Most computers we use have Windows on them. Most have Windows XP. But what if you need to run something in Linux and it needs to actually be installed on a computer? For most people who aren't total geeks, it seems like a daunting task. But not anymore! Just follow this Instructable and you will have a working Linux distribution up and running in less than an hour, without losing any of your Windows information! You also don't have to spent a single dollar. This was tested on a real computer, not a VMware machine. This would probably work exactly the same on Windows Vista, but I haven't tested it.
If you have any questions or problems during the installation, just post a comment.
If you have a USB wi-fi adapter, it will work in version 8.10 and above.
Also, this is my first Instructable!
Note: This was originally done using this guide. I just put it into Instructables. It's pretty much the same, but I've done it on a real computer, and APC did it in VMware.
This instructable was newly updated, in the old version I used Ubuntu version 8.04, and now I'm using 9.04!
If you have any questions or problems during the installation, just post a comment.
If you have a USB wi-fi adapter, it will work in version 8.10 and above.
Also, this is my first Instructable!
Note: This was originally done using this guide. I just put it into Instructables. It's pretty much the same, but I've done it on a real computer, and APC did it in VMware.
This instructable was newly updated, in the old version I used Ubuntu version 8.04, and now I'm using 9.04!
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The reason you have to use a special ISO-burning program is because the ISO file that the Ubuntu installer is in can't just be burned to a CD like music. ISO's are like ZIP files in that they are expanded when they are burned to a CD. If you just drag the ISO file to a CD in Windows, it will write just that one file to a disc. If you write it in the ISO burner, you can see that there are a lot more files on the disc.
- Computer with Windows XP installed.
- About 5 GB of free hard drive space, a lot more is recommended
- Any Ubuntu desktop install CD; get the new version (9.04) here. This guide will work with any version from 8.04 to 9.04.
- CD burner
- Blank CD-R
- ISO Recorder; get it here
- About 45 minutes of time
- Editing your computer's partition table
- Using the command line
- Not using a GUI
The reason you have to use a special ISO-burning program is because the ISO file that the Ubuntu installer is in can't just be burned to a CD like music. ISO's are like ZIP files in that they are expanded when they are burned to a CD. If you just drag the ISO file to a CD in Windows, it will write just that one file to a disc. If you write it in the ISO burner, you can see that there are a lot more files on the disc.
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I have ~20GB free space, and I'm using the latest version of ubuntu. I've tried rebooting 3 times, but still no option to install side by side, I've also tried 2 different CDs.
Also, before it runs the install, I get a black screen with 2 lines of text on it that say:
( 11.49600 ) atal: SSRT failed (errno=-16)
( 21.50800 ) atal: SSRT failed (errno=-16)
Or something close to that, only with square brackets, then afterwards the install starts fine, except for the whole no side by side install thing.
One more thing, I have to run ubuntu in safe graphics mode otherwise I get no GUI on the install screen, could that be a problem?
Please help.
( 11.496010) ata1: SRST failed (errno=-16)
( 21.508010) ata1: SRST failed (errno=-16)
The number strings are in square brackets, but the errno things are in normal ones.
I'm wondering if I should just do it manually, but I don't really know how :P
1. Insert your Ubuntu live CD. (while in Windows)
2. Follow the on screen install instructions.
3. The Ubuntu installer will install Ubuntu just as if it were a windows program.
4. To use, restart your computer, and a boot list will come up.
5. Select "Ubuntu" and press enter.
6. You successfully dual booted in 5 minutes!