I’ve been asked this many time since I run dual-boot with Linux on a couple of computers. Here is an email reply that I thought would be good for the blog.
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Question:
You were telling me one time how to use 2 different operating systems on a computer. I saw your post for the Unbuntu and have seen it used on a netbook just in passing. Looks really cool….
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Virtual Machine
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In simplest terms a virtual machine is a program that simulates hardware in a software environment. For instance you may have heard of “Parallels on a Mac” which is how people can run Winodws inside a Mac. You start your virtual machine like you would start MS Word, but instead the program boots another operating system.
You could be running Windows 7, but have an XP virtual machine in case you have older software that just won’t run under 7. You could even have Win 98 for that matter – or you can install Linux.
- Download and install VirtualBox on your Windows computer.
- Download the Ubuntu ISO file (you don’t have to burn it to a CD in this case)
- Run VirtualBox and create a virtual machine – have it mount the ISO and install Ubuntu Linux.
Ubuntu Wubi Installer
wubi-installer.org
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You can download and install the Wubi Ubuntu Installer. This allows you to install Ubuntu similar to any other program in Windows – you can remove it through the Add/Remove in your Windows Control Panel.
*Takes time as it will auto-download the full Ubuntu installation (approx 700MB)
*Just to be safe, make sure you have a good backup of any important files!
Dual Booting
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You can download the Ubuntu ISO and burn it to a CD. Then boot your computer to the CD and let Ubuntu take over. There will be a point where you can tell it to use “x amount of free space” on your drive and install alongside Windows.
When you restart your computer, you will be given a choice to boot to Linux or Windows.
*Most “dangerous” way – if you make a mistake you may not get back to Windows.
*Just to be safe, make sure you have a good backup of any important files!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I am going to install Linux Ubuntu on 80% of my office & home PC’s before February 2010…we have 10. I’d load Ubuntu on the other 2 PC’s but they each have proprietary software that will only interface with Windows (thus far). As soon as I can get Linux compatible software to replace the currently necessary software…I’ll drop Windows XP from those 2 PC’s…in a flash. I’ve been using Mozilla’s Firefox since its inception and have been with Google as a search engine since its inception.
I tried Linux Mandrake in 2002 but found it a bit unfriendly…not enough like Mac or Windows interface….so I’ve been reluctantly working with Windows XP during the interim.
My question is ….. I have these 7-8 PC’s and the drivers for all the various hardware attached to them. Do I need to obtain all new drivers to work with Linux or do the drivers that function with Windows XP also function with other types of OS…ie; Mac, Windows Vista, Linux; etc?
Thanks, Geoffrey
Hey Geoffrey,
Gratz on trying to go 100% Linux. Let me see if I can address your question:
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Do I need to obtain all new drivers to work with Linux or do the drivers that function with Windows XP also function with other types of OS…ie; Mac, Windows Vista, Linux; etc?
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Most of the time Linux (especially Ubuntu) will have the drivers you need pre-installed. I’ve found Ubuntu to be much better at hardware support than Windows XP or Vista are out of the box. However, you may encounter some hardware that isn’t recognized by Ubuntu either. The Windows drivers will not work with other OS’s – so you would then need to use Google and the various Ubuntu/Linux support forums.
This is exactly the same scenario that happens with Windows much of the time – I install Windows on literally hundreds of computers every year. Most of the time the hardware manufacturer will have the Windows drivers on their site – but there are times when Google is the only help to get hardware working on Windows – much like Linux.
Hope that answers your question – and have fun with Linux!