Run it inside Windows XP the New Ubuntu Hoary Heron Due Very Soon...

[ssrattus]

Ubuntu 8.04s Hoary Heron is due out Thursday....





Essentially this means there are 3 ways of running Ubuntu Hardy Heron...

1) Live CD... boot from the CD and just run it, basically it is used for trialling and nothing is written to the HD.

2) Normal Install.

3) Wubi: It installs as a windows application! Creating a single file that emulates the Ubuntu "hard drive" and modifies the boot loader to allow for dual booting.

Wubi offers a remarkable new way of trying out Ubuntu, making it even more of a risk-free proposition than ever before. Anyone currently running Microsoft Windows XP most probably has all the computer hardware working as they expect, be it video cards, scanners, the afore-mentioned wireless network adapters and so on.

Wubi’s goals are to assist a Windows user unacquainted with Linux in trying Ubuntu out without risking any loss of information, because although the hard disk will be written to there is no disk partitioning or formatting involved. The existing hard drive configurations, and Windows installation, are not affected in any way.
Wubi runs straight from within Windows and will install Ubuntu onto a disk image – that is, a single disk file which emulates a stand-alone hard drive. Using Wubi, Windows users can try Ubuntu out without any complex installation.

They can see if all their hardware works or if something is not right. They can try out the applications like Open Office and Firefox. At worst, if you don’t like it, uninstallation is a snap and your computer is left as it.

On rebooting I’m greeted with a boot loader menu asking which operating system I wish to use; choosing Ubuntu fires up the new operating system without hitch and with just a few more questions on the way. I have to remind myself I’m booting the computer from an operating system stored on a hard drive completely contained within a disk file recorded on a Windows partition!

My laptop panel displays in full glorious 1680x1050 resolution. The keyboard works, as does the touchpad and mouse buttons. My built-in webcam is operational. I can insert USB sticks and SD memory cards with Ubuntu kindly asking me what I wish to do with the files contained on them. I plug an Ethernet cable into my laptop and an IP address is picked up and I’m online. I check for wireless networks and my home SSID is listed; yes – my wireless adapter is working right off the bat.

As best as I can see my laptop is working right away. I can play music and hear it. I can play videos. I can browse the Web. I can fire up The GIMP and Open Office.