This guide will show you how to dual-boot Windows 7 and Ubuntu Linux by incorporating screenshots alongside clear and concise steps.
How to Install Ubuntu in Windows. This wikiHow teaches you how to install and run Ubuntu Linux on your Windows computer's desktop. You'll use a free program called VirtualBox to do so; this will allow you to run Ubuntu without having to.
The steps for booting Ubuntu alongside Windows 7 are as follows:
Take a Backup
This is probably the least interesting but most important step in the whole process.
The piece of software I recommend using for backing up your system is Macrium Reflect. There is a free version available for making a system image.
Bookmark this page and then follow this link for a tutorial showing how to create a system image using Macrium Reflect.
Create Space on Your Hard Drive
You need to make some space on your hard drive for the Linux partitions. To do this you have to shrink your Windows partition via the disk management tool.
To start the disk management tool click Start and type diskmgmt.msc into the Search box and then press Return.
Here's how to open the disk management tool if you need more help.
Shrink the Windows Partition
Windows is likely to be on the C: drive and can be identified by its size and the fact it has an NTFS partition. It will also be the active and boot partition.
Right-click on the C: drive (or the drive that contains Windows) and choose Shrink Partition.
The wizard will automatically set the amount that you can shrink the disk by without harming Windows.
Before accepting the defaults consider how much space Windows might need in the future. If you plan to install further games or applications it might be worth shrinking the drive by less than the default value.
You should allow at least 20 gigabytes for Ubuntu.
Choose how much space you want to set aside for Ubuntu including creating space for documents, music, videos, applications and games and then click Shrink.
How the Disk Looks After Shrinking Windows
The above screenshot shows how your disk will look after you have shrunk Windows.
There will be unallocated space set to the size that you shrunk Windows by.
Create a Bootable USB or DVD
A decision you have to make is whether to download the 32-bit or 64-bit version. Quite simply if you have a 64-bit computer choose the 64-bit version otherwise download the 32-bit version.
If your computer doesn't have a DVD drive you will need to create a bootable USB drive.
The easiest way to create a bootable USB drive for non UEFI drives is to download the Universal USB Installer.
Boot Into Live Ubuntu Session
Read this step fully before rebooting your computer so that you can get back to the guide after booting into the live version of Ubuntu.
You can now move onto Choose Your Language (below).
If the menu doesn't appear, follow Troubleshooting steps (below).
Troubleshooting
If the menu doesn't appear and the computer boots straight into Windows you need to change the boot order on your computer so that the DVD drive or USB drive is booted before the hard drive.
Tochange the boot order restart the computer and look for the key that you need to press to load the BIOS setup screen. Generally, the key will be a function key such as F2, F8, F10 or F12 and sometimes it is the escape key. If in doubt either search on Google for your make and model.
After you have entered the BIOS setup screen look for the tab that shows the boot order and switch the order so that the method you are using to boot Ubuntu appears above the hard drive. (Again if in doubt look for instructions for amending the BIOS for your particular machine on Google.)
Save the settings and reboot. The Try Ubuntu option should now appear. Go back to Boot Into Live Ubuntu Session and repeat that step.
If you ever need to start from scratch, by the way, you can use this guide to uninstall Ubuntu software packages.
Choose Your Language
Choose your language and then click Continue.
Connect to the Internet
You will be asked whether you want to connect to the internet. If you followed Shrink the Windows Partition correctly then you should already be connected.
At this point, you might want to choose to disconnect from the internet and select the option I don't want to connect to a wi-fi network right now.
This all depends on your internet connection speed.
If you have a great internet connection stay connected and click Continue.
If you have a poor internet connection then you might choose to disconnect otherwise the installer will attempt to download updates as you go along and this will lengthen the installation process.
If you decide not to be connected to the internet then you will need another way to read this guide — a tablet, or another computer perhaps.
Preparing to Install Ubuntu
Before you continue with the installation you will receive a checklist to show how well prepared you are for installing Ubuntu as follows:
You can get away without being connected to the internet as discussed earlier.
There is a checkbox at the bottom of the screen which lets you install third party software for playing MP3s and watching Flash videos. It is entirely optional as to whether you choose to check this box. You can install the necessary plugins after the installation is complete by installing the Ubuntu Restricted Extras package and this is my preferred option.
