UBUNTU WUBI & USB (a blog re-posting)

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=12438336#post12438336  The location of this long “post” is here – for READ only  at Ubuntu forum – errantly ignored an old thread when posting it.  It is re-posted here as well for info.  Many of us are PC users not PC programmers.

[B]UBUNTU WUBI & USB[/B]

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/windows-installer
http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/install-ubuntu-with-windows

This may help newbies with the [B]USB[/B] & [B]WUBI [/B]options for [B]UBUNTU[/B] installation.  WUBI is a program which creates a [B]VIRTUAL DISK[/B] in your Windows Operating System Computer.  It allows you avoid entering your PC or LapTop BIOS (its organic computer program) to create a [B]PARTITION[/B] to try out [B]UBUNTU[/B] as a second operating system on the one PC or Laptop.
It is listed at the links above as [B]THE WINDOWS INSTALLER[/B].  Depsite what the menu says on using it ... allow 5gb for the UBUNTU file with the [B]WUBI[/B]  program;  (the [B]UBUNTU[/B] system itself) and another 5gb for the [B]VIRTUAL[/B] DISK.  That would 10 or more gb for the C Drive - the Hard Drive.  The WUBI will work via the internet to quickly download the BOOT UBUNTU files and its installation program, then create a [B]VIRTUAL DISK [/B]on your [B]C DRIVE[/B] (or second drive -ie [B]SATA[/B]).  Because it must maneuver the file around and construct a Partition on the hard disk for you it needs that 10gb + space.  This can be done quickly with a broadband internet connetcion, or it can be downloaded and stored for an installation tryout offline -more on this below.
After installing the [B]WUBI Windows Installer[/B] asks you to [B]Re-Boot[/B].  Do so.  The computer on rebooting will  now show two options:   (listed second) and your still installed windows system listed at top.  Select to try it. It will not permanently install. It can be removed if undesired by its own [B]UNINSTALL[/B] option on the program application file or under Add/Remove Programs via the Control Panel on the computer.  It distalls in about 1 minute.

[B]USB[/B] Installation.
The [B]UBUNTU[/B] for your type of computer can be installed by [B]USB[/B] per the instructions at the [B]UBUNTU[/B] site.  One downloads the [B]Boot Program[/B] for Ubuntu in the "iso" file format.  The UBUNTU file should be selected for downloading, then download it to the USB Flash Drive for storage and use.  When finished, you can load it as if it were on an Operating System [B]CD/DVD[/B] disk.  To do that, one would install the USB while the computer is on.  The USB device should have no other files on it.  Then before rebooting,  disconnect all other [B]USB[/B] items  on the computer.  If you have a [B]USB[/B] keyboard or [B]USB[/B] mouse - they may not operate - so acquire or substitute the standard wire keyboard and mouse combo.  The Keyboard has to be used.
Turn off the computer -  then turn it on.  Watch the monitor screen and a pair of options for [B]F2 SetUP[/B] and [B]F10[/B] or [B]F9 BOOT MENU[/B] appear at the start.  You have 30 seconds  or so .. use the keyboard cursor substitute (the up and down / left & right arrow keys) and select BOOT Menu.  When that [B]BOOT MENU[/B] appears, after a minute or less, use the keyboard to select [B]USB DEVICE[/B] as the first source of  BOOT Data.
The computer will respond with select F1 To Continue or similar or F2 to enter SetUP.  Use SetUp only if the Boot Menu does not grant you the USB data source option.
The Computer should respond and beging using the  data via the [B]USB[/B] device memory.  It will load and compress/decompress files and give you the options on the screen and set up the new operating system for [B]UBUNTU[/B].  It should give you the second [B]PARTITION[/B] option as a tryout.  [B]DO NOT ALLOW IT TO OVERWRITE IF YOU PREFER TO KEEP YOUR CURRENT SYSTEM[/B].  The [B]BOOT-UBUNTU[/B] program may have problems working its gprahics and may except them; and may except (bypasss) its locallaities programs.

[B]USB & WUBI WINDOWS INSTALLER[/B]

WUBI cannot function as a USB Drive boot data source for the [B]Windows Installer Try-out Virtual DISK[/B] option.  Even when set up with a [B]PenDrive[/B] optional drive program, the computer will not recognize the deficiently addressed file path  -it will display NTFS or FAT - no file found /ubuntu.root.disk not found or invalid command.  A computer expertise in [B]GRUB[/B] language for [B]BIOS[/B] and booting will be necessary.  The UBUNTU and your PC will open a [B]grub[/B] dialogue box.  One will have to address "[B]initrd[/B]" factor and create  a TFTP path or connection via the [B]grub[/B] commands listed with the "[B]TAB[/B] key".

Remember that this is only if the tryout was a [B]VIRTUAL DISK[/B] with [B]WUBI[/B].

[B]USB & WUBI time/cost saving tip[/B]

WUBI can be downloaded separately, and joined in the USB Flash Drive (as also on the CD/DVD) alongside the "ISO" image booting installation file.  For instance if loading at work to try an install at home etc, download both - not just the ISO file - on a USB flash drive.  When opened in the same file drive after attaching the USB to your PC at the non internet (or slower internet) place, the WUBI Windows Installer program will use the ISO BOOT installation file in the USB; and will not have to seek the other files on the internet (on line).  If the [B]WUBI[/B] loads that way with the whole [B]UBUNTU[/B] Boot-install ISO file, then the whole file alreadycopied by you will be used instead of seeking it on line.  Hence one may ready and try this off line; from the file drive with the USB; just like the CD option.

Again, unless one knows the [B]grub[/B] language to address the file path to the [B]USB[/B], even where a large [B]USB[/B] drive is selected for the [B]VIRTUAL DISK[/B] , it will not open after the [B]UBUNTU OS[/B] system is selected.  The BOOT program will not have it to read without more commands.  It must be lodged in the C or HARD DRIVE  to try out the [B]UBUNTU[/B] via the [B]WUBI Windows Installer Virtual DISK[/B].  If any of this forum learn or know the method and can post a suitable command working with the booting and install/use form another drive, they may post it here..
Good Luck

 

Also a few photos of UBUNTI in crude cell phone still and video imagery at : http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottmcon

 

UBUNTU is developing ONE SOURCE (free GNU) software.  Not particularly slow for internet work – but the display  for transitions in Applications in that systems DeskTop version in Release Edition 12.10 can be slower than desired (this from the dual- OS try-out)