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Microsoft Virtual PC is my choice to run Windows virtual machines. However, installing Linux on Virtual PC is not something I would recommend. Main reason is the lack of integration elements; Virtual PC integration components are designed to run well on XP, Vista and 7 virtual machines. For Linux, Virtual PC does not (at least at this moment) offer any integration components.
VirtualBox integration components are called Guest Additions. They install and run well also in any Linux distro. That's why I recommended creating Linux virtual machines in VirtualBox.
I am using Ubuntu 10.10 to make this tutorial. At the moment it is the most Windows like Linux distro available, a safe bet for a beginner to start experimenting Linux.
For more advanced Linux users I recommend using Novell SUSE 11.3 which is a commercial Linux distribution, free to test, or its free counterpart OpenSUSE 11.3. The setup procedure in VirtualBox is exactly the same.
Microsoft Virtual PC, OracleVirtualBox and VMware Player are at the moment the best free virtualization applications. All have their pros and cons, I'm not going to put them in any order here. Let's just say I'm using Microsoft Virtual PC for all my XP and Vista virtual machines, and VirtualBox for older Windows and Linux machines.
OK, let's start. First, download and install VirtualBox using the link above. Then download latest Ubuntu Linux ISO image here: Download | Ubuntu
Part 1: Create a new virtual machine for Ubuntu
Launch VirtualBox
Click New:
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This opens New Virtual Machine Wizard. Click Next:
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Give your new virtual machine a name, choose the right OS and version. These are automatically selected if VirtualBox can determine it from the name you gave. Click Next:
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Set the amount of RAM you want to assign to Ubuntu. For running a Linux vm (virtual machine), 512 MB is enough. You can assign as much as you want to, maximum being about 512 MB less of your host computer's RAM. Keep in mind though that RAM used by a running vm is away from the RAM Windows can use; assigning more RAM can make your vm run faster and better but at the same time make your Windows crawl so slowly even the vm halts. My recommendation is always leave at least 2 GB for Windows, or if you have under 4 GB of RAM only give maximum of 1 GB to a vm. Click Next: . .
VirtualBox asks now if you want to create a new vhd (virtual hard disk), or use existing vhd. Choose Create new and click Next:
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New Virtual Disk Wizard starts. Click Next:
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Click Next to accept Dynamically expanding storage:
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Dynamically expanding vhd means that although the guest consideres the HD being the size given (max value), host Windows only uses as much space on HD as is actually needed; a 20 GB dynamic vhd where only 4 GB is used is seen by Windows host as a 4 GB vhd file, not as a 20 GB file, but the guest OS sees the same vhd file as a 20 GB hard disk with 16 GB free. I recommend 8 to 12 GB for Ubuntu.
You can now accept the default location where VirtualBox offers to save the vhd, or change the location by clicking the small folder symbol. Default save folders are Your_Username\.VirtualBox (VirtualBox 3.2 and older) or Your_Username\VirtualBox VMs (from version 4 Beta). You can also change the original size of vhd here. Click Next: . .
Click Finish to end New Virtual Disk Wizard: . .
Click Finish to end New Virtual Machine Wizard: . .
Now choose the virtual machine you just created and click Settings: . .
Choose Storage from the left pane, CD/DVD from under the title IDE controller, and click the small CD symbol on the right: . .
Now you need to tell VirtualBox which install media you want to use. You can assign any of the host system's CD/DVD drives to vm , or an ISO image to act as a CD/DVD drive. For now, you want to use the Ubuntu ISO you downloaded earlier. Browse to its location, choose it and click Open: . .
Now choose Display from the left pane, assign the maximum 128 MB video RAM to virtual machine's emulated video card: . .
Next you need to setup network controller. Click Network on the left pane, choose Enable Network Adapter, choose Bridged Adapter, and choose your host computer's network adapter from drop down list: . .
Click OK to save edited settings: . .
Part 2: Install Ubuntu on a virtual machine
Choose Ubuntu vm, click Start: . .
When vm starts, it shows you the first screen of Ubuntu setup. Choose the language you want from over 60 languages, or wait 30 seconds for English to be selected: . .
Ubuntu starts now in so called Live Mode. Double click Install Ubuntu icon: . .
Once again, choose your installation language: . .
Choose Download updates while installing. You might also want to install Fluendo MP3 plugin offered for better audio features. Click Forward: . .
Choose Erase and use the entire disk. Notice please, we are now talking about the virtual hard disk we created earlier, not the actual hd on your host computer. In other words, this does not mean your HD with Windows on it will be erased Click Forward: . .
Click Install Now: . .
Choose your time zone: . .
Choose your preferred keyboard layout. To avoid confusion, I recommend choosing the same you are using on your host computer's Windows. Click Forward: . .
Tell Ubuntu your name, choose the computer name and set up a password. Click Forward: . .
Installation starts, you have now some 20+ minutes for a coffee break, or you can watch a presentation about Ubuntu by clicking those arrow symbols on left and right: . .
When installation is finished, you have to unmount (deattach) Ubuntu ISO image before reboot. Before clicking Restart Now, Open Devices menu from vm window, click CD/DVD devices, choose Unmount CD/DVD Device: .
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Click Restart Now: . .
When Ubuntu has booted, click your username to open a password prompt. Type your password, click Log In: .
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To fully integrate Ubuntu vm to your Windows 7 desktop, to allow networking and for instance cross platform copy & paste, you need to install VirtualBox Guest Additions. Click Devices menu, choose Install Guest Additions: .