Choose Your Installation Type
The Installation Type screen is where you get to choose whether to install Ubuntu on its own or whether to dual boot with Windows.
It is perfectly acceptable to choose the Install Ubuntu Alongside Windows 7 option and click Continue.
If you choose to do this move on to Write Changes to Disks.
On the next screen, I will show you how to create multiple partitions to separate your Ubuntu partition from your home partition.
There are two checkboxes on the installation type screen. The first one allows you to encrypt your home folder.
There is a common myth that a username and password is all you need to secure your data. Anybody who has access to your physical machine can get at all the data on the hard drive (whether you use Windows or Linux).
The only real protection is to encrypt your hard drive.
Create Partitions Manually
This step has been added for completeness and isn't entirely necessary. I find it nice to have separate root, home, and swap partitions as it makes it easier for replacing the version of Linux and when upgrading your system
Swap partitions are a contentious subject and everybody has their own opinion as to how much space they should take up.
Make your home partition use the rest of the space minus the amount of memory that your computer has.
For example, if you have 300000 megabytes (i.e 300 gigabytes) and you have 8 gigabytes of memory enter 292000 into the box. (300 - 8 is 292. 292 gigabytes is 292000 megabytes)
The final partition to create is the swap partition.
Some people say you don't need a swap partition at all, others say that it should be the same size as memory and some people say it should be 1.5 times the amount of memory.
The swap partition is used to store idle processes when memory is running low. Generally speaking, if there is a lot of swap activity going on then you are thrashing your machine and if this is happening regularly you should maybe think about increasing the amount of memory in your computer.
The swap partition was important in the past when computers used to frequently run out of memory but nowadays unless you are doing some serious number crunching or video editing it is unlikely that you will run out of memory.
Personally, I always create a swap partition because hard drive space isn't that costly and should I ever decide to make a huge video that uses up all my available memory then I will be glad that I created that swap space rather than letting the computer crash unceremoniously.
Write the Changes to Disks
A warning message will appear stating that partitions are about to be created.
This is the point of no return. If you haven't made a backup as stated in step 1 consider choosing the Go Back option and canceling the installation. Clicking Continue should only install Ubuntu to the space created in step 2but ifany mistakes have been made there is no way to change it after this point.
Click Continue when you are ready to install Ubuntu.
Choose Your Timezone
Choose your timezone by clicking where you live on the map provided and click Continue.
Choose Keyboard Layout
Choose your keyboard layout by selecting the language in the left pane and then the physical layout in the right pane.
You can test the keyboard layout by entering text into the box provided.
The detect keyboard layout button attempts to match your keyboard automatically.
After you have chosen your keyboard layout click Continue.
Add A User
A default user needs to be set up.
Ubuntu doesn't have a root password. Instead, users have to be added to a group to enable them to use 'sudo' to run administrative commands.
The user created on this screen will automatically be added to the 'sudoers' group and will be able to perform any task on the computer.
Complete The Installation
The files will now be copied to your computer and Ubuntu will be installed.
You will be asked whether you want to restart your computer or continue testing.
Restart your computer and remove either the DVD or USB drive (depending on which one you used).
When your computer reboots a menu should appear with options for Windows and Ubuntu.
Try Windows first and make sure that everything still works.
Reboot again but this time choose Ubuntu from the menu. Make sure that Ubuntu boots up. You should now have a fully working dual booting system with Windows 7 and Ubuntu Linux.
The journey does not stop here, though. For example, you can read how to install the Java Runtime and Development Kit on Ubuntu.
Learn how to download and install Ubuntu Linux on Windows 10 in such a way that it won’t harm Windows. Using this method Ubuntu Linux will only run when you tell it to and it doesn’t require any special partitioning of your disks.
This installation method requires you to download a piece of software called VirtualBox from Oracle which allows you to run other operating systems as virtual computers on top of your current operating system, including Windows 10.
What You Will Need
In order to install Ubuntu Linux on Windows 10 you will need to download the following applications:
Steps Required to Run Ubuntu Linux on Windows 10
What About Windows 7 and Windows 8 Users?
There are also some alternative guides for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users installing Ubuntu Linux.
Download Oracle Virtualbox
Download Virtualbox by clicking on the large download button in the middle of the screen.
