I d/led and installed this to a folder on a removable dive mtfs file system. Rebooted and on boot menu chose ubuntu its ran perfectly .
So you want an easy alternate back up os in case your main one get garbled this would be a way to repair or recover data.
http://wubi-installer.org/faq.php
http://wubi-installer.org/
I have ubuntu on other computer but i thought this was pretty slick.
I run it from a removable usb drive no real noticeable slow down doing so.
with wine installed i was able to access xp programs folder and run many programs by clicking the exe.
others i had to do the install.
give it a spin. you can uninstall it from windows add/remove.
Hey Dave - Wubi has been around for quite a while now. Still, it's nice to hear it is still working well and trouble free.
For the uninitiated. Wubi allows Windows users to install (and uninstall) the Linux distro Ubuntu into their Windows OS, just as if it were a Windows application. Wubi does not require any partition modifications and does not need to use a different bootloader nor special drivers.
Wubi [i:3pxgv39j]is[/i:3pxgv39j] Ubuntu for Windows...simple as that.
Thanks for the heads up mate....much appreciated,
JIM
i only found it last week
Hey Dave - How are things in Slightly Off Center? I'm living in Upsidedownland so I can relate.
Not sure exactly how long Wubi has been around but it been quite some time now.I tried it out many moons ago and it worked well back then and, as it is open source, can only have improved.
I'm not a great fan of Ubuntu, actually I'm not all that fussed on the Gnome desktop...much prefer the KDE version which comes with Kubuntu.
Cheers now.....JIM
last time i tried windows with linux in it was mandrake 8 in M.E!
tried both of those they both do as i needed.
Ooops, careful mate....your age is starting to show
Hi Jim,
Whilst reading on DCT just now, I came across an article on the latest Ubuntu - I forget the name, but the image showed a flock of large birds flying around.
I want to try Ubuntu, but don't have a clue how or where to install it. I am using Windows 7 Pro SP 1. Do I simply download and install Ubuntu on Windows, as I would any other compatible program? Further, say I want to install Ubuntu on my Windows XP. How would I go about it; and would you recommend removing XP Home SP 3 altogether, replacing XP with Ubuntu, as I understand XP will die in a few months, and will be too insecure to use. Your advice will be very much appreciated.
Please help me with this. I really have no clue what or how.
Thank you.
Best regards,
Bob (Robert) Bowen (Username: BallyIrish)
Bob
If you want no more than to try Ubuntu at this stage, you can download an ISO, burn it to disc and boot from it.
The beauty of this method is that you can run the OS 'live' from the CD without it affecting anything at all on your current Windows setup.
There are numerous Linux distros and one I particularly like is Mint 14, for no other reason than it's colourful and a little more like Windows in appearance.
I believe most are available in 32 and 64 bit flavours.
Cheers
Marc
Hi Bob - Greets from Oz.
To add a little more to Marc's excellent reply:
Do I simply download and install Ubuntu on Windows, as I would any other compatible program?
Generally no. However, there is a terrific free program called "Wubi" which will allow you to do just that - i.e. install (and uninstall) Ubuntu on Windows just as if it were any other program: http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/windows-installer
More on Wubi here: http://wubi.sourceforge.net/faq.php
say I want to install Ubuntu on my Windows XP. How would I go about it
Download the Ubuntu ISO and burn to disc. Then boot the XP machine from that disc and install. When the Ubuntu disc is loaded, you'll see two options - one to run "Live" (a try-before-you-install option as already explained by Marc), and Install.
would you recommend removing XP Home SP 3 altogether, replacing XP with Ubuntu
Personally, yes I would. XP is bound for the scrapheap. It is already less secure that the modern operating systems and after end-of-support-date that situation can only worsen.
May I suggest you follow Marc's advice and try Ubuntu out first via the "Live" CD. If your bandwidth will cope with it, I'd also try out Linux Mint in the same way, Linux Mint is also very popular.
When you decide which way you'd like to go and are ready to proceed, just post back and we'll provide more relevant and definitive assistance.
Cheers mate... Jim
Thanks for the help Jim.
I get the drift both loud and clear from your lucid reply, and will replace my 11 year old XP which has served me faithfully all these years, with a free Linux distro, if that's correct: I understand that Ubuntu, Kubuntu etc., are all Linux distros? I know nothing about Linux, but here I have it from the horse's mouth (sorry Jim, nothing personal!) that I really should end XP now. It seems it would be stupid not to. Of course, I will nevertheless shed a few tears...when no one is looking.
