How to install ubuntu on windows easily with wubi
Install ubuntu on windows vista/XP with Wubi.This is an ubuntu installer and all it takes to install ubuntu on your windows vista/XP PC/computer is just a few steps.You can now install the latest ubuntu version – Intrepid Ibex 8.10
Wubi installer can be used on widows vista/windows XP/win 2000/windows 98.However windows ME is not yet supported.Wubi is free like ubuntu. It is not only easy to install ubuntu on windows, using wubi, but is also very safe for your windows installation, as it does not require to modify the partitions of your PC/computer.It does not even install any special drivers!!! It just gives you an option to boot into ubuntu apart from your existing option to boot into windows vista/XP.
We earlier saw a safer option to install ubuntu on a virtual PC setup in windows.Now this is another safe way to install ubuntu while still having the option to boot into windows!!!
How to install ubuntu on windows XP/vista using Wubi?
- Free download the latest Wubi installer (ubuntu Installer for Intrepid Ibex 8.10 is available now)
- Run the installer
- Set up the installation drive, where you want to install ubuntu
- choose your preferred language for ubuntu install
- Set up the desired installation size.If you have enough disk space, then you can even set it up higher.However a minimum drive space of 8GB need to be made available.
- You can even choose to install other ubuntu flavours like kubuntu, Xubuntu and Mythbuntu
- Specify an username and a password for the new account, and click “install”
- The installation files will be downloaded and prepared
- Once the download is complete, you will be asked to reboot
- After reboot, select ubuntu at the boot screen
The ubuntu installation will continue for 10-15 minutes and the machine will reboot again.Now you can choose an operating system to start on your windows boot manager.Here you can choose ubuntu and start using it.
That is all folks.You ubuntu installation is complete and you can both windows (vista/XP) and ubuntu on the same PC, without any hassles or phusical partitions.In case you want to uninstall ubuntu, go to the control panel and select “Add or Remove Programs“, then select Wubi/Ubuntu and uninstall it. You can also use the uninstaller that you find in the installation folder.
When you choose ubuntu as the OS, you can access all the windows files via the Windows partitions available within the directories /host and /media.Note that this is a real installation of ubuntu, within a file (c:\ubuntu\disks\root.disk) as opposed to being installed within its own partition. This file is seen by Linux as a real hard disk.
Why should I install ubuntu?
Ubuntu is not only free but it comes fully loaded with commonly used applications, including a full office suite compatible with Open Office, image editing software, picture management software, media player, games, browser, email client, IM, video conferencing software and more.They are all free!!!
Did you like this simple tutorial on how to install ubuntu on windows vista/XP? Now what are you waiting for? Go ahead and install ubuntu!!! 
Update: You can also install ubuntu 8.10 on windows, straight from CD, without the need to download Wubi installer.
Filed under: Windows Tips
Question, sirrah: Now that I’ve got a wubi-based xubu install, I’d like to blow away the Windows partition, entirely. Initially, I thought to use gparted, but from your description, it seem that xubu is NOT on a separate partition but rather is another aspect (so to speak) of the windows directory/ies.
SO I ASK YOU: Is it possible to remove XP from a wubi-based ubuntu system?
THANKS!
Unfortunately, it is not possible. You have actually installed ubuntu on windows. So you cannot get rid of the basic OS, which is windows XP in your case. But why do you want to get rid of Windows XP when you have the option to boot either into Windows XP or Xubuntu? Why are you wasting your XP license?