Wubi (software): Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Ubuntu Linux installer for Windows}}

'''Wubi''' is an unofficial [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]-based [[free software]] installer for [[Ubuntu (Linux distribution)|Ubuntu]] licensed under the [[GNU GPL]]. The goal of the project is to assist a Windows user unacquainted with [[Linux]] in trying Ubuntu without risking any loss of information due to disk [[Disk formatting|formatting]] or [[Disk partitioning|partitioning]]. Wubi can also [[uninstaller|uninstall]] Ubuntu from within Windows. The project is currently in beta. It is not a [[virtual machine]], but rather, it creates a stand-alone installation within a loopmounted partition, like [[Topologilinux]] does. It is not a [[GNU/Linux distribution]] of its own, but rather, simply an installer for [[Ubuntu (Linux distribution)|Ubuntu]]. <ref>[[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/install.exe]]</ref>

{{Infobox software

| name = Wubi

| logo = [[File:Wubi-logo-text.svg|100px|Wubi logo]]

| screenshot = [[File:Ubuntu Wubi 11.10.PNG|300px|Wubi Installer for Ubuntu 11.10 on Windows Developer Preview]]

| caption = Wubi, installing Ubuntu 11.10 on [[Windows 8 Developer Preview]]

| collapsible =

| author =

| developer = Agostino Russo, Geza Kovacs, Oliver Mattos, Ecology2007, hakuna-m

| released = {{Start date and age|2008|04|24}} <!-- 8.04 was the first non-beta release -->

| latest release version = 9.04.129{{?}}

| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2009|04|22}}

| latest preview version =

| latest preview date =

| frequently updated =

| programming language = [[Nullsoft Scriptable Install System|NSIS script]], [[C++]], [[Python (programming language)|Python]]

| operating system = [[Microsoft Windows]]

| platform =

| size = 4.7&nbsp;[[megabyte|MB]]

| language = Over 50 languages

| genre = [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]] [[Installation (computer programs)#system installer|system installer]]

| license = [[GNU General Public License|GNU GPL v.2 or later]]<ref name="WubiFAQ">{{cite web | url=https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WubiGuide | title=Wubi - FAQ | publisher=Ubuntu | access-date=2010-11-27}}</ref>

}}

'''Wubi''' ("Windows-based Ubuntu Installer") is a [[free software]] [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]] installer, that was the official [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]-based software, from 2008 until 2013,<ref name=gone/> to install Ubuntu from within Windows, to a single file within an existing Windows partition.

At this time, Wubi cannot install Ubuntu to its own partition, and it cannot use free [[hard disk]] space to install it. <ref>[http://cutlersoftware.com/ubuntusetup/wubi/en-US/faq.html Wubi - FAQ]</ref> Users interested in installing Ubuntu to its own partition should simply use the official [[Ubuntu (Linux distribution)|Ubuntu]] installer.

After installation, it added a new "Ubuntu" option to the existing Windows boot menu which allowed the user to choose between running Linux or Windows, and avoided the need to re-partition the disk.

The main developers of Wubi are Geza Kovacs <ref>[https://launchpad.net/~gezakovacs launchpad]</ref>, known as tuxcantfly on the forums, who started the project, <ref>[http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=305109 Ubuntuforums]</ref> created the initial versions, and wrote the specifications <ref>[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/install.exe Wubi Specs]</ref>, Agostino Russo <ref>[https://launchpad.net/~ago launchpad]</ref>, known as ago on the forums, who contributes to lupin (the loop-installer), Oliver Mattos <ref>[https://launchpad.net/~omattos launchpad]</ref>, known as Hello1024 on the forums, and one known as Ecology2007 <ref>[https://launchpad.net/~ecology2007 launchpad]</ref> who contribute to the windows-based frontend (wubi). The main development occurs at [[http://launchpad.net | launchpad.net]] <ref>[https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/windows-installer]</ref> <ref>[launchpad.net/lupin]</ref> <ref>[launchpad.net/wubi]>, and is lead by the Lupin Team <ref>[https://launchpad.net/~lupin-team launchpad]</ref>.

==History==

The project has inspired the creation of other Windows-based Linux installers, such as the Windows-based Debian Installer <ref>[http://goodbye-microsoft.com/ Windows-based Debian Installer]</ref>.

