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No need to worry about partitioning hard disks if you want to give the free operating system Ubuntu a go
The easiest way to install Ubuntu is with the Wubi installer
The greatest obstacle to installing Linux has always been the need to carve up a hard disk to make space. Live CDs are a temporary alternative but are often slow. The Wubi software installs Ubuntu from within Windows and without making any big changes to the hard disk.
Read more: Articles about Ubuntu
Once downloaded, Wubi asks a few simple questions about which version of Ubuntu to install. Kubuntu uses the KDE desktop theme and Xubuntu the XFCE, which is better suited to older computers. It also sets the amount of hard disk space used and the default username and password.
One important point to note is that although the Wubi download is just 2.4MB, it still downloads all the files needed by Ubuntu, around 751MB worth.
Once the files have been downloaded and installed, a new menu appears when the computer reboots, offering a choice between Windows and Ubuntu.
There is a slight performance reduction in running Ubuntu in this way compared to a normal installation but we did not find this to be a problem.
There is also the opportunity to change the accessibility options of Ubuntu including a high contrast colour scheme, screen reader and an on-screen keyboard.
Ubuntu now asks for a donation when you arrive on the download page but this is not manditory. You can also choose whether you want to install the latest version of Ubuntu 12,10, or the Long Term Support version 12.04.
Wubi may not work with Windows 8 when it is released due to the changes in the way that Windows starts. Canonical (the company that makes Ubuntu) is working on fixing this.
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ubuntu 12.10
Hello dont look as if ubuntu is free any more,if u go to the download page u r asked to pay or go to the download page and pay later
Posted by Edgar Mills, 24 Oct 2012
Asking but not demanding
Hi, The good news is that you don't have to pay. Underneath the big table is a link that says "Not now, take me to the download ›" Click on that and the download will start. Hope that helps - I used Wubi at home yesterday and it worked fine (even gave me 64bit without having to be told) Kind regards Tim
Posted by Tim Smith, 25 Oct 2012
Ubuntu 12.10
Hi Tim.and thanks for ur help have downloaded ubuntu 12.10 and everything works inc epson S22 printer,clicked on the printer and it took me straight to the download page ffor the driver,wow
Posted by Edgar Mills, 25 Oct 2012
ubuntu 12.10
Hi Tim,ive also found that I can transfer all my photos and documents quite easy providing I put them on my old 80gb hard drive first and my external hard drive,as ubuntu picks up both of them,and yes I got 64bit as well,only problem ive found there seems to be a firewall installed with ubuntu but cant find it
Posted by Edgar Mills, 27 Oct 2012