Many Windows users find it hard to run features such as Unity 3D on virtual machines using VMware or VirtualBox for creating virtual machines. A better alternative can be to dual boot Linux operating system like Ubuntu with Windows. In this post I will tell you how to dual boot Ubuntu 11.04 with Windows 7. This procedure more or less can also be used with other versions of Ubuntu.
To get started, you will require a Live Ubuntu CD, DVD or USB. If you don’t know how to make a live USB, check my post (Create Live Linux USB To Run It On Windows With Universal USB Installer). Boot your system from the Live CD, DVD or USB device and select “Run operating system”. This will be a temporary session which will terminates once you restart your system and remove the USB. Therefore, click Install Ubuntu option available from the desktop to begin the dual boot installation.
This will start the installation wizard. In the first step, select your language preference and click Forward.
You can also enable updates during the installation process and allow third-party software installation (optionally). Click Forward to continue.
Three options will be displayed, including
1. A dual boot option with an existing Operating System (such as Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008).
2. Erasing Disk option allows to remove and overwrite the primary operating system.
3. Something else option allows manually configuring parameters for installing Ubuntu.
Although you can select option three and provide manual configurations, but many users might find it hard to understand the allocation of resources required to successfully use it. Therefore, select option one and click Forward for easily installing Ubuntu with Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008. In case you do not get the option to boot Ubuntu alongside the exsisting operating system, then download and launch Wubi software (from Windows) from here. This will initiate the process shown in the next step.
Your system will restart, remove the Live CD, DVD, or USB device and boot from e.g. Windows 7. A wizard will appear which will allow you to perform the remaining configurations. Select your language, disk drive (e.g. Drive D), username and optionally a password. Click Install to continue. (Note: do not select the drive containing your primary operating system such as Windows 7 to avoid overwriting the existing operating system. Select a separate partition, for example, D Drive.
Once you click on Install, the installation process will initiate.
Once the process completes, you will require rebooting your operating system.
Select Ubuntu from the boot menu and allow the rest of the configurations to complete.
Enjoy your physical Ubuntu machine experience.
