubuntu for Windows [via gHacks] Tagged:linuxportable [...]
-
[...] Linux-inside-Windows ideas and other geeky stuff in the comments. Portable Ubuntu for Windows [via gHacks] Share and [...]
-
[...] Portable Ubuntu is a free, portable download that runs from Windows systems only. Drop your Linux-inside-Windows ideas and other geeky stuff in the comments. Portable Ubuntu for Windows [via gHacks] [...]
-
[...] Fuente de la noticia [...]
-
[...] Portable Ubuntu is a free, portable download that runs from Windows systems only. Drop your Linux-inside-Windows ideas and other geeky stuff in the comments. Portable Ubuntu for Windows [via gHacks] [...]
-
[...] Portable Ubuntu For Windows (tags: linux ubuntu OS portable windows) [...]
-
[...] the portable ubuntu here via [ghacks] If you liked this post: Follow me on Twitter or Subscribe via [...]
-
[...] Portable Ubuntu is a free, portable download that runs from Windows systems only. Drop your Linux-inside-Windows ideas and other geeky stuff in the comments. Portable Ubuntu for Windows [via gHacks] [...]
-
[...] Portable Ubuntu is a free, portable download that runs from Windows systems only. Drop your Linux-inside-Windows ideas and other geeky stuff in the comments. Portable Ubuntu for Windows [via gHacks] [...]
-
[...] [Via] heyos_ad_user = 8808; heyos_ad_type = “G”; heyos_ad_format = “1″; heyos_color_border = “5BBF00″; heyos_color_bg = “F5FFEC”; heyos_color_link = “005B88″; heyos_color_text = “000000″; heyos_color_url = “0033FF”; Post similiEasy Peasy Ottimizza Ubuntu per i Pc ASUS Eee Usare i programmi di Windows su Ubuntu 8.10 con CrossOver Linux Pro 7.1.0Trasforma Xp in Ubuntu o Fedora4 Trucchi per Ubuntu10 motivi per usare OpenOffice Scrivi un commento [...]
-
[...] It Out> Portable Ubuntu for Windows, gHacks, [...]
-
[...] Portable Ubuntu is a free, portable download that runs from Windows systems only. Drop your Linux-inside-Windows ideas and other geeky stuff in the comments. Portable Ubuntu for Windows [via gHacks] [...]
-
[...] Portable Ubuntu is a free, portable download that runs from Windows systems only. Drop your Linux-inside-Windows ideas and other geeky stuff in the comments. Portable Ubuntu for Windows [via gHacks] [...]
-
[...] GHacks, Life Hacker e Meio [...]
-
[...] Source : GHacks [...]
-
[...] 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 [...]
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…