[jslow]

Hi,


I downloaded the file "Ubuntu-7.10-desktop-i386.iso" and then burned it to a CD to create an installation CD.


I then tried to install this OS to a Virtual PC from this CD but it would not complete the installation. It starts but never completes.


I can boot and run the OS from the created CD on my DVD-ROM drive.


I set the RAM on the Virtual PC to over 600 MB.


Is it possible to install Linux on a Virtual PC.


I also tried to install it from the alternate file "Ubuntu-7.10-alternate-i386.iso" by creating another install CD but this didn't work either.


Any suggestions?


Thanks.

[FenderGuy2112]

Hi jslow,


It is difficult to successfully install Ubuntu on a VPC and have it run and emulate correct. Most of the time, the problems occur during the installition period (Like where you are at). Ubuntu is an image file; but It is meant for actual operation, not emulated.


To answer your question - It is possible to install it... but like I said it can run with different problems for everyone.


Good Luck,
FenderGuy2112

[techie4fun]

Hi Js :)
What Virtual PC software are you using? This sounds like you are using the one and only "Microsoft's latest version." I would give myself less of a headache by loading "VirtualBox" onto my PC to use Linux. You can download this off the Internet, for free. See if it works then.

I HAVE installed Ubuntu on MS Virtual PC without any problems, but I've failed to get SUSE running.

[piyushsingh]

I installed fedora core7 on vmware and it was doing fine. so definitely linux can be installed on virtual loactions.

Didnt try ubuntu on it as i dual booted it, but i remember one of my friends was unable to do it and had some problems still to be sorted.

[techie4fun]

VMWare is also good. Just remember that your stuck with a 15 day trial and it costs to use it. If you are trying something out, you will only have 15 days to use Ubuntu with WMAre.

There is also WMWare Player-

Thd downside with VMWare Player is have to download the file "for example, Ubuntu" from their server instead of installing the OS onto a virtual hard disk yourself.

[jslow]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the replies.

I tried numerous times to install Linux on MS VM but it never would install. I think I'll just continue to try out Linux from the CD.

Thanks again.

jslow

[mphenterprises]

Hi JSlow and welcome to PCWorld. :-)




Okay, I feel like you are giving up on this situation way too easily. If I am not mistaken, at no time did you provide any error messages or specific codes that the application gives you when you attempt to install Ubuntu into Microsoft VM. If you have not completely given up on this, please provide the exact error messages so we can see what may be the problem.

If you want, you can include screen shots of the error messages. If you are not sure how to upload screen shots within this forum, please follow the steps laid out within this Document.

[jslow]

Hi [~44270] ,

Thanks for the reply.

I never received an error message when trying to install. I ended up with a very poor desktop with icons that could hardly be read. The installation did not go any further. When I checked the size of the install, it was very small; like in low kb.

I tried the installation several times, including with the alternate linux download, but the same thing happened every time.

When I boot from the CD, everything comes in very clear.

[mphenterprises]

Okay, before I completely upgraded my system, I ran Ubuntu via VMware. Granted, VMware is expensive; however, it is the same technology as Virtual PC. Therefore, there should no reason why it wouldn't work for you.

As a check, go ahead and download the evaluation version of VMware Workstation. This is a free 30-day trial. Basically, all you are going to see is if you can get it to completely install. If it does, then you can just evaluate both Linux and VMware for during the 30-day trial. If it does not, we can try some other avenues.

[jslow]

Thanks for the reply.

If I can't install Linux Ubuntu 7.10 on the Virtual PC that I have now installed, then I'm not going to try other software. It has been suggested that I try Virtual Box and VM Ware but I do not want to keep changing my software.

It appears that Microsoft helps make things more complicated.

I'm having a problem trying to save pictures from OE6 because i have IE7 installed. I get an error message that a file is missing. But Microsoft stated there is no such file. One of their MVP's suggested that I uninstall & reinstall IE7 to correct the problem. This same MVP suggested to others with this problem that they use a work around. I can't understand why Microsoft just doesn't fix the problem. From what I read on other forums, MS knew about this problem when IE7 was a beta.

Furthermore, if you want to perform a repair on Windows XP, you have to uninstall IE7 before the repair and then reinstall it after the repair (KB 917964). Apparently Microsoft is not, or cannot correct their own bugs.

That is why I decided to try linux from the CD. If it will not install on MS Virtual PC, then I'm not going to bother with it.

Thanks for your help & suggestions.

[mphenterprises]

I can definitely sense the frustration you are experiencing. However, you do have other options. Please provide your computer's complete system specifications.

[jslow]

Not sure what all you need, but here's what I have been listing on other forums:

Dell 4700, WinXP SP2 Pro, 2.8 Gig Pentium 4, 160 Gig HD, 80 Gig Ext USB 2 HD,

1 GB RAM, IE7 & OE 6, NSW 2006 Premium, Norton Anti-Virus 2007, Ad-Aware 2007, 7.0.2.6 , Spybot-Search & Destroy 1.3, Spyware Blaster 3.5.1

[mphenterprises]

Okay, you do have sufficient enough storage space to Dual Boot your system with Windows XP and Ubuntu. Now, if you are as fed up with Windows as you appear to be, you may eventually want to migrate everything over into Ubuntu. For now, you can at the very least install Ubuntu under a separate partition in your current hard drive and proceed from there.

The easiest way that I have found to do this is to follow the steps laid out within this tutorial. This way, you can get the full features of Ubuntu completely installed in your computer and use Windows until you get to the point that all of your computer usage can be done in Ubuntu.

The only aspect of your computer that may hinder your computer performance while using a Dual Boot format is the 1GB of memory. While adequate for Windows XP alone, you may run into a problem with both Windows and Ubuntu. However, I do not see an immediate concern.

[jslow]

I am not convinced that I want to switch to Ubuntu from Windows XP.

I prefer not to set up to dual boot. That's why I installed Virtual PC; to try out different software, etc without affecting Windows XP.

I currently have my hard drive and my external USB 2 HD partitioned for other reasons.

I guess if I can't install Ubuntu on Virtual PC, I'll continue to keep trying it out by booting from the CD.

Thanks for your help.

[mphenterprises]

That is definitely understandable. Well, if you ever decide to set it up, you have all the tools you need. To finalize this Discussion, since you have this Discussion marked as "Answered," please select the two (2) posts that you feel were "Helpful."

[Tunz]

It is easy enough to create an ubuntu appliance using the free VMWare server, which is not a trial and does not expire. If you are using W2K or XP Pro, all that is required to turn your machine into a qualified server is to install IIS through Add/Remove Programs. Installing ubuntu on a Microsoft Virtual PC runs between difficult and impossible and is not supported by Microsoft.

That said, I will echo mphenterprise's comments on your system resources. They are more than sufficient to run XP but a virtual ubuntu will run like a slug and will completely ruin your impression of ubuntu. If I were in your shoes I would back up my MBR and dual boot, or just install ubuntu on an older machine.