Step by Step Guide: Installing Ubuntu 8.04 “Hardy Heron” Beta within Windows Vista
Hello Guys!
I just came across a new thing today. I found out that it is possible to install the new Ubuntu 8.04 “Hardy Heron” Beta from within Windows. Yes, that’s true. No need to burn the downloaded ISOs onto Blank CDs and reboot the PC and make partitions and so on. So, I decided to give it a try. I fired up FlashGet and started to download the 32-bit ISO.
Everything was fairly except for a few hitches which are common to Linux OSes in general. I’ve also included the screenshot of the install process but, unfortunately that was only possible till everything was in Windows.
Step 1: I mounted the downloaded ISO using SlySoft Virtual CloneDrive and the autorun menu came up. I selected the option to run umenu.exe
Step 2: When you the a windows similar as the above screenshot, click on “Install inside Windows”.
Step 3: When you get to the above screen, select the drive in which you want to install Ubuntu. Select the Installation size, Language, username and password and then finally push the “Install” button.
Step 4: The Virtual Hard Disk image is then created and all content from the ISO is copied into it. This process is pretty quick.
Step 5: As soon as the extraction and initial setup is over you will be prompted to Reboot the PC. Select whichever option you want and hit the “Finish” button.
IMPORTANT TIP: When your PC reboots, go into the BIOS and make the following changes:
- Plug ‘n’ Play OS: NO
- APM APIC: Disabled (you’ll find this under Power Management)
Save the BIOS and proceed the regular boot process.
Step 6: When you come to Boot Menu you’ll see the Ubuntu option. Select it and press enter.
Step 7: Ubuntu then proceeds with the remaining part of the installation. Virtual Partitions are created within the Virtual HDD Image and so on.
IMPORTANT TIP: If you have an Always ON internet connection I suggest that you disconnect it because Ubuntu Setup attempts to scan the mirrors via the internet and it takes a lot time and you’ll feel as if the setup process is hung. I just un-plugged my cable when it came to that and voila immediately the setup process started proceeding further.
Step 8: When the setup process is complete you are asked to login which I am sure all of you know how to do.
Step 9: After logging Ubuntu prompted me to install Propriety Drivers for my nVidia Video card which I did. It was fairly simple. I just authorised it and Ubuntu straight away downloaded it and installed it for me. I was then asked to reboot which I did immediately.
The display clarity improved drastically when I installed that driver. Well, now everything is mostly done. You’ll be prompted to update software packages which you may do if you would like.
Tada – Ubuntu is completely live on your desktop.
I tried to roll this tutorial out very soon so there may be typos and other errors which I’ll be glad if you guys and gals would point out.
Let me have your views on this so that I can improve my next tutorials.
Cheers!
Great tutorial buddy. I am glad it worked for you. Btw what are the changes in the BIOS for ?
Thanks Madhur.
The changes in the BIOS are for making Ubuntu Boot properly. If you don’t make the changes in BIOS Ubuntu will freeze during booting or the initial setup.
This edition of Linux is talked out in all blogs, I’m yet to try it. Nice tutorial.
Nice tutorial…but do you know if there is a way to view your windows files from linux? Right now it only displays my ‘Virtual HDD’ with the linux files.
Hey,
Thanks!
When u log into Ubuntu, it shows you all your HDDs on the Desktop. I have two HDDs (NTFS Formatted) and both are shown on my Ubuntu Desktop.
When I double click on the Icon I see my windows files.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
DJ
I have an assrock motherboard and a Pentium Dual Core 2.66, i need some help. first wich version on instaltion cd do i need and second after install it freezes on startup, y tried to make the canhges on the bios and i think i did but the problem still remains. (i instaled de i386 version)
Thanks for the tutorial
sorry for double posting, my mothe is an 775i65GV
Hi Zerocdv,
Thanks for the compliments.
I used Ubuntu 8.04 Beta Desktop i386. However, you may used the RC which I believe has been released recently.
The APM APIC under Power Management should be DISABLED in BIOS or your Ubuntu will NOT boot and will freeze.
Plug and Play OS can be enabled and it usually boots properly. But, try by disabling it as well.
hey .. one question .. can u unistall the ubuntu as easy as u installed it without messing with the mbr and the space took by ubuntu returns to ntfs
also will i be able to read the drive on which i installed ubuntu on if it had some other stuff beside ubuntu
thanks alot in advance
Hey bAsem,
AFAIK, you can simply using Add/Remove Programs option in Windows. I haven’t tried it personally as I still haven’t uninstalled it but, yes you can otherwise there is no point.
Ubuntu is install in a separate Virtual HDD so, there won’t be any of your stuff on it right. However, you can read the other partition without any probs.
Hello,
Please note that this is not a full installation of Ubuntu. The Wubi installer only runs ubuntu from an image within windows – similar to running it off a live CD. Rather slow and painful to sue – puts you off linux a bit.
I would advise a proper installation if you really want thigns to work smoothly.
Best,
Tarsh
hey thanks man for the step by step installation would be happy if you post in details looking fwd for more similar post like this
I like this blog so a lot, bookmarked.