Installing Ubuntu from within Windows

The Windows-based Ubuntu Installer (Wubi) allows you to install and uninstall Ubuntu from within Microsoft Windows. It lets a Microsoft Windows user try Ubuntu without risking any data loss due to disk formatting or partitioning.

Wubi requires Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7.

NOTE: Hibernation is not supported when installing Ubuntu via Wubi.

Download Wubi

Download Wubi from the WubiUEFI Installer Download page, this will download the latest version by default. You can download other versions of Ubuntu

Install Ubuntu

1. Within Microsoft Windows, place your downloaded ISO in the same directory as the Wubi, and run the installer.

   👁 alt Wubi setup
   

2. In the Installation Drive list, select the drive that you want to install Ubuntu.
3. In the Installation Size list, select the amount of space that you want to allocate to Ubuntu.

4. In the Desktop Environment list, select Ubuntu. If you wish to install Kubuntu, Xubuntu or another official derivative of Ubuntu, select your preferred one from the drop-down list.

5. In the Language list, select your preferred language.
6. In the Username box, enter a username for your Ubuntu account.
7. In the Password box, enter a password for your Ubuntu account. Repeat this password on the second line.

8. Select Install. The Ubuntu Setup progress window appears. When Ubuntu has finished installing, the Completing the Ubuntu Setup Wizard window appears.

   👁 alt Completing Wubi wizard window
   

9. Select Reboot now and click Finish. Your computer restarts and the Windows Boot Manager appears. 👁 alt Windows Boot Manager
   

10. Using your keyboard’s up and down arrow keys, select Ubuntu and press Enter. Ubuntu loads and the Checking the installation wizard appears. Ubuntu is now installed.

NOTE: Since Wubi installs Ubuntu on the same file partition as Windows, there may be a slight degradation in Ubuntu’s performance over time due to file fragmentation.

Windows-based Un-installation

When installed from Microsoft Windows, Ubuntu can be uninstalled using Microsoft Window’s standard Add or Remove Programs/Uninstall a program option.

Uninstall from Windows XP

1. From the Start menu, select Control Panel. The Control Panel appears.

👁 alt Windows XP Control Panel

1. Select Add or Remove Programs. Add or Remove Programs appears.

2. Select Ubuntu and click Remove. The Wubi Uninstall window appears.

3. Click Uninstall. Ubuntu uninstalls. The Completing the Wubi Uninstall Wizard appears.

4. Click Finish. Ubuntu is uninstalled.

Uninstall from Windows Vista or Windows 7

Removing Ubuntu in Windows Vista or Windows 7 follows the standard Uninstall a program option in Microsoft Windows.

1. From the Start menu, select Control Panel. The Control Panel appears.

👁 alt Windows 7 Control Panel

1. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program. The Uninstall or change a program window appears.

👁 alt Windows 7 Uninstall or Change a Program

1. Select Ubuntu and then click Uninstall/Change. The Wubi Uninstall window appears.

👁 alt Wubi is installed window

1. Click Uninstall. The progress wizard appears. The Completing the Wubi Uninstall Wizard appears.

👁 alt Wubi installer completed

1. Click Finish. Ubuntu is uninstalled.

Uninstall from Windows 8

👁 alt Windows 8 Start Screen

Removing Ubuntu from Windows 8 is done in a similar manner to Windows Vista and Windows 7, however there is a different procedure for accessing the Programs and Features.

1. Select any tile by right-clicking any non-store application in your Start screen.
2. On the bar that opens at the bottom, select Uninstall. This will open the Programs and Features dialog on your desktop.
3. Note: This will not uninstall that application.

4. Select Ubuntu and then click Uninstall/Change. The Wubi Uninstall window appears.

5. Click Uninstall. The progress wizard appears. The Completing the Wubi Uninstall Wizard appears.

6. Click Finish. Ubuntu has been successfully removed from your computer.

Selecting Windows or Ubuntu

If you installed Ubuntu via the Wubi installer, the Windows (NT) Boot Loader (ntldr) loads. You can choose which operating system to "boot-up" into.

To Choose Which Operating System Boots-Up

1. Turn on or restart your system. The Windows Boot Manager appears.

   👁 alt Windows Boot Manager
   

2. Using your keyboard’s up and down arrow keys, select the operating system that you want to load. Press Enter. The desired operating system loads.

NOTE: The default operating system is Microsoft Windows. If you do not choose an operating system, Microsoft Windows will automatically load.

External Links

Active project to install Wubi on UEFI systems https://github.com/hakuna-m/wubiuefi

Wubi installer http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/windows-installer

Wubi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wubi_(Ubuntu)

CategoryInstallation