Wubi was born as an independent project and as such versions 7.04 and 7.10 were unofficial releases.<ref name="LH1">{{cite web|url=http://lifehacker.com/software/featured-windows-download/take-ubuntu-for-a-non+invasive-test-drive-with-wubi-258936.php |title=Take Ubuntu for a non-invasive test drive with Wubi |access-date=2008-05-30 |last=Broida |first=Rick |date=2007-05-09 |publisher=[[Lifehacker]] }}</ref>

For Ubuntu 8.04 the code was merged into Ubuntu and for 8.04 alpha 5, Wubi was also on the Ubuntu Live CD.<ref name="WubiFAQ" />

The name "Wubi" is an acronym for "Windows-based UBuntu Installer". The name was coined by Agostino Russo. It is one of 4 components of the main project, which consists of the core backend, Lupin (Loop Installer), the Windows-based frontend, Wubi, the Mac OSX-based frontend, Mubi, and the Linux-based frontend, Lubi. <ref>[http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=2152828#post2152828]</ref> Although the [[GUI]] frontend for Mubi and Lubi are not yet complete, they can be manually installed on Linux and Mac OSX by using the Lupin core directly. <ref>[http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=359614]</ref>

The project's aim was to enable existing Windows users, unacquainted with [[Linux]], to try Ubuntu without risking any data loss (due to disk [[Disk formatting|formatting]] or [[Disk partitioning|partitioning]] mistakes).<ref name="LH1"/> It could also safely [[Uninstaller|uninstall]] Ubuntu from within Windows.

It is not a [[virtual machine]], but creates a stand-alone installation within a [[loop device|loopmounted device]], also known as a [[disk image]], like [[Topologilinux]] does. It is not a [[Linux distribution]] of its own, but rather an installer for [[Ubuntu (operating system)|Ubuntu]].<ref name="WubiFAQ"/>

While Wubi does not install Ubuntu directly to its own [[Disk partitioning|partition]] this can also be accomplished by using LVPM, the Loopmounted Virtual Partition Manager, to transfer the Wubi-generated Ubuntu installation to a dedicated real partition, including a bootable [[USB keydrive]].<ref name="WubiFAQ"/> The advantage of this setup is that users can test the operating system and install the drivers before they install it to a dedicated partition (and avoid booting and functioning risks).

[[File:Windows Boot Manager.png|thumb|A boot menu in Windows 7 showing options to start Ubuntu, which was added by the Wubi installer.]]

Wubi adds an entry to the Windows boot menu which allows the user to run [[Linux kernel|Linux]]. Ubuntu is installed within a file in the Windows file system (c:\ubuntu\disks\root.disk), as opposed to being installed within its own [[Disk partitioning|partition]]. This file is seen by [[Linux kernel|Linux]] as a real hard disk.<ref name="WubiFAQ" /> Wubi also creates a [[swap file]] in the Windows file system (c:\ubuntu\disks\swap.disk), in addition to the [[Random Access Memory|memory]] of the host machine. This file is seen by Ubuntu as a [[Swap partition|swap partition]].<ref name="WubiFAQ"/>

A related project, Lubi, used Linux as the host system instead of Windows. However, this project has not been worked on since 2007 and only works on Ubuntu 7.04.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sourceforge.net/projects/lubi/ |title=Lubi at SourceForge |publisher=sourceforge.net |date=2007-08-06 |access-date=2013-11-11}}</ref>

Wubi was removed as an installation option in the official download page from Ubuntu 13.04 onward.<ref name=gone>{{cite web|url=http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2013/04/wubi-advice |title=Ubuntu Website Warns Windows Users: Don't Use WUBI |publisher=omgubuntu.co.uk |date=2013-04-11 |access-date=2013-11-11}}</ref> However, Wubi installers were still provided for versions up to and including Ubuntu 14.10.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/ |title=Old Ubuntu Releases}}</ref>

An unofficial fork of Wubi, called [https://github.com/hakuna-m/wubiuefi/ wubiuefi], supports UEFI and legacy BIOS as well as newer versions of Ubuntu (as of 2022-04-03, version 20.04.4).

