If you’re anything like me, you probably spend a lot of time in virtual machines. And if you’re running Ubuntu in a virtual machine, you might want to know how to install a Ubuntu partition from within the VM.
Well, fear not, because I’m here to show you how! In just a few easy steps, you can have a fully functioning Ubuntu partition on your virtual machine. So let’s get started!
Contents
Introduction
This document describes how to install a Ubuntu partition inside a virtual machine.
This is useful if you want to use Ubuntu as your main operating system, but still need to use Windows for specific tasks.
It is also useful for testing Ubuntu without affecting your main operating system.
Installing Ubuntu in a virtual machine allows you to try out the latest version of Ubuntu without affecting your main operating system.
You can also install other versions of Ubuntu in different virtual machines, and switch between them as needed.
What you will need
-A flash drive with a storage capacity of at least 2GB
-An ISO image of Ubuntu (can be downloaded here)
-A computer with an Intel or AMD processor supporting hardware virtualization
feature and BIOS enabled (most modern computers do)
-A compatible version of Microsoft Windows (XP or later) already installed on your computer
Creating a bootable Ubuntu USB drive
If you want to install Ubuntu from a USB drive, the process is very easy. All you need is a 2GB or larger USB drive and a copy of the Ubuntu ISO file.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to create a bootable Ubuntu USB drive using either Windows or macOS. We’ll also show you how to use the free Rufus tool to create your bootable USB drive.
Once you have your USB drive, follow these steps to install Ubuntu:
- Boot your computer from the Ubuntu CD or USB drive. To do this, you’ll need to change the boot order in your BIOS or UEFI settings.
- Select Try Ubuntu without installing from the GRUB menu.
- Once Ubuntu has loaded, open the Install Ubuntu icon from the desktop and follow the prompts to install Ubuntu on your computer.
Booting from the USB drive
To boot from a USB drive, you need to first make sure that the BIOS is configured to boot from USB devices.
This can usually be done by going into the BIOS setup utility and changing the boot order. Once the boot order is set, you should be able to boot from the USB drive.
If you are using a Virtual Machine, you will need to configure the VM to boot from the USB drive.
This can usually be done by selecting the USB drive as the boot device in the VM settings.
Installing Ubuntu
Assuming you have Windows installed on your computer, you can follow these steps to install Ubuntu from a virtual machine.
- Start by downloading and installing VirtualBox from Oracle’s website.
- Once VirtualBox is installed, open it and click “New” to create a new virtual machine.
- Name your virtual machine, select “Linux” for the type, and choose “Ubuntu” for the version.
- Allocate at least 2048 MB of RAM for your VM (we recommend 4096 MB or more if you have enough RAM available).
- For the virtual disk, create a dynamic allocation with at least 20 GB of space (we recommend 40 GB or more).
- Finally, click “Create.”
- Your new VM should now appear in the list on the left-hand side of the VirtualBox window; double-click it to begin booting up the Ubuntu installer ISO you downloaded earlier.
- Once the Ubuntu installer loads, select “Install Ubuntu” and follow the prompts until you reach the option to “Install third-party software.” Make sure this box is checked, as we’ll need it later to install additional drivers for better graphics and audio support in Ubuntu.
Configuring your new Ubuntu installation
After booting into your new Ubuntu installation, you’ll be asked to create a user account. You’ll also be given the option to encrypt your home directory.
This is a good idea if you’re worried about security, but it will make it impossible to access your files from another operating system.
Once you’ve created your user account, you’ll be taken to the desktop. The first thing you should do is open the “System Settings” application from the dash.
In the System Settings application, click on “Software & Updates”. In the “Ubuntu Software” tab, make sure that the “Community-maintained free and open-source software (universe)” repository is enabled.
You’ll also need to enable the “Partner Repository” if you want to install some proprietary software like Skype or Google Chrome.
In the “Other Software” tab, you can add third-party repositories for additional software.
For example, if you want to install the popular Google Music Manager application, you would add a repository provided by Google.
Once you’ve enabled all of the repositories that you want, click on the “Close” button and then select “Apply updates”.
Ubuntu will now download and install any updates that are available for your system.
Next, open the dash and search for “Additional Drivers”. This application will help you install any proprietary drivers that are required for your hardware.
For example, if you’re using an NVIDIA graphics card, you’ll need to install the proprietary NVIDIA drivers in order to get optimal performance.
Once you’ve installed any additional drivers that are required for your hardware, reboot your computer and you’re ready to use Ubuntu!
Finishing up
Now that you have your Ubuntu partition all set up, it’s time to finish installing it. go to your VM settings and increase the amount of RAM your machine has.
I would recommend at least 2GB. Then, start up your machine and boot from the USB drive. On the first page that comes up, select “Install Ubuntu”.
Once that’s done, follow the on-screen instructions. It will ask you a few questions, such as what language you want to use and whether you want to connect to Wi-Fi. Once that’s done, it will ask you how you want to install Ubuntu. You should select “Erase disk and install Ubuntu”.
Once that’s done, sit back and relax for a bit. After a while, it will ask you to confirm some settings. Once you’ve confirmed those, it will start installing Ubuntu on your computer. This process may take a while, so feel free to grab a cup of coffee or take a break.
Once the installation is complete, it will ask you to reboot your computer. Once you’ve done that, you should be all set! You can now use Ubuntu just like any other operating system.
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