39 replies to this topic

[Peter1]

Hello A member has been good enough to tutor me with virtualization but Ido not have an old pc to actually do this now nor do I have the understanding. I have a pc with Win 7 x64. I wish to developope a folder of notes so I can use virtualization when I regain the xp I lent or access another pc. First, I am confused about guest and host. Theoretically, with my current pc, which is the guest and which is the host- Win 7 x64, Ubuntu, or Oracle? Do you first install a VM like Oracle then install Ubuntu in it by clicking "add"? Does the Oracle and Ubuntu have to be familiar with each other? One note is that I had issues with VM Ware so Oracle might be a better choice. Once I understand the basics, perhaps I can develope an understanding of the next steps. I think the goal isthat Oracle contain Ubuntu which I then can use as I do Windows but in an entirely different format to which I would have to become accustomed. I expcould then expirement with other operating systems and try experiments. If you would like to participate, please reply. Thank you

[Ztruker]

Peter, responses in order.

Theoretically, with my current pc, which is the guest and which is the host- Win 7 x64, Ubuntu, or Oracle?

Win 7 is the Host system. Oracle VirtualBox is a program installed under Windows 7, just like any other program.

Do you first install a VM like Oracle then install Ubuntu in it by clicking "add"?

First you install Oracle VB. Then you create a guest or client called Ubuntu (or whatever you want to call it) defining the "environment" like memory size, drive size and OS type (Linux Ubuntu in this case).. You then install Ubuntu from a downloaded .iso by pointing the CD/DVD drive of the client at the .iso file. Then you start the guest and it starts the normal Ubuntu install process.

Does the Oracle and Ubuntu have to be familiar with each other?

Oracle knows about Ubuntu, Ubuntu thinks it's running on a real computer.

One note is that I had issues with VM Ware so Oracle might be a better choice.

Definitely a better choice.

Once I understand the basics, perhaps I can develop an understanding of the next steps.

Once you have a bootable Ubuntu system then you can play to your hearts content.

[Peter1]

The Ubuntu clarification was especially helpful as it occurs twice in the process. - thank you.

[Peter1]

Could you tell me if the attachment is the virtual oracle box you mentioned as the first step? I tried installing it once before and although it worked, I do not think the choices along the way were the right ones as I did not thoroughly understand what they were asking. Are there any tips you can give me so when I open this box I can make the right selections when it comes to non intuitive questions?. You probably already have with your pictorials but I am trying to go one step at a time.

Edited by Peter1, 16 August 2012 - 10:19 AM.

[Ztruker]

Yes, that is the right place. You want the first one, for Windows Hosts X86/amd64. I don't remember doing anything special during the install, just took all the defaults. Setting up the guests is when you have to make choices, but even there just take the defaults.

[Peter1]

>Then you create a guest or client called Ubuntu (or whatever you want to call it) defining the "environment" like memory size, drive size and OS type (Linux Ubuntu in this case).. 1- I am going to install the Oracle we just approved and assume it goes well. 2-If so, how do I do the above step that I copied from your post? {This is a side question, if I may. I downloaded Ubuntu to usb from the Ubuntu page. Following directions, I set boot order to boot from usb but the screen stayed black and I had to use alt,ctrl, del to boot into Windows. Is there a reason I could not just view and look around as the Ubuntu page suggested? I used the recommended 32 byte as I read that being virtual, it does not matter that I have a 64 byte machine. Also, I did not note the version as it was not on the download page.} I found a download called Optimum Installer for Linux downloads and wonder if it is needed instead of Windows Installer?

Edited by Peter1, 16 August 2012 - 12:34 PM.