==Desktops==

Users can select the desktop environment within Wubi. But, because each desktop environment is also available as an application package, it is recommended that users install Ubuntu (default option) and from there install the other desktop environments. When users [[log in]], they can choose the desktop environment to use.<ref name="WubiFAQ" />

==Limitations==

Compared with a regular installation, a Wubi installation faces some limitations. Hibernation is not supported and the filesystem is more vulnerable to [[Rebooting (computing)#Hard reboot|hard reboots]].<ref name="WubiFAQ" /> Also, if the Windows drive is unmounted uncleanly (Windows crash, power failure, etc.), Ubuntu will not be able to repair, re-mount, and boot from the Windows NTFS drive until Microsoft Windows has successfully booted, repaired the drive, and then shut down cleanly. If the Windows system could not be booted after the corruption to repair the filesystem, the user would also not be able to boot Ubuntu.

Performance related to hard-disk access is also slightly slower on a Wubi install, more so if the underlying disk image file is fragmented, as the disk image file in the Windows filesystem contains a Linux filesystem whereas without Wubi only the Linux filesystem is used that has direct hardware access.<ref name="WubiFAQ" />

Wubi creates the root.disk file using Microsoft's proprietary [[NTFS]] file system while running under the MS Windows OS and then while the Ubuntu OS is running it accesses that file using an alternative file system driver. The differences between the Microsoft and Linux implementations of NTFS could technically result in corruption of the root.disk file that affects the NTFS filesystem in such a way that it could even prevent Windows from booting. Running ''chkdsk /r'' from MS Windows to fix the damaged NTFS file system and then shutting down Windows cleanly may fix any corruptions (this may take a significant amount of time to run as root.disk is a large file).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WubiGuide#Cannot_boot_into_Ubuntu |title=WubiGuide - Ubuntu Wiki |access-date=5 December 2012}}</ref>

==Influences==

Wubi relies on other open source projects: [[Debian installer]], [[Migration Assistant (Linux)|Migration Assistant]], [[Grub4Dos]], [[NTFS-3G]], [[Nullsoft Scriptable Install System|NSIS]], [[Metalink]] and [[Ubiquity (software)|Ubiquity]].<ref name="WubiFAQ" /><ref>{{cite web|author=~ubuntu-installer/wubi/trunk |url=http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~ubuntu-installer/wubi/trunk/files/head%3A/src/ |title=~ubuntu-installer/wubi/trunk : files for revision 279 |publisher=Bazaar.launchpad.net |access-date=2013-06-16}}</ref>

==Development==

The lead developers are Agostino Russo, Geza Kovacs, Oliver Mattos and Ecology2007.<ref name="WubiFAQ"/> The main development occurs at [[Launchpad (website)|Launchpad]] and is led by the Lupin Team (Lupin is the [[Loop device|loop]]-installer, handles everything that happens after reboot)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://launchpad.net/~lupin-team| title=The Lupin Team in Launchpad | publisher=Launchpad | access-date=2007-06-23}}</ref> through the original Ubuntu blueprint page<ref>{{cite web | url=https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/windows-installer | title=Windows installer for ubuntu using loopmounted EXT3 filesystem on NTFS | publisher=Launchpad | access-date=2007-06-23}}</ref> and the new Wubi,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://launchpad.net/wubi | title=Wubi, Windows Ubuntu Installer in Launchpad | publisher=Launchpad | access-date=2007-06-23}}</ref> Lubi,<ref name="Lubi">{{cite web | url=https://launchpad.net/lubi | title=Linux-based Ubuntu Installer in Launchpad | publisher=Launchpad | access-date=2007-06-23}}</ref> Lupin,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://launchpad.net/lupin | title=Lupin, the loop installer in Launchpad | publisher=Launchpad | access-date=2007-06-23}}</ref> and LVPM<ref>{{cite web | url=https://launchpad.net/lvpm | title=Loopmounted Virtual Partition Manager in Launchpad | publisher=Launchpad | access-date=2007-06-23}}</ref> project pages.<ref name="WubiFAQ"/>

==Hardware support==

Both the i386 (32-bit [[x86]]) and [[x86-64]] releases of Ubuntu are supported by Wubi and Lubi.<ref name="WubiFAQ"/> In versions before 8.04, only the x86 release of Ubuntu was supported. Wubi UEFI works with UEFI boot loaders.