Choose 32-Bit or 64-Bit
To find out whether you are running a 32-bit or 64-bit system click on the Windows start button and search for PC Info.
The screen that appears tells you lots of useful information about your computer such as the amount of RAM, the processor, and the current operating system.
The most important part, however, is the system type which as you can see from the image shows that my system is 64-bit. Using the same technique you can work out which system type your computer is.
Download Ubuntu
There are two versions of Ubuntu available:
Ubuntu 14.04 is for people who don’t want to upgrade their operating system every 6 months. The support period has a number of years to run and therefore it really is a case of installing it and getting on with your life.
Ubuntu 15.04, 15.10 and beyond are the latest releases and have more up to date developments which aren’t available in 14.04. The downside is that the support period is much shorter at just 9 months. The upgrade process isn’t a big deal but obviously requires more effort than just installing 14.04 and leaving it.
There is a big download link next to both versions and it is up to you whether you want to install 14.04 or 15.04 and beyond. The installation process doesn’t really change.
Download Virtualbox Guest Additions
The guest additions make it possible to run the Ubuntu virtual machine in full-screen mode at a suitable resolution.
There are a lot of links on this page. Click on the link that matches the version of Virtualbox you downloaded previously.
When the next page opens click on the link for VBoxGuestAdditions.iso (There will be a version number as part of the link i.e. VBoxGuestAdditions_5_0_6.iso).
How to Install VirtualBox
Press the start button and search for Downloads. Click on the link to the Downloads file folder.
When the downloads folder opens click on the Virtualbox application file you downloaded earlier on.
The Virtualbox setup wizard will begin. Click Next to start the installation.
Where to Install Virtualbox
The next screen lets you choose the Virtualbox installation options.
There is absolutely no reason not to choose the defaults unless you want to choose a different installation location in which case click on Browse and navigate to where you want to install Virtualbox.
Create VirtualBox Desktop Icons
You now have the option to create shortcuts, either on the desktop and/or the quick launch bar and whether to register file associations such as VDI files to Virtualbox.
It is up to you whether you want to create shortcuts. Windows 10 is really easy to navigate with the powerful search button so you might decide not to bother creating either of the shortcuts.
Virtualbox Warns About Resetting Your Network Connection
A warning will appear stating that your network connection will temporarily be reset. If this is a problem to you right now then click No and come back to the guide at a later stage otherwise click Yes.
Install VirtualBox
You are finally at the point of installing Virtualbox. Click the Install button.
A security message will appear asking whether you are sure you wish to install Virtualbox and halfway through the install you will be asked whether you want to install the Oracle Universal Serial Bus device software. Click Install.
Create a Ubuntu Virtual Machine
You can start Virtualbox simply by leaving the Start Oracle VM Virtualbox after installation checked and clicking Finish or for future reference click the Start button and search for VirtualBox.
Choose the Type of Virtual Machine
Give your machine a name. It is a good idea to go for the Linux distribution name (i.e. Ubuntu) and the version number (14.04, 15.04, 15.10 etc).
Select Linux as the type and Ubuntu as the version. Make sure you choose the correct version based on whether you have a 32-bit or 64-bit machine.
How Much Memory Do You Give Your Virtual Machine
You now have to choose how much of your computer’s memory you will assign to the virtual machine.
You cannot assign all of your computer’s memory to the virtual machine as you need to leave enough for Windows to continue running as well as any other programs that you have running within Windows.
The minimum you should consider assigning to Ubuntu is 2 gigabytes which are 2048 MB. The more you can give the better but don’t go overboard. As you can see I have 8 gigabytes of memory and I have assigned 4 gigabytes to the Ubuntu virtual machine.
Note that the amount of memory you set aside is only used while the virtual machine is running.
Slide the slider to the amount you want to assign and click Next.
Create a Virtual Hard Drive
After assigning memory to the virtual machine you now have to set aside some hard drive space. Select the Create a virtual hard disk now option and click Create.
There are a number of different hard drive types that you can choose from. Choose VDI and click Next.
There are two ways to create the virtual hard drive:
If you choose dynamically allocated it will only use space as it is required. So if you set 20 gigabytes aside for the virtual hard drive and only 6 is required then only 6 will be used. As you install more applications the extra space will be allocated as necessary.
