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Contributor r0g on Wubi Windows installer

"Merge" Wubi with VirtualBox  
Written by Primož Papič the 30 Nov 08 at 21:04. New
Wubi is Ubuntu Windows installer.
I must admit that I never tried it (successfully), so I really don't know how it works.
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But wouldn't it be cool if Wubi would implement parts of VirtualBox (open source VM).
So when one would install Ubuntu from Windows it would work exactly as any other Windows app.
The big reason why I didn't decided to install Ubuntu from Wubi is that you can't decide to use any given amount of disk just those that are predefined. Also if I remember correctly you can't choose other disk but the disk your Windows are on.
So basically Wubi as I understand it isn't really meant to be "normal" install of Ubuntu but for those that want a bit more experience with their new OS than just LiveCD.
So maybe virtualised Ubuntu install through Wubi is a good idea.
Maybe don't even present any option or mention the virtualisation process as it might fend off some less technical users.
Or maybe there should be an option...
I'm not sure what would be better.

So please comment on what you think is this a good idea or a bad idea?
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Solution #2: Package Ubuntu in a ready-to-run virtual machine
Written by jonaskoelker the 4 May 09 at 13:04.
Ubuntu should be packaged together with some virtualization software in some form that allows you to:

- go to ubuntu.com, click "get it", "try it out on windows"
- wait a minute while you download some stuff
- answer a few simple questions ("C:\program files\VirtUbuntu", Next _>_)
- go about your business ("these aren't the progress bars you're looking for"), i.e. wait some more.
- click on the "Ubuntu" icon on your desktop, and up pops a window (a virtual machine) running Ubuntu.
- play with Ubuntu.

In that way, you don't have to reboot (major win!), your involvement in the installation is "Next _>_", the uninstallation is just as easy, you get decent speeds, and you get to try out the Real Deal(tm).

Some interesting follow-up ideas:

It'd be nice if one could reboot into the virtual machine disk images (if that would work and provide a performance benefit), similar to how I think Wubi works (at some abstract level, at least).

It'd also be nice to be able to convert the virtual machine to a physical installation, preserving all configuration and user data. This is probably very tricky, but perhaps doable.
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Solution #3: USB stick
Written by cheesehead the 4 May 09 at 18:53.
Like the LiveCD, but USB-stick based so you can write to it.
This is already implemented, easy instructions at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LiveUsbPendrivePersistent
+ Easy: download, burn, reboot, play.
+ Easy to regret: just don't boot from the USB stick any more.
+ Complete: persistent data (configuration, user documents) is easy to handle.
+ Fast: loading from the my USB drive is less than 10 seconds longer than from my HDD, and 30 seconds shorter than from my identical LiveCD.
- Inconvenient: I have to reboot.
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Solution #4: Merge Wubi and a Colinux Varient of Ubuntu
Written by mbeichorn the 5 Aug 09 at 19:37.
Not just for trying Ubuntu, let the user who has to be in windows for some reason (solid modeling, or anything where virtualization in Linux just doesn't cut it because you need the hardware) run a version of Ubuntu alongside windows sharing the hardware. The Colinux Kernel can already do this with x86 windows machines but the difference would be to allow boot into pure linux mode, that would be really nice.

The ability to get people who are not ready to use linux using linux apps could accelerate the solution of Bug #1.

See the 7 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 5 Aug 09 at 19:27) >>

Works with Vista  
Written by Thorsten Sick the 29 Sep 08 at 19:52. Won't implement
Microsoft offers an easy way to certify applications and get the "Works with vista" button to print on cds and homepages.

It would be great to check the windows applications (firefox and especially wubi), get the button and print it on the CD.

I would love it to see ubuntu as a "Works with vista" application :-)

There is an option to self sign an application and do some checkbox tests to get the "works with vista" button.

I am no windows developer so I do not know what requirements must be fulfilled exactly.
To sign the executables you need access to
http://winqual.microsoft.com/
AFAIK

Can please someone experienced with this microsoft certificate comment this idea ?
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closed
Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #13870
Written by Thorsten Sick the 29 Sep 08 at 19:52.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #13870 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

See the 8 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 30 Sep 08 at 17:15) >>