- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 98/Me/XP/NT
- Date added: May 25, 2007
- Total Downloads: 90,103
- Downloads last week: 829
- See full specifications
A newer version of Wubi is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 129 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
This app is one of the easiest ways to add Ubuntu to your Windows system. Wubi's dialog interface requires users to select a mere six options to install the Linux OS. Don't expect help with this utility. Users are expected to have a basic understanding of Linux and booting into alternate operating systems.
Selecting the install drive, hard-drive space, language, username, and password is quick with pull-down selectors. The most difficult decision is choosing the environment from Ubuntu, Kbuntu, Xubuntu, and UbuntuStudio. Users are expected to know which they would prefer, as no information is given about the options. While this is truly a one-click install of Linux, it isn't fast. The first step downloads an almost 700MB ISO image used to install Linux. After the download, the app takes a considerable time unpacking and installing the OS. Boot into Ubuntu and there is another wait as the OS completes setting preferences and options. It is all without user intervention, though.
A last reboot and you have a clean, handy Linux OS on your PC. Numerous apps are preinstalled and configured. Seconds after first log-in our testers were browsing the Internet and using a freeware word processor without any extra configuration. This is a great simple install package for anyone interested in trying out Linux.
Publisher's description
From Wubi :Wubi is an unofficial Ubuntu installer for Windows users that will bring you into the Linux world with a few clicks. Wubi allows you to install and uninstall Ubuntu as any other application.
Wubi is a Windows front-end for lupin. Wubi and lupin provide a user friendly installer which allows users to install/uninstall Ubuntu like any other Windows program, without modifying partitions, without replacing the bootloader, and without having to burn a CD. Ubuntu installation is almost identical to a standard dual-boot installation both in terms of behavior and performance.
What's new in this version:
Version 7.04 test 2 includes the latest version of Ubuntu 7.04, "Feisty Fawn."
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User reviews of Wubi 7.04 beta
- Average user rating: 3.6 stars out of 129 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 65 user reviewsSee all 65 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
23 out of 23 people found this review helpful
Version: Wubi 7.04 beta
Pros: Its a beauty...It was easy and efficient! It works perfectly and took only an hour! Otherwise it takes a few hours! Ubuntu is also user friendly.
Cons: It runs on virtual memory and therefore you can't access the files in Windows. However, this isn't a big flaw.
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22 out of 23 people found this review helpful
Version: Wubi 7.04 beta
Pros: Title says it all -- the installation failed. It's a fabulous idea -- installing Linux on a virtual drive, so you don't have to partition. I'll try again when it comes out of Beta. There are two reasons why I gave it 2 stars instead of one: 1) it unistalled completely and cleanly, from the program directory in Windows; and 2) it gave me the most amusing failure notice I've seen in years: "Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill init!" That has SO much more "pop" than "Fatal system error" and the Blue Screen of Death.
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22 out of 22 people found this review helpful
Version: Wubi 7.04 beta
"Has some glitches but is on its way"
Pros: Wubi is a good program to install Ubuntu in Windows. It uses a virtual disk to build in a since partitions inside the Windows partition/drive. This is a great tool for newbies to Linux. Wubi allows as user to install Ubuntu or: Kubuntu (KDE), xubuntu (Xwindow), or UbuntuStudio (Multimedia)--then if they are not satisfied with Ubuntu (which hardly happens), the user can uninstall Linux (Wubi) just like any other Windows program. Give it a try and see if you like the productivity and reliability of Ubuntu.
Cons: Well, there has been problems with the install formatting the Virtual Disk, which is the heart of the Wubi HD. Some of the fixes I have found for the hanging up is to use disk cleanup and defrag before rebooting after the Wubi install. If this does not fix the problem you should move on to the forum by searching "wubi help" in GOOGLE (first result). Don't give up if it jams on the first run, try it again. I have had the chance to test many different ranges of computers with Wubi in the past week. One thing I have noticed is that the Wubi install fails most often on computers with Celeron processors with less than 1.5, computer with a flat line of 128mb of ram, and computers with low-end drives. This is all addressed on the forum but I ran tests to confirm the errors. I would give Wubi a trial run and if it fails after at least 4 tries (yes, you can reinstall Wubi to start over without downloading the ISO again), if so, wait for the release version of Wubi that is not beta, alpha, or test. Also, if you would like to get Ubuntu running and take a slight risk, I would start the live disk, reduce the Windows partition to at the most 4 gigs (if 4 gigs are free) and install Ubuntu in the freed space by making the following partitions: 2.5 gigs to / (mount), 1 gig to home, and .5 gigs to swap--just to get you by for a while till a better Wubi comes out : )-----(IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG, I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE---but good luck!!!! : )
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11 out of 11 people found this review helpful
Version: Wubi 7.04 beta
Pros: Just what I was looking for. A Linux distro even a hack like me can download and run in a hour!!Just did it yesterday and I Love it, Watch out Microsoft.
Cons: No Cons yet. But to those who have trouble downlosding, Download to your Desktop then run the program from there. Worked out for me, Hope it does as well for you, ENJOY
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Wubi 7.04 beta
"InsertCleverNameHere just about says it all........"
Cons: It won't install Ubuntu after a 3:30 hr download. I don't particularly like ominous death threats either.
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