How to Install and Setup Zorin in VMware Player
InformationThis tutorial is aimed at Windows users who want to try out a Linux distro and learn about a virtual OS installation at the same time. If you are not interested in the virtual part, you can skip directly to Chapter 2 which explains the Zorin setup.
Zorin is a Linux distro with an Ubuntu base. Of all the Linux distros I know, it comes the closest to Windows as far as the user interface (UI) is concerned.
If you are not familiar with Linux and want to experiment with it, I recommend you try Zorin. It can be downloaded from the Zorin site (click on the 'Get it' button). I suggest you take the 64bit version which is the one used in this tutorial.
Coming from Windows, you will not be too alienated using Zorin. It has a Start menu that can be customized to look like Windows 7 or XP and it has a familiar task bar. But there are, of course, differences.
I will explain how to make the basic setup in VMware Player and how to setup Zorin so that it is convenient to use. At one point that involves the command line (Terminal). But don't be scared, I have prepared everything such that this step can be easily mastered.
The setup in VMware player will be explained with text and pictures and the setup inside Zorin will be explained with a video. But I have also documented the essential steps in text format.
Chapter 1 - install Zorin in VMware Player
Download VMware Player from this site and install it on your system. Then start VMware Player and you will see this window.
Here you just click on 'Create a new virtual machine' and you get to this window.
Here you select to install from the .iso image and navigate to the Zorin .iso file that you have downloaded. Then Next.
Mark Linux and choose the Ubuntu 64bit. Then Next.
Browse to the disk/partition and folder where you want to install the virtual partition files. Default is Documents. I recommend predefining a folder for the VMware installation so that all VMware files are in one place. When you are done with the installation, there will be over 25 files and subfolders. Having those mixed with other folders would be messy.
In this window you can take the defaults. Zorin will start out with less than 6GB of disk space usage so a maximum of 20GB for the dynamic virtual disk should suffice. Then Next.
The default allocation is 1GB of RAM and 1 processor. I always assign 2GB of RAM and 2 processors. But you may take what is suitable for your PC. The defaults will work. Then Finish.
Now VMware Player will install the bootstrap system of Zorin. Once this is done, you need to right click on the "Install Zorin 6" DVD as shown in the picture and Open that. This will start the full installation of Zorin.
The Zorin installation process is very similar to the Windows installation process. You set the language, keyboard layout, time zone, and give the system a name. You must define a password - I always use 1234 because Linux distros ask many times for authentication with the password. A complicated password will make the operation more cumbersome. There is one big difference to a Windows installation - you do not need a product key. Zorin is freeware.
Once your installation is completed, restart Zorin - click on the Zorin Start button (bottom left) and then on the power symbol (bottom right in the start menu). That will bring up the various options (restart, shutdown, etc.)
I will explain the rest of the Zorin setup in the following video. The steps are also summarized in the text below the video. Read the note below because you may have to make an audio setting.
Chapter 2 - setting up Zorin
Note: If the audio of this video is too low, do the following:
Right click on the speaker icon in the task tray (bottom right) > Playback devices > double click on your output device > Enhancement tab > check the 'Loudness Equalizer' box
The synopsis of the settings discussed in the video
Screen resolution:Start > System Settings > Display
Full screen: VMware dock > Full screen icon
Hide/Unhide VMware dock: Leftmost icon on the dock
VMware Tools: VMware dock > Player > Manage > Install VMware Tools
Terminal (Command Prompt): Start > Accessories > Terminal
Terminal commands to install VMware Tools:
sudo mount /dev/cdrom /media/cdrom
cp /media/cdrom/VMware*.tar.gz /tmp
sudo umount /media/cdrom
cd /tmp
tar xzvf VMware*.gz
cd vmware-tools-distrib/
sudo ./vmware-install.pl
Those commands are posted on Sevenforums under: "VMware and Zorin"
Office Applications:Start > Office > Libre Office
GParted (Disk Mgmt): Start > System Tools > Administration > GParted
Software Center: Start > System Tools > Administration > Software Center
Firefox Installation: Start > Internet > Zorin Web Browser Manager
Help file: Start > Accessories > Help
Text Editor (Wordpad): Start > Accessories > Text Editor