How to Have Ubuntu and Windows Too

One thing that keeps people from trying Linux is the fear of partitioning their hard drive. If you give too little space to Linux you won't have enough room to give it a fair trial. Give too much and Windows will be begging for more room! If you don't like it, how to reclaim the space for Windows?

Wubi was designed with these concerns in mind. You install Ubuntu within Microsoft Windows just as you would install another program. Wubi puts an entry in the boot menu giving you the choice of booting Windows or Ubuntu. If you decide you no longer wish to have Ubuntu on your computer you uninstall using the Add/Remove Programs applet.

Things You'll Need (minimum requirements):

1GHz processor
256MB RAM
5 GB Hard disk space
Windows 98, XP, 2000, Vista

Avoid any software raid arrays (fakeraid) and encrypted partitions as these are not supported by Wubi.

Step One:
Defragment your hard drive to give your Wubi installation a contiguous space to install in.

Step Two:
Create a Restore Point in your computer if your version of Windows has the ability. This is to protect you in the unlikely event something goes wrong like an unexpected power outage.

Step Three:
Go to the Wubi Installer Home Page and click the "Download Now" button.

Step Four:
Click the "wubi.exe" installer file.

Step Five:
Select your hard drive (C: will be the default choice) by using the drop-down menu on the Wubi Installer window.

Step Six:
Select the language of choice by using the drop-down menu. Some choices are English, Esperanto, French, Spanish as well as many others.

Step Seven:
Select the size of your installation by using the drop-down menu. You can also select the suggestion already in place.

Step Eight:
Place a username in the box provided. The username from your Windows account will be there by default. You can keep this name or change it to one you prefer.

Step Nine:
Choose the desktop environment of your choice by using the drop-down menu. If you are new to Ubuntu and on a desktop or a laptop try the "Ubuntu" environment first. If you are installing it on a netbook use the "Remix" selection.

Step Ten:
Type a password in the box indicated, then type it again in the box below it to verify before clicking the "Install" button. Wubi will download the *.iso needed for your computer automatically showing you the progress in the installer window.

Step Eleven:
Place a dot in the radio button "Reboot now" to allow Wubi to reboot the computer and complete the installation and then click "Finish."

Step Twelve:
Use the down arrow key to choose "Ubuntu" on the new Windows boot menu. Ubuntu will boot and continue the installation. Allow Ubuntu to complete the install uninterrupted. Do not unplug your computer or turn it off during this time. The computer will reboot when the installation finishes.

Step Thirteen:
Use the down arrow key to choose "Ubuntu" on the new Windows boot menu. Press "Enter" to boot using the top kernel. Note that choosing "Windows" here will take you to your original Windows installation.

Step Fourteen:
Enjoy your new Ubuntu installation!

References:
How Do I Install Ubuntu?
Wubi Home Page