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This is more efficient in terms of disk space usage but isn’t so good for performance because you have to wait for the space to be allocated before you can use it.
The fixed size option allocates all the space you request straight away. This is less efficient in terms of disk space usage because you may have set aside space you never actually use but it is better for performance. This is the better option as your computer generally has more disk space than memory and CPU power.
Set the Size of Your Virtual Hard Drive
Finally, you are at the stage of setting how much space you wish to give to Ubuntu. The minimum is about 10 gigabytes but the more you can spare the better. You don’t have to go overboard though. If you are just installing Ubuntu in a virtual machine to test it out go for a smaller amount.
Install Ubuntu on Your Virtual Machine
The virtual machine has now been created but it is like a computer that doesn’t have an operating system installed yet.
The first thing to do is to boot into Ubuntu. Click the start icon on the toolbar.
This is the point where you need to choose the Ubuntu ISO file you downloaded earlier. Click on the folder icon next to the Host Drive dropdown.
Navigate to the download folder and click on the Ubuntu disc image and then on Open.
Start the Ubuntu Installer
Click on the Start button.
Ubuntu should load into the little window and you will have the option to try Ubuntu or install Ubuntu.
Check Your Virtual Machine Meets the Pre-Requisites
A list of pre-requisites will be displayed. Basically, you need to make sure your machine has enough power (i.e. plug it in if you are using a laptop), has over 6.6 gigabytes of disk space and is connected to the internet.
You also have the option of downloading updates whilst installing and to install third party software.
If you have a good internet connection check the download updates option otherwise untick it and leave the updates to install at a later point post installation.
Check the install third party software option as it will allow you to play MP3 audio and watch Flash videos.
Choose the Installation Type
The next step lets you decide how to install Ubuntu. As you are using a virtual machine select the Erase disk and install Ubuntu option.
Do not worry. This will not erase your physical hard drive. It will just install Ubuntu in the virtual hard drive created earlier on.
A message will appear showing you the changes that will be made to your disk. Again this is only your virtual hard drive and so it is safe to click Continue.
Choose Your Location
You will now be required to choose where you live. You can either select the place on the map or type it into the box available.
Choose Your Keyboard Layout
The penultimate step is to choose your keyboard layout.
You may find that the correct layout has already been chosen but it isn’t, try clicking on the Detect Keyboard Layout option.
If that doesn’t work, click on the language for your keyboard in the left panel and then choose the physical layout in the right pane.
Create a User
The final step is to create a user.
Enter your name into the box provided and give your virtual machine a name.
Now choose a username and enter a password to associate with that user. (repeat the password as required).
The other options are to log in automatically or require a password to log in. You can also choose to encrypt your home folder.
As it is a virtual machine you may as well go for the Log in automatically option but we recommend always selecting the Require my password to log in.
Ubuntu will now be installed.
When the installation has finished click the File menu and choose close.
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You have the option to save the machine state, send the shutdown signal or power off the machine. Choose power off the machine and click OK.
Install Guest Additions
The next step is to install the guest additions.
Click on the settings icon on the VirtualBox toolbar
Click on the storage option and then click on IDE and choose the little circle with a plus symbol icon which adds a new optical drive.
An option will appear asking you to choose which disk to insert into the optical drive. Click on the Choose disk button.
Navigate to the downloads folder and click on the VBoxGuestAdditions disc image and select Open.
When you are back at the main screen click the start button on the toolbar.
Open the VirtualBox Guest Additions CD in Ubuntu
Ubuntu will boot for the first time but you won’t be able to use it full screen until the guest additions are properly installed.
Click on the CD icon at the bottom of the launcher panel on the left and make sure there are files for VirtualBox Guest Additions.
Right-click on an empty space where the list of files are and choose open in terminal.
Install Virtualbox Guest Additions
Type the following into the terminal window:
Finally, you need to reboot the virtual machine.
Click on the little cog symbol in the top right corner and choose shutdown.
You will be given the choice to restart or shutdown. Choose Restart.
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When the virtual machine restarts choose the View menu and select Full-Screen Mode.
A message will appear telling you that you can toggle between full screen and windowed mode by holding down the right CTRL key and F.
You're done! Great job.
Summary
Congratulations! You should now have successfully installed Ubuntu as a virtual machine on Windows 10.
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