[terry1966]

you do not need to boot ubuntu at any time from usb or cd, and especially not before your actually at the win7 desktop and have started virtualbox running, peter.

what you do is save the ubuntu iso file to your downloads folder.

boot into win7
start virtualbox running.
create your virtual machine
start your virtual machine running, it will ask for location of installation os, point it to the iso file in your downloads folder in win7.
it will then install ubuntu as the os for that virtual machine.
then after that evertime you start the virtualmachine running it will just boot into ubuntu.

these are detailed instructions for creating and installing an os into virtualbox.
https://www.virtualb...tml#idp12780688

so to recap.

start windows.
click on virtualbox icon to start it running
then either start the virtual machine you've already created and installed an os on
or
create a new/first virtual machine and then install an os on it.

it's not to complicated so try not to over think it.

the virtual machine is just a window like your web browser but everthing you see in it will look exactly like whatever the os desktop would look like running on a normal pc.

so you have your normal win7 os running which you can do other things on and then you have the virtualbox window with the ubuntu os running in it, you can do more or less anything you like in that window without affecting the win7 os.
if you maximise the virtual machines window you won't even know it's not the pc's "real" os (which is win7) because all you'll see is the ubuntu desktop.

[Peter1]

I copied all the information to a folder for future reference when I get an old pc to work on with virtualization. For now I am trying to find a downloader that will allow me to install Ubuntu on a stck drive so I can use Ubuntu from it. Windows could not handle it, I think. When I set the boot order to usb the screen stayed black. I used alt , Ctrl, del to boot to Windows. I will look for a Linux downloader and try to play with Ubuntu from the stick drive. I saw one that said no reboot was necessary. I think it was LinuxLive USB Creator. It did seem a bit complicated though.

[Ztruker]

No need to put Ubuntu on a flash drive. Create a CD/DVD from the downloaded .iso file and boot it. You can run it there without installing it.

If you want to run it that way, go to Google and search on ubuntu flash drive, all kinds of tutorials available.

[Peter1]

So it was the flashdrive. My pc does have usb in the boot order but if the cd will do it, that is what I will use. Thank you

[Peter1]

I tried to install Ubuntu to flash drive the following way.
1-Dowload Ubuntu
2-Download pendrivelinux.com, universal usb installer
3-format the flash drive as fat 32.
4-run the installer

I got as far as run the intaller and all I got was installations of Yahoo, Yahoo etc., Haali Media Splitter and a bunch of clutter
It was supposed to alow me to selct Ubuntu..
I tried to remdiate damage by using Revo for the entries and running my registry restore.
What did I do wrong in running the installer as admin. to create such a mess?
------------------------------
*I next used unetbootin with Ubuntu 12.04 LTS 32 byte and the downloader said everything was good, however, when I set the boot order, F 12 , to usb I chose to try Ubuntu and the screen filled with alot of digits.
The choices were to install, try without installing, etc.
Unetbootin seemd the most straight forward yet I still cannot get Ubuntu on the pen drive to use when I want istead of Widows all the time.

Edited by Peter1, 18 August 2012 - 11:06 AM.

[Peter1]

I tried pendrivelinux.com with the same Ubuntu. A screen popped up and before I could make a choice and it said run off the usb stick. Then a lot of digits on a black screen ran for about 10 seconds and it froze agaiI have beeen trying to do my own detective work and there is some mention about GRUB 2. Is this something a novice should be involved with and does it sound like the cause?

[Peter1]

No need to put Ubuntu on a flash drive. Create a CD/DVD from the downloaded .iso file and boot it. You can run it there without installing it.

If you want to run it that way, go to Google and search on ubuntu flash drive, all kinds of tutorials available.

>>I tried to install Ubuntu to a cd which succeeded but when I tried to play it, the same freeze occured as with the two installers for the usb drive.
I think my system has a problem as the whole world cannot be wrong..

[Ztruker]

How did you burn the Ubuntu DVD? What program did you use and at what speed setting.

Hopefully you didn't just copy the .iso file to a cd/dvd.

I recommend using ImgBurn at 4X speed (or the slowest speed offered).

[Peter1]

I used Ashampoo at 6x. I will download Imgburn and try a low speed. I was trying a flash drive b/c I read it boots faster and for portability but i will take it any way i can. Thank you