The easiest way to install Ubuntu is probably the installation from within Windows, using Wubi. To do so, you will have to get Ubuntu from here, where you can download it for free. If you know whether you will need a 32bit or 64bit version, click the Custom Options depending on what you would like to download. If you’re unsure, just click download from a place near you. You will get an .iso image file. This can easily be burned with any burning programme. Just visit this page, if you don’t know how to burn images. Once this is done, only two (possibly three) more steps are necessary to install Ubuntu.
Before I tell you how to install Ubuntu, I would like to start with an introduction to Wubi though. Wubi is a nice little Windows programme, that allows you to install Ubuntu like any other software. This means that once you want to get rid of it, for whatever reason you may have, go to your Installed software list and simply delete it.
Installation:
Firstly, insert the Ubuntu-CD in your Cd drive. When the autostart-window opens, click on Wubi to install. If this shouldn’t be available, you can download and install Wubi from here, install and start as any other Windows programme. Once Wubi is running, you have to decide about a few options. For starters, there’s the harddisk you want to install it to. Choose a harddisk/partition of your liking, which is big enough for the next setting – the size. You will want to give Ubuntu 10GB, which should proof sufficient for most needs, but if you have more available and plan to install many applications and/or games, you might as well add the one or other gigabyte. Depending on how much space you have available (or plan to need), click on an option and then enter a username and password. This password is important, as you’ll need it to log in and furthermore to enter whenever changes in the system are made (e.g. the installation of software).
Attention: Although I haven’t heard of problems using Wubi, it’s a free application afterall and may cause the loss of data. So please safe your important files or make a backup before installing Ubuntu.
The installation will create a bootloader. That’s a software which will ask you which operating system you would like to load after starting your computer. So when you finished the installation, restart your pc and choose Ubuntu to start it. Now Ubuntu will start to install. Why? Because Wubi actually didn’t install the software but created a file, which Ubuntu uses like a harddisk. If you’re interested about that, you might want to read about virtualization, otherwise just enjoy the easy process. Once Ubuntu finished the installation, restart your computer and have fun using your new operating system.
