Windows 7: install ubuntu linux on win7 computer?

yeah, I know, this is a forum for Windows 7 but..... lol tried to download and install/run ubuntu in a seperate partition following online directions but when rebooting and choosing ubuntu instead of win 7 just get error msgs. can run it off a cd while using Windows 7 but of course one cannot save anything or make changes permanent. so I create a partition, install the ubuntu...then what to get it to work? btw downloaded something called wubi and that doesnt do anything either.

Use one of the free Virtualization Programs.

says Im not eligible since I only have win 7 home premium. great way to build customer loyalty eh? so what other ones are there that are high quality?

VMware is often recommended, although I have not tried it.

There is also Virtualbox

The WUBI installer basically creates a virtual hard drive without needing to create a separate partition. It should install like an application within Windows itself and creates a boot menu entry.

What error did you get when you installed Ubuntu to it's own partition?

Normally it will install the Grub2 loader and then it adds the Windows boot loader to to Grub.

downloaded oracle vm virtual box. installed it, then ran the ubuntu cd and seem to have it loading inside the vm box so in that aspect all is well. unfortunately, the screen for ubuntu is about 20% of the size of my monitor screen and is so small u cannot even use firefox or watch a youtube video. when i click on full screen mode, the ubuntu part stays small and the rest of the monitor goes black surrounding. says something about a host button but doesnt tell us what that is. and a google search didnt turn anything up either.

I'm not sure what you are doing with Oracle, or how that factors in here. Just get VirtualBox by itself, install it, and then point it to the Ubuntu .iso. Once it is installed, there are guides on Virtualbox's page and elsewhere online on how the command script to install the VirtualBox Additions, which will allow for larger resolutions in the guest OS.

Too many people keep messing with multiboot systems and bootloader issues, instead of just using current technology to virtualize other OSes. Keep your host system and primary OS clean!

Well, it's Oracle because VirtualBox used to be a Sun project and Sun was bought out by Oracle.

I forgot about the merger/acquisition, but when you go to the VirtualBox page, it is still referred to as Sun VirtualBox, as well as being called the same when installed.

Really? I look at the website and see the Oracle VirtualBox log on the top left. But regardless of that, you should install the VirtualBox Guest Add-Ins (should be a menu option) to improve the display size.