Ubuntu, and nearly all versions of Linux are fairly easy to install aside from some terminology that Windows users may not be familiar with during the installation process. Of course, that is with a fresh install on a new hard drive…if you want to run Ubuntu on the same hard drive as your Windows installation there is always the possibility that you may mess up your existing Windows partition. A member in our forum, Chris, recently wanted to install Ubuntu but didn’t want to completely erase Windows from his hard drive.
He ended up using the Ubuntu Live CD to do the partitioning of his drive which fortunately worked well for him, but there is always the possibility that it could wreak havoc on your hard drive if it is not done correctly. Now it has been two-weeks since Chris successfully setup the dual-booting of Windows and Ubuntu…and I’m sure he wishes that this new solution was released a little sooner. Just last night he pointed out in the forum that it is now possible to complete the Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Xubuntu installation in Windows!
I think it is pretty obvious why such a project (which appears to be named “install.exe?”) exists, but here is a quick summary that the homepage for the project provides:
The installation of ubuntu is a major barrier to its spread and use. This project aims to solve this problem by allowing installation from within Windows using an install.exe file, and eliminating the need to partition the hard drive or burn a CD to install. It will allow a faster and more user-friendly installation for Windows users, the ability to install without the risk of data loss through repartitioning, and the ability to install on ultra-portable laptops without CD drives.
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Approximately 90% of desktop computers in the world, the target audience of ubuntu, run Microsoft Windows. Most Windows users are familiar with install.exe programs, and know how to use them. Few, however, know how to burn a CD from a .iso file, boot from a CD, shrink partitions, and install ubuntu. By providing Windows users with an installer they are more familiar with, we can ease their learning curve, and open ubuntu to the vast market of casual computer users.
The elimination of the need for partitioning, and thus the chance of data loss, will help ubuntu gain acceptance in the corporate world.
The elimination of the need for an installation CD will allow users without CD burners or spare CDs to try ubuntu, ease burdens on ShipIt, and allow installation on ultra-portable laptops with no CD drives.
There are also a ton of great screenshots available here.
With Ubuntu being this easy to install there is no doubt that it will continue to become more and more popular. According to the forum post on the new installer it currently offers these features:
- Simple and fast installation
- No-risk installation
- No repartitioning the hard disk
- No changing the Windows boot loader
- Easy uninstallation
- Doesn’t use a virtual machine
- Doesn’t significantly reduce performance of the resulting installation
- Resulting installation supports everything a normal install does.
However, it does still have it’s limitations at this point. Right now you can’t customize the various aspects of the installation (it’s pretty much restricted to basic stuff like choosing a username) and it doesn’t allow you to perform the installation on a secondary hard drive. For most people who will be using the installer this isn’t a big concern, but they will hopefully continue to develop it into something that both beginners and advanced users will want to use.
On a little bit of a sidenote, if you’re running an old machine that doesn’t meet the requirements of most operating systems you should checkout UbuntuLite. I came across it the other day when looking at OS’s that support legacy computer systems and it was one of the results. It’s nothing very extravagant because it focuses on providing a “lite” operating system that doesn’t include all of the “bloat” that will typically slow down your system and require more resources. Here are very reasonable requirements:
- CPU - Pentium or equivalent, 150 MHz or higher
- RAM - 32MB of RAM
- HDD - 2GB
- Display - VGA or higher
Now it is time to get ready for Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn) which is just a few months away!
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Does this mean that Ubuntu will finally be able to read files from a windows partition right from the start, or is this just like running a live CD?
I haven’t tried myself so I’m not exactly sure, but it does support NTFS drives initially so I would think that it would in Ubuntu as well. The only thing that makes me believe that this would not be the case would be because the actual Ubuntu installation is done by downloading the Ubuntu CD from the Internet, so it is essentially installing the same thing that you would get by installing the CD, except the installer is different.
Can I down load this software directly to an external USB Hard drive (320GB)and simply run it from there and leaving the hard disk on my Laptop untouched? I’ve run out of space- only 4GB- left on the laptop hard drive.
Thanks for any comments for I am nervous of installing something that might mess up my windows hard drive up.
I’ve always has a few concerns when it comes to any Linux distro.
1. Do I have to partition my HD ( I’ve been burned here before)?
2. Will Windows boot-loaded be changed? If I remove Linux I don’t want Windows to freak out like it usually does when the boot loader is changed or replaced.
3. Will all my hardware and devices be supported?
It sounds like my first two concerns have been addressed but what about the third? Will my graphic card, printer, and camera be supported? Note: these are rhetorical questions.
You don’t have to make a partition to install Ubuntu FROM Windows. You just launch the install.exe and it will create a folder Ubuntu in C: where the installer will put the image of Ubunu operating system. It will need to modify the boot.ini (in case the installation fail to change it, you should change it manually by adding this line C:\grldr=”Ubuntu”).
After that, you restart the Windows. You will have now 2 options: XP or Ubuntu.
In my case, installation went perfect, but after I restart the computer and choose Ubuntu it start, with a Ubuntu login screen, but failed soon (some “cannot allocate…”) and get me on Linux shell. I restart it, choose Windows, and everything is fine. I can make uninstall to Ubuntu whenever I want.
So, in my case, the installation went well, Windows is not messed up, but Ubuntu do not work. Any other experiences?
No, this doesn’t support installing Ubuntu on a secondary drive at this point, but they are working on it.
If you want to find out before hand if you computer will be supported checkout the Ubuntu Hardware Support Guide. It is the most amazing one of any Linux operating system that I have ever seen. If you have a pre-built desktop or laptop just click on one of those categories and it will tell you when someone last tested it with the computer (with what build of Ubuntu) and what issues there was with the hardware. If you don’t see your PC you can always look at the individual hardware pieces.
Wow. That wizard sure could help lots of people make the switch easily.
For some reason I can not get Skype to work (no sound or mic) any ideas. Oh I’m trying out the Ubuntu 7.10 everything works but Skype.
Just to let you know I know why my Skype will not work I have a diff. sound card not on the list………………oops
My microphone doesn’t work properly with Audacity, Skype or any voice-enabled program for Linux either. I could dig into it, but I don’t feel like doing that right now.
My audio card works, but my microphone doesn’t work. That’s one area that Ubuntu needs to give a little love to for their next release. Of course my dual monitor setup doesn’t work either.
Yeah, tried that too. I installed an old video card I had lying around. While Windows detected the “new” video card flawlessly, Ubuntu wouldn’t boot. I couldn’t even get to the Linux shell as my computer got stuck on the boot screen. Bummer.
I was trying it out on my laptop which I’m able to connect a second monitor to on Windows. I even tried just mirroring my screen which is something I would need to do if I was giving a presentation, but that didn’t even work.