Install Ubuntu using Wubi

The easiest way to install Ubuntu is to use the Wubi installer from within Windows. You won't have to partition your hard disk and it can be easily removed if you change your mind.

There are two ways to install Wubi, either from an Ubuntu disc or by downloading the small Wubi utility. Both will require downloading the Ubuntu files so there isn't much difference. We're going to show the process with the CD.

Download the Ubuntu disc and burn it to a CD with a utility such as Burnaware. With Windows running, insert the disc in the drive. If the autorun dialogue appears select the option to run Wubi. Otherwise, click on the Start button and then on Computer. Double-click on the optical drive with the Ubuntu disc and then double click on the Wubi icon. Click Yes when the User Account Control window appears.

Click on the middle option, Install inside Windows.

There are several options to set here including the disk drive to use and how much space should be given to Ubuntu. You can access your Windows files from within Ubuntu so don't allow for copying files. Leave the Desktop environment set as Ubuntu and the language as English(GB), unless you want a different language of course.

The most important options are the username and password. We recommend creating a secure password using a combination of different cases, letters and numbers. When you are happy with all of the options, click on the Install button. Wubi will now copy the required files from the CD to the hard disc.

When it has finished it will ask for a reboot. Close down all your other programs, remembering of course to have saved any changes, select Reboot now and click on Finish.

The computer will automatically boot into Ubuntu to finish the installation. Don't worry after this it will choose Windows rather than Ubuntu if you don't do anything. The installer will finish copying the files needed by Ubuntu. This may take a little while. It will also get some files from the internet and configure for the hardware inside the computer.

When it has finished it will reboot the computer again. You can see that Windows is now the default option so be ready to press the down cursor to select Ubuntu by pressing Enter. Leave the Ubuntu version as the default and the Ubuntu desktop will load. Log in using the details you set out in the Wubi installer.