Run Ubuntu and Windows Seamlessly
We’re going to show you how to install Ubuntu on a virtual machine using Sun’s VirtualBox, and then setup seamless mode to allow running Windows and Ubuntu applications within the same environment (see the picture to the left). Why is this useful? You can run both operating systems within the same environment. We think it beats using Wubi, configuring your computer to install Ubuntu, and running Windows inside Ubuntu.
For this tutorial, we suggest you have at least 8GB free space and at least 1GB of RAM. You’ll need to have downloaded the Ubuntu ISO file and VirtualBox. We assume you have installed VirtualBox.
This is going to be a long tutorial, but we hope we’re positive we’ve made it easy to follow with an abundance of screenshots. However, some settings may need to be changed to reflect your computer setup.
Oh, and as a big huge tutorial, we’ve split it into 3 parts: this current part, which describes setup of the virtual machine, part 2 for installing Ubuntu, and part 3 for configuring it to become seamless.
Creating a New Virtual Machine
Open up VirtualBox. Click the button that says New.
The Create New Virtual Machine wizard will appear. Click Next to the welcome screen, and type in a Name (we chose Ubuntu) and select Ubuntu for OS Type. Click Next.
You’ll have to select the amount of RAM. About half the RAM you have is a good idea, so 512MB for systems with 1GB of RAM should suffice. We chose 700MB (we have 2GB of RAM). Click Next.
The wizard will tell you to select a virtual hard disk. Since we’ve assumed you’ve never used VirtualBox before, we need to create a new one. Click New…
The Create New Virtual Disk Wizard
The Welcome screen for the Create New Virtual Disk wizard. Click Next.
You’ll be asked to select a type of virtual hard disk image. For purposes of “I want it done now,” I chose the dynamically expanding image. Choose one or the other, and click Next.
Select a size for the virtual disk. I kept the default of 8GB. Then choose a name. I chose Ubuntu. Click Next.
The wizard gives you details of what you chose. If you’re satisfied, click Finish.
Back to the Virtual Machine Wizard
Back in the Virtual Machine wizard, pick the virtual hard disk you just created and click Next.
You’re done. Click Finish. We’re now going to configure some important settings for the virtual machine.
Configuring Settings
Right-click on your new Ubuntu virtual machine, and click Settings.
Click CD/DVD-ROM. Check the Mount CD/DVD Drive, then select ISO Image File. Click the yellow folder button next to the ISO Image File field.
We’re doing this so when you boot the machine, you can boot into the Ubuntu install CD (Ubuntu does NOT come pre-installed on the virtual machine).
You’ll come to the Virtual Disk Manager. Click Add.
Select the Ubuntu desktop install ISO you have. If you don’t, download it.
Select the new Ubuntu CD in the window, and click OK.
Enabling Sound
Back in the settings pane, choose Audio. For Host Audio Driver, select Windows DirectSound. Click OK on the settings window.
Back in the main VirtualBox window, select Ubuntu and click Start. Follow into part 2 for information on installing Ubuntu on your new virtual machine.
I'm Jason, the main author of Third Error, and many of the topics I'll focus on concern Windows (and applicable software), web applications, web design, and a bit of *nix (Ubuntu mainly). My computer runs Windows XP, with virtualized Ubuntu and OS X handy.