Wubi for Windows

Name: Wubi
Rating: 3.4 (223 reviews)
Author: Wubi

By Wubi
Free
User Rating

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Used Wubi for Windows?

Editors’ Review

Download.com staffApril 24, 2020

Ubuntu is an open-source Linux distribution operating system, and if that sounds like geek to you, it shouldn't. If you've only ever used Windows, the idea of trying a new operating system might sound a little scary. But with Wubi you can download and try Ubuntu easily, and with the knowledge that you can go back to Windows whenever you like.

Wubi is simply an installer for Ubuntu, and as such, it's not at all complicated. The program allows users to install--and uninstall--Ubuntu as they would any other Windows application. In essence, you get an operating system within an operating system, and you can switch back and forth with relative ease. Wubi asks users to choose the disk on which they want to install Ubuntu, and from there it's really just a matter of waiting. It took about half an hour for Ubuntu to download, after which we rebooted our computer as instructed. Instead of launching Windows automatically, a screen appeared that asked us to choose Windows or Ubuntu. We chose Ubuntu, and did some more waiting as Ubuntu was installed. It is an entire operating system, after all, so it's bound to take longer than your average Windows application. Once that was done, we set off to explore Ubuntu. And when we were ready, we simply rebooted to switch back to Windows. Overall, Wubi isn't a particularly impressive program, but when it comes to installers, you really want something that draws as little attention to itself as possible. Wubi succeeds on that front, making it relatively quick and easy to download Ubuntu.

Wubi installs and uninstalls without issues. We recommend this program to everyone.

Wubi for Windows

By Wubi
Free
User Rating

Download now

Used Wubi for Windows?

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Full Specifications

GENERAL

Release: May 2, 2012

Latest update: April 24, 2020

Version: 12.04

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Platform: Windows

Operating System

Windows 10
Windows Vista
Windows 98
Windows XP
Windows 2000

Additional Requirements: None

POPULARITY

Total Downloads: 335,028

Downloads Last Week: 14

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Program available in other languages