And thanks to @ Marc Thomas who said amongst other things in his very helpful reply: "There are numerous Linux distros and one I particularly like is Mint 14..." Thank you Marc for your kind assistance: I've done a copy/paste of your and Jim's reply to my Abiword, saved in my Documents' "Tutorials folder."
Now, Jim, since you have persuaded me to do quietly away with my beloved old XP, which Linux distro do you really recommend?? - having in mind Marc's recommendation of Mint 14 - being a landscape painter, aka artist, I love colour, but I must have a good and secure OS. I still have many questions in that direction, e.g do I still use Avast! Free and Malwarebytes, and will my Windows programs work on Linux, and so forth. In all the years I have never had a virus, that mainly due to my being careful where I travel on the Internet, and, of course, to Avast! & Eset NOD32.
But please help me to settle on the actual best Linux distro for me first, as you sagely say. First things first.
(BTW I get it suddenly: "Oz" is not a man, but a country, an island-continent actually, somewhere in the South pacific. full of Ozzies! You know, the blokes South Africa usually thrashes at rugby and cricket, right?
Thanks folks, so much.
Greetings from South Africa.
I must apologize for my terminal laziness. We Aussies do have a penchant for shortening words, names in particular - Australia becomes Aus, which then becomes "Oz" in textual form. 
which Linux distro do you really recommend?
I would go with Marc and recommend Mint. Mint is actually Ubuntu based but is more inclined toward elegance and user-friendliness, and also more open to proprietary software. Ubuntu does however include more advanced installation options, making it easier to set up a dual boot system with Windows. Bottom line... Mint.
I must have a good and secure OS
Security and malware isn't really an issue with Linux, certainly not the issue it is with Windows. Bear in mind that Linux accounts for only a tiny percentage of the overall PC market share... somewhere in the vicinity of 1.7% (all distros). Whereas Windows accounts for a massive 92.0%. This makes Windows a prime target for malware makers and Linux barely a target at all.
There is a quite good dedicated antivirus available for Linux, called ClamAV. Some Linux users install ClamAV as a precaution, most will tell you it isn't really necessary.
will my Windows programs work on Linux
No, windows programs will not install and run natively in Linux. However, there is a free Windows Emulator available called "Wine" which allows users to run Windows programs inside Linux. Bear in mind though that Wine does not support all Windows programs.
It is not a huge concern though (unless you have a particular software you use which is Windows only). There are hundreds of free programs available for Linux, there is a Linux facsimile for just about every type of Windows application - some not quite so good, others just as good if not better. Plus, of course, many Open Source programs are cross platform, including versions for both Windows and Linux.
Hope that helps,
Cheers... Jim from Oz.
P.S. We may have to organize a wager on the upcoming tour of South Africa by the Aussie cricket team... I'm game!!
Hi Jim, Thanks so much for your advice. I learned quite a lot from your post, things I never knew before, like Linux having less than 2% of the market, and "Windows accounts for a massive 92.0%" - interesting.
Yes, Jim, you are the Wizard of OZ!
And no Jim, no wager: I may lose, and that's just not cricket...
Best to you from SA.
P.S. The other day I went to hardware store and asked the shop assistant for a kilogram of nails. Asked he: "How long do you want them?" Being Irish, I replied: "Well since I be payin' for them, I was hoping to keep them." Not very intelligent, that shop assistant...
Jim, my regrets. Both you and Dave hit the nail on the head. Sure enough, I had AdBlock Plus and AdBlock Premium enabled. On disabling them, the PayPal goodie was right there and I did my thing.
The other day I went to hardware store and asked the shop assistant for a kilogram of nails. Asked he: "How long do you want them?" Being Irish, I replied: "Well since I be payin' for them, I was hoping to keep them." Not very intelligent, that shop assistant…
LOL. Now that's funny!!
Both you and Dave hit the nail on the head. Sure enough, I had AdBlock Plus and AdBlock Premium enabled. On disabling them, the PayPal goodie was right there and I did my thing.
No problem mate, and thank you so much for your support, very much appreciated.
Cheers and beers from the land of Oz.
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The best way to try out Linux Distros is with virtualbox. Download and install virtualbox in xp and download and burn iso to a dvd or create a vm from the iso file. If you don't like it just delete the vm file. I have had issues with older machines not booting from the larger size dvd's.
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