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

Ubuntu 8.04 setup 01

Step 2: When you the a windows similar as the above screenshot, click on “Install inside Windows”.

Ubuntu Setup 02

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.

Ubuntu Setup 03

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.

Ubuntu Setup 04

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:

  1. Plug ‘n’ Play OS: NO
  2. 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!