==Origins==

A number of Linux distributions, including [[Red Hat Linux]] and [[ZipSlack|Slackware's ZipSlack]], provided a similar tool in the mid-1990s, using [[SYSLINUX|syslinux]] and the [[UMSDOS]] filesystem driver. Later, [[SUSE Linux|SuSE]] provided something similar using [[SYSLINUX|syslinux]] and loop-mounted disk images on FAT filesystems. During the late '90s [[BeOS]] used a similar system to install the OS in a folder in Windows.

The idea for Wubi was drafted by Agostino Russo taking inspiration from [[Topologilinux]], which provided a loopmounted installation, and Instlux, that provided a simple Windows frontend. The idea<ref>{{cite web | url=https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/ubuntu-setup.exe | title=Ubuntu setup executable for windows users | author=Agostino Russo (ago) | publisher=Launchpad | access-date=2007-09-02}}</ref> was to merge the two concepts having a Windows installer that would loopmount an image of Ubuntu. Geza Kovacs later refined the specification<ref>{{cite web | url=https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/windows-installer | title=Windows installer for ubuntu using loopmounted EXT3 filesystem on NTFS | author=Geza Kovacs (tuxcantfly) | publisher=Launchpad | access-date=2007-09-02}}</ref> and provided the first prototypes<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=305109 | publisher=Ubuntuforums | author=Geza Kovacs (tuxcantfly) | title=Idea: Install via windows on loopmounted ntfs? | access-date=2007-08-02}}</ref> to show that the concept was sound. Oliver Mattos wrote the original user interface in [[Nullsoft Scriptable Install System|NSIS]].

Agostino Russo then refined the loop-installation concept, moving from a simple loopmounted pre-made image file to an image created on the fly using a dynamically patched version of the Debian installer, thus providing an experience which was closer to a real installation while addressing several other issues of the early prototypes. Lupin project was thus born and Agostino Russo wrote and implemented most of its code with some contributions from Geza Kovacs.

Agostino Russo and Ecology2007 later redesigned and rewrote the current Windows front-end. Hampus Wessman contributed the new downloader and the translation scripts. Bean123 and Tinybit also helped to debug and fix bootloader issues. Lubi and LVPM were subsequently created by Geza Kovacs.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://wubi.sourceforge.net/faq.php#development | title=Wubi - Ubuntu Installer for Windows | publisher=Wubi | access-date=2011-12-06}}</ref>

The project has inspired the creation of other Windows-based Linux installers, such as [[Win32-loader (Debian)|Win32-loader]].

==See also==

{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}

* [[List of tools to create Live USB systems]]

* [[Ubiquity (software)|Ubiquity]]{{snd}} the Ubuntu operating system installer

* [[Cooperative Linux]]{{snd}} allows Linux to run within Windows (used by e.g. [[Topologilinux]] (Slackware-based) and andLinux)

* [[Debian-Installer]]

* [[Win32-loader (Debian)|Win32-Loader]]{{snd}} a similar chain-booting mechanism to install Debian without a CD

* [[UNetbootin]]{{snd}} a similar approach for a standard Linux installation (or for creating a [[Live USB]]) without a CD

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

<references/>

==External links==

*{{official website|https://github.com/hakuna-m/wubiuefi/releases}}

*[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WubiGuide WubiGuide in the official Ubuntu wiki]

*[https://lubi.sourceforge.net/ Lubi/LVPM/UNetbootin project website]

*[[FLOSS Weekly]] [http://www.twit.tv/floss63 63: Wubi] with Agostino Russo, the lead developer of Wubi

*[https://github.com/hakuna-m/wubiuefi/releases Wubiuefi]{{snd}} a "fork of Wubi for UEFI support and for support of recent Ubuntu releases"

{{Ubuntu}}

==External Links==

[http://cutlersoftware.com/ubuntusetup/wubi/en-US/index.html Wubi Official Webpage]

[http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=234 Wubi Forum on Ubuntuforums.org]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wubi (Ubuntu Installer)}}

{{Linux-stub}}

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