ubuntu installation on windows vista

[sed_y]

Hi guys,
I want to install Ubuntu on my laptop which already has windows vista loaded into it. I have seen many threads but I have 2 problems
1) I cannot boot linux from Cd-ROM. my CD-ROM does not work.
2) I don't want to disturb whatever is already loaded into my windows. specifically, I had pretty hard time configuring my wireless connection for my laptop, so i do not want that the installation process should disturb it leading me to go through the setup of the connection again or calling ATT(which i don't want to)

can anyone provide me a solution or link?
thanks
sedy

[oz]

I'd try UNetbootin:

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

No CD drive or installation disk needed for frugal installs. Can be installed to hard drive, or to USB thumb drive.

[Peter D]

As for installing, you can install from a USB stick.

You have two options for installing on your laptop and keeping your Windows install, and both methods should not affect Windows at all. (However, backups are a good idea of anything you cannot afford to lose.)

Option 1 - install using Wubi. Thus is done from within Windows. If you want to remove Ubuntu later you can use Add/Remove Software in Windows. When you boot up you will be given the option of booting into Windows.

Option 2 is to dual boot. The Ubuntu installer will give you the option of installing in this way. (It's probably a good idea to defragment your hard drive before you begin.)

[jayd512]

Both options are great.
And you can use Unetbootin to setup a dual boot system.
For what it's worth, Ubuntu has come a long way with wireless configuration.
The required drivers are normally pre-loaded for you.
Just make sure to copy down your configuration on the Windows side, and set up Ubuntu the same way.

[sed_y]

thanks guys,
I will try these.

[sed_y]

Hi,
I installed wubi . It installed all right and then system rebooted.
however, after reboot, I am getting message

1) ubi-partman failed with exit code 10
2) the username you entered is invalid.

any idea why is this happening.
My laptop had 64 bit windows vista.
what should i do so that it boots properly? I did not make
new partition before installing. Is it required?

thanks
sedy

[yancek]

A wubi install is inside windows as a program and a separate partition is not used.
The second error message is obvious, incorrect username entered.
I'm not sure about the first error messaage as I don't use Ubuntu regularly. You might try googling that error message.
Did you verify the md5checksum on the downloaded iso image of Ubuntu?

[sed_y]

hi yancek,
I did not try md5checksum. I will try that.

sid

[sed_y]

hi,
I did not have any experience with MD5 checksum.
so, did a small research and downloaded it and ran it.
i saved the checksum, and then reverified it . it did not cause any problem. if this is the way it should be, then, I have verified the ISO image.
any other suggestions?

sedy