How do you Install Ubuntu 8.04 within Windows XP without a dual boot?

Hello,

I think you are asking for WUBI.
Please, check the following to see if it answers your query:
http://wubi-installer.org/
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WubiGuide

Fidelinho is correct. you will still be "dual boot" but you wont need to change your partitioning. If you find you like Ubuntu and use it regularly you'll probably want to consider repartitioning and doing a normal installation.

Thank you. You answered some of my questions. I have a second HD with 2 partitions and much free space. Can I install Ubuntu using WUBI in one of the partitions on my second HD? Is it possible to set the boot so that XP is the default and the computer will boot into XP it if nothing is selected on the boot?
How do I get rid of this dual boot if I want to eliminate Ubuntu?

Hi,

> Can I install Ubuntu using WUBI in one of the partitions on my second HD?
Yes, you can choose any partition as an installation drive. Wubi allows you to install and uninstall Ubuntu as any other Windows application.

> Is it possible to set the boot so that XP is the default and the computer will boot into XP it if nothing is selected on the boot?
XP will remain the default boot option, to boot Ubuntu you have to select it in the windows boot menu.

> How do I get rid of this dual boot if I want to eliminate Ubuntu?
Run add-remove programs, select Wubi from the list and click "Uninstall".

Hope this helps

You certainly can, but remember, WUBI is intended to be installed from Windows, and into a folder located on a windows compatible partition. For example, by default, WUBI creates a directory at the base of your C drive, "c:\ubuntu\". It creates a directory structure with a large virtual hard disk file equal to the size you specify during the WUBI install.

If you have a second hard drive with plenty of space, and it's formatted to FAT or NTFS, you can place this ubuntu directory there just the same, without having to repartition anything. Just specify this during the installation process.

Again, uninstalling Ubuntu is as easy as removing it from the Windows Add/Remove system, which removes the added Windows boot loader entry as well as the Ubuntu directory structure.

This is all for convenience, and if you really like Ubuntu, most would recommend simply repartitioning or using an entire second drive for maximum performance benefits.

Cheers.

I would like to thank everyone for the very informative answers. I have a few more questions.
Gilbert mentioned having a "windows compatible partition". Exactly what does that mean? Max mentions "any" partition?
I need some clarification here.
If Ubuntu is installed on my 2nd HD, is there still a directory c:\unbuntu created on my C drive?
Sorry for all the questions :)

Hello,
This could get a little complicated.
If you have windows, then windows can only see some type of partitions (the old FAT, newer FAT32 and NTFS)
You can partition a new (USB, for example) harddrive and format on one of those types.
Linux, Mac OS, can format those partitions in a different way, but Windows is not able to see it, for that reason Gilbert is correct. You can install Ubuntu with WUBI in any partition that Windows can "see"

I have not user WUBI, so I cannot answer 100% to your second question. I assume that it will not create anything in C: but I do not have that experience

Regards

Hi,

Gilbert is right about partitions, you can install Wubi only on a windows compatible partition (NTFS or FAT). If XP sees the partition you want to install Wubi on you can use it (for example, if you want to install Wubi on E drive and you can see E drive in XP, just select E drive as an installation drive during Wubi installation). And I think it will not create an ubuntu directory on your C drive.