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If the CD/DVD icon appears on the desktop, right click it and choose Open With Autorun Prompt: .
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If the CD/DVD icon does not appear on desktop (happens sometimes), open Ubuntu's Places menu, and choose VBOXADDITIONS. Choose then Open Autorun Prompt from VBOXADDITIONS window: .
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Choose Run to start Guest Additions setup: . .
You must now enter the administrative password. It is the same you chose for your account, so enter it now: . .
When Guest Additions are set up, you must press Return (Enter) to close the window: . .
Restart Ubuntu: . .
After reboot, you are ready to go: .
That's it. Made easy by Windows 7 and a virtualizaton application.
Kari
Need more help? Try searching our extensive help and support site.
System Manufacturer/Model Number Home built OS Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit CPU Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz Motherboard ASUS P4P800-VM Motherboard Chipset: Intel 865G + ICH5 Memory 2.50 GB RAM Graphics Card NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS Sound Card SoundMax Integrated Digital Audio (Chip) Monitor(s) Displays ViewSonic VX 1962 wm Screen Resolution 1680 X 1050
Keyboard Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000 v10 USB Mouse Logitec optic USB Cooling Fan based Hard Drives Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 80 GB
ST380215A ATA Device 18.6 GB
Western Digital "My Book" external hard drive 750 GB Internet Speed 3.01 Mb/s download 0.64 Mb/s upload
System Manufacturer/Model Number Samsung NP530U4B-S02IN OS Windows® 8 Pro (64-bit) CPU Intel® Core™ i5 Processor 2467M (1.60GHz, 3MB L3 Cache) Motherboard Samsung Electronics Memory 6GB DDR3 System Memory at 1,333MHz (on BD 4GB + 2GB x 1) Graphics Card AMD Radeon™ HD7550M 1GB DDR3 (Ext. Graphic) Sound Card Realtek High Definition Audio Monitor(s) Displays 35.56cm (14.0) SuperBright 300nit HD LED Display Screen Resolution 1366x768
Hard Drives 1TB S-ATA II Hard Drive (5400RPM) with ExpressCache 16GB SSD Internet Speed sucks Antivirus Microsoft Security Essentials Browser Google Chrome (Sync enabled)
System Manufacturer/Model Number Dell OP760 OS Windows 7 Enterprise (x64); Windows Server 2008 R2 (x64) Memory 8GB Monitor(s) Displays 2 Dell 19" LCD Screen Resolution 1280x1024
Keyboard Dell Mouse Dell Optical Internet Speed 40meg
Computer type Laptop System Manufacturer/Model Number HP ENVY 17-1150eg OS Windows 7 x64 Ultimate CPU 1.6 GHz Intel Core i7-720QM Processor Memory 6 GB Graphics Card ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 Graphics Sound Card Beats sound system with integrated subwoofer Monitor(s) Displays 17" laptop display, 22" LCD and 32" Full HD TV through HDMI Screen Resolution 1600*900, 1680*1050 and 1920*1080
Keyboard Logitech diNovo Media Desktop Laser (bluetooth) Mouse Logitech MX1000 Laser (Bluetooth) Hard Drives Internal: 2 x 500 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 7200 rpm
External: 2TB for backups, 3TB USB3 network drive for media Internet Speed 50/10 Mbps VDSL Antivirus MSE, Windows Defender Browser Maxthon 3.5.2. Other Info Windows 7 Ultimate Retail Full in English, additional Guest-user accounts in Finnish, German and Swedish (Working languages English & Swedish, Family language German, my own language, mother tongue, Finnish. I really need Ultimate to get to use Language Packs!)
System Manufacturer/Model Number Gateway/NV7923u & NV79C52u Laptops OS windows 7 professional & ultimate 64bit laptops CPU 2.27 boost to 2.53 & 2.53 boost to 2.80 Motherboard Mobile Intel® HM55 Express Chipset ??? Memory 4GB Graphics Card Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator HD Sound Card realtek High-definition audio support Monitor(s) Displays 17.3 " HD 1600 x 900
Hard Drives hatachi Travelstar 5400 500GB & west digital 500GB Internet Speed 35MB fios
Cpu11, about you hoping it would work: the screenshots above are from actual install process, so I would like to say it works As always in computing, I can only say that if you'll do exactly as instructed, it's going to work.
Computer type Laptop System Manufacturer/Model Number HP ENVY 17-1150eg OS Windows 7 x64 Ultimate CPU 1.6 GHz Intel Core i7-720QM Processor Memory 6 GB Graphics Card ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850 Graphics Sound Card Beats sound system with integrated subwoofer Monitor(s) Displays 17" laptop display, 22" LCD and 32" Full HD TV through HDMI Screen Resolution 1600*900, 1680*1050 and 1920*1080
Keyboard Logitech diNovo Media Desktop Laser (bluetooth) Mouse Logitech MX1000 Laser (Bluetooth) Hard Drives Internal: 2 x 500 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 7200 rpm
External: 2TB for backups, 3TB USB3 network drive for media Internet Speed 50/10 Mbps VDSL Antivirus MSE, Windows Defender Browser Maxthon 3.5.2. Other Info Windows 7 Ultimate Retail Full in English, additional Guest-user accounts in Finnish, German and Swedish (Working languages English & Swedish, Family language German, my own language, mother tongue, Finnish. I really need Ultimate to get to use Language Packs!)
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As always in computing, I can only say that if you'll do exactly as instructed, it's going to work. 