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Last Updated

User Reviews

3.4/5

223 User Votes

just a boot error for windows 8 users
diablokromAugust 27, 2013
Pros
not sure about any pros - never got to use the program
Cons
doesn't work on windows 8 not cool, not cool
Summary
After installing this program on windows 8 I rebooted, got the option to run windows 8 or Ubuntu - after choosing Ubuntu a boot error messages tells me that I'm.. missing file: \Ubuntu\winboot\wubildr.mbr status: 0x000007b
This is buggier than a hobo's bed.
ekertinAugust 23, 2013
Pros
Installed fine after an interminable 2 1/2 hour download. It was downhill (fast) after that.
Cons
Chose a password during instal. When I boot up it says it can't find boot kernel? Then after 2 minutes it boots up. I can't enter my password. WIFI won't work. Screen is glitchy. That was just the first five minutes. I've had more fun at the dentist office. I've got a one year old HP laptop, Win7 64, and an AMD. I don't see how cnet can give this such a high rating.
Summary
In my poorer days I used to run Linux Fedora on my PC. It was a pretty decent and free operating system. I thought I'd try may hand at Linux again, especially since you don't need to partition, but this software stinks.
be careful
nealrflettMarch 24, 2013
Pros
well i suppose anything that can compete with windows is worth trying. yes its fast.less maintenance.no viruses. defragging etc.easy to uninstall becuase it is in windows
Cons
would not let me log in.only as guest. not really user freindly. but after using windows for 13 years.its like learning a new language
Summary
worth checking out but be careful
It would be nice if your password worked!!!!
dcowboydonFebruary 11, 2013
Pros
It's fast compared to windows.
Cons
When I installed the program it was with a username and password.It wanted a password before it would let me log-on to my wireless connection to authenticate. I never got on.I installed the program twice no wireless..
Summary
I gave up and uninstalled it...
I've had trouble.
john telloMarch 9, 2012
Pros
Nice looking when it finally ran.
Cons
It took so long to load and run.
Summary
I had to delete the program, because, it took too long to run (15 min. to 30 min.). I wood like to download a version that runs on a disk or flash drive.
be care full dont think cnet checks before posting
lopy210January 6, 2012
Pros
before down loading check the site where the down load is from by clicking on"see full specifications the click the site link.a lot of times that can save you a head ack by looking even if you have virus protection you can run a scan.I started do just that and i can tell you that I've see a lot of these down load's that lead to wrong site's or broken even ran scan with avg virus and found it wasn't safe.
Cons
before down loading check the site where the down load is from by clicking on"see full specifications the click the site link.a lot of times that can save you a head ack by looking even if you have virus protection you can run a scan.I started do just that and i can tell you that I've see a lot of these down load's that lead to wrong site's or broken even ran scan with avg virus and found it wasn't safe.
Summary
before down loading check the site where the down load is from by clicking on"see full specifications the click the site link.a lot of times that can save you a head ack by looking even if you have virus protection you can run a scan.I started do just that and i can tell you that I've see a lot of these down load's that lead to wrong site's or broken even ran scan with avg virus and found it wasn't safe.
EXCELLENT OS
ComputerLuvrDecember 14, 2011
Pros
Very user friendly and virus free.
Cons
None at the moment
Summary
I am going to put this OS on my new laptop. I also have an Asus eee PC with Ubuntu on it. Works beautifully with my WiFi connection and it's faster than Windows. You can also remove having to log in in Ubuntu. Very secure and doesn't give me the headaches with Windows registry files that I constantly run into! As an IT professional I highly recommend this OS and it's also free. You can also run this OS on a machine with Windows without having to completely remove Windows OS from the computer. You can choose to either boot up through Windows or Ubuntu. You can also take it out for a trial spin before installing it completely on your computer. Works very well with Chrome, Firefox and SeaMonkey browsers.
Had trouble making it work, but now does.
hbhermanOctober 24, 2011
Pros
Once it worked, I feel it is the safest way to get to use Ubuntu.
Cons
Have to solve the problem myself.
Summary
I had the same problems that others described,"No root file is defined." I tried lots of different ways to load. The last thing I tried worked. As I made two changes, you pick the reason: 1. I put wubi.exe in c:\install Ubuntu 2. By accident I left the disk name instead of my choice. There were lots of errors, but I continued on and rebooted, also with errors. The errors must self- correct, as now it works. Of course, this method downloaded everything else from the Internet, so the problem could have been fixed there. Windows 7 still works!
I take pride in the fact that I am Windows free.
ruffryder187October 21, 2011
Pros
Fast, stable, virus free, IT JUST WORKS. Never bogs down.
Cons
Sometimes there are driver issues. Just research before I bought my laptop to make sure it worked. Other than that I have no gripes.
Summary
NSA had a hand in building Windows 7. Rumor is there is a NSA back-door in Windows 7. Russia took this very seriously and requested the source code from Microsoft before they used it in their government offices to see if there was such a thing. Don't have that problem with Linux source code is open to all. PS I never found out if there was a back-door. Nor do I care, it doesn't affect me not one bit.
Easy as Pie
JGuneJune 30, 2011
Pros
1. Don't have to make a partition for Linux 2. Easy to uninstall
Cons
It takes a while to install after reboot
Summary
Safest and Easiest way to experience Linux

Developer’s Description

By Wubi

Adopt Ubuntu on your Windows machine without partitioning your hard drive or creating a boot CD.

Wubi is an officially supported Ubuntu installer for Windows users that can bring you to the Linux world with a single click. Wubi allows you to install and uninstall Ubuntu as any other Windows application, in a simple and safe way.

You keep Windows as it is, Wubi only adds an extra option to boot into Ubuntu. Wubi does not require you to modify the partitions of your PC, or to use a different bootloader, and does not install special drivers. It works just like any other application.

Wubi for Windows

Editors’ Review

Wubi for Windows

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User Reviews

just a boot error for windows 8 users

This is buggier than a hobo's bed.

be careful

It would be nice if your password worked!!!!

I've had trouble.

be care full dont think cnet checks before posting

EXCELLENT OS

Had trouble making it work, but now does.

I take pride in the fact that I am Windows free.

Easy as Pie

Developer’s Description