Ubuntu Wiki

• Launchpad Entry: installer-for-windows

• Created: 2007-04-26

• Contributors: HenrikOmma

• Packages affected:

Note: spec revamped for Feisty. Related specs exist in the wiki and LP for specific technical solutions. Please keep this spec neutral until a technical approach has been selected.

Summary

A simple install procedure for Ubuntu initiated in Windows.

Rationale

Windows users are often more comfortable with downloading a small ubuntu.setup.exe file than downloading and burning an ISO. Some laptops do not have a CD drive and many systems are configured to boot from the HD first.

Use Cases

Scope

Select the most suitable technical solution.

Design

TODO: Select from one of several possible technical solutions.

Windows installers for Ubuntu

Several Windows-based installers for Linux (including Ubuntu) have appeared recently, each using different methods. The common goal of these is to provide a simple path to Ubuntu that starts with downloading a small executable installer, and removes the need to use a CD. The three main approaches are:

1. Repartition and install

   • downloads packages or ISO
   • an entry in the Windows bootloader is created
   • reboot to start an installer (text-based, graphical or Live CD based) asking the usual questions
   • The disk is resized or free space is used (ie. normal install)
   • GRUB is installed
   • Boot again to start Ubuntu
   • Next time you start Windows the entry from the Windows bootloader

   • Implementation: [http://goodbye-microsoft.com/ win32-loader], [http://instlux.sourceforge.net/ instlux]

2. Install on a loop mounted disk image

   • downloads packages or ISO
   • Gathers information from Windows and simply asks for a user name and password
   • Adds Ubuntu entry to the Windows bootloader
   • Reboots to start an install process (non-interactive)
   • Reboot again to start Ubuntu (or Windows)
   • Painless removal of Ubuntu of desired

   • Implementations: [http://www.cutlersoftware.com/ubuntusetup/wubi/en-US/index.html Wubi]

3. Install a virtual machine

   • Installer contains a copy of Virtualbox and downloads a pre-made virtual machine of Ubuntu
   • Simple NSIS install and launch VM directly without reboot
   • Simple unistall
   • Has to share resources so performance will be reduced and hardware support may be limited

   • Implementations: [http://www.virtualbox.org/ Virtualbox], [http://www.h7.dion.ne.jp/~qemu-win/ QUEMU]

An overview of existing implementations follows.

win32-loader

Summary: Download a small executable which downloads the netboot files, modifies the NT bootloader and reboots.

Links: http://goodbye-microsoft.com/

Advantages

• Fast download in first installer stage (netboot stuff only)
• A real ubuntu install on a real partition

Disadvantages

• Mistakenly grabbed the 64-bit version on a 32-bit virtual system and failed to boot (admittedly an odd test case)
• Leaves the bootloader behind
• No accessibility support in alternate installer
• Does not work with Vista

instlux

Summary: same principle as win32-loader, but a slightly cleaner implementation usability-wise.

Advantages

• Fast download in first installer stage (netboot versions)
• A real ubuntu install on a real partition
• Cleans up the NT bootloader after install

Disadvantages

• Text-based install (could use graphical d-i)
• No accessibility support in alternate installer
• Does not work with Vista

Wubi

Summary: An Ubuntu community project the Windows Ubuntu Installer uses method 2, a look mounted disk. Download a simple .exe file which launches an NSIS installer. It asks for your user name and password and reboots to install. Ubuntu is actually installed on a loop-mounted drive stared as an image file within the Windows file system. Previously known as 'install.exe' in the wiki. Current development is taking place within the lupin and wubi projects hosted on Launchpad.

Links: [http://www.cutlersoftware.com/ubuntusetup website], [http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=234 forum], [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/install.exe wiki] [https://launchpad.net/lupin Lupin-backend] [https://launchpad.net/wubi Wubi-frontend]

http://www.cutlersoftware.com/ubuntusetup/wubi/en-US/screenshots/wubi3.jpg

Advantages

• No disk resizing or partitioning required
• Easy to remove Ubuntu from the system
• Runs at native speeds using all system resources (provided the loop mounting is efficient)
• Asks very few questions during the install as it gathers info from Windows.

Disadvantages

• Does not yet work with Vista
• Uses alternate disc to install from
• Fixed size disc image (would be nice to have a dynamic image or manual resize option)

Work oustanding

• Needs a dash of usplash in a few places
• Needs a graphical installer front-end to d-i
• Better post-install management features. A control panel running in windows that lets you resize discs, make backups, select between different installed systems

Outsanding questions

• How efficient is the loop mounted drive?
• How easy would it be to move such an install out from under windows to a separate partition (perhaps an improved version of the migration tool could be used?)

VirtualBox

Summary: The GPL version of Virtualbox can be packaged and distributed on the net and on 3rd party CDs.

Link: http://www.virtualbox.org/

Advantages

• Simple install with no need to reboot
• Simple unistall
• Dynamic disk images that lets users install and explore more software
• Runs in parallel with the Windows session, allowing you to switch back and forth
• Several distro flavours can be installed simultaneously
• Runs under Vista

Disadvantages

• Poor peformance
• Driver problems, no support for Beryl/Compiz
• GPL version lacks some features like USB support

Implementation

Depends on the design choice.

Outstanding Issues

Pick a design.

BoF agenda and discussion

Discuss at UDS Seville.

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