How to install Ubuntu on virtual box

In this tutorial we would install Ubuntu on window. Ubuntu is the most popular Linux. You can install Ubuntu in virtual box to use it with window system. For this article we are using window 7 as base operating system but the process would be same for other window operating systems like XP, window 8 etc.
For this article we assume that you have

• Window operating system
• IOS image of Ubuntu (Download from here http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop)
• Virtual box software (Download from here https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads)

How to install Virtual box in window

Double click on virtual box software

Set up file will launch set up wizard. On welcome window click on next

Select the dentition folder where you want to install virtual box software. Default location is C:/virtualbox. You can change it if needed.

Select the features which you want and click on next.

Remove check mark if you do not want to create short cut on desktop otherwise click on next

Wizard will reset the network interface so if you are download / uploading / have running task on internet or network, finish that first and invoke this wizard again. If you do not have any associated task with network click on yes

Click on install

Wait for few minutes

In few minutes wizard would finish the installation process. Click on finish

How to create virtual machine

We have installed the virtual box software. Now we would create a virtual machine. Click on new button

Select Ubuntu from type and version drop down. And fill the name of virtual machine in name field

Set the RAM size for virtual machine. If you have 1GB RAM and do not set this more than 512 MB, For 2GB physical RAM do not exceed this value more than 1 GB.

Select Create a virtual hard disk now and click on next

keep default hard disk file type and click on next

select fixed size and click on next

Select the location where you want to store the virtual hard disk. Make sure selected dentition have equivalent or more free space than the size of virtual hard disk. For example if you have set 8 GB size of virtual hard disk than you must have at least 8 GB free space in partition where you want to store this hard disk. Click on create

Wait till it creates new virtual hard disk in selected folder.

In few minutes wizard would create new virtual machine and redirect back you to main software screen. Click on Ubuntu (Or whatever name you have given to virtual machine) from left panel.

We do not have any operating system installed in virtual machine so it would prompt us to install OS. Click on folder icon to browse

Select IOS image of Ubuntu

click on start to begun installation process

If its your first virtual machine wizard will popup information message for mouse pointer integration. Check mark on Do not show this message again and click on ok.

Repeat same for bit information message. Check mark on Do not show this message again and click on ok.

We are on first screen of installation process.

From here you can install Ubuntu. For installation steps of Ubuntu check our article

How to make windows XP bootable disk

In this article we would create a window XP bootable disk from copied files. This is very useful when you have copied files of XP. To keep backup we generally copy the entire disk on hard disk. But you could not create a bootable disk from these files. To make a bootable XP disk from copied files we need to add boot files with image on CD.
The following items are required:

• A copy of the original Windows CD/DVD.
• A copy of the Boot Files Download from here.
• A minimum of 1GB available hard disk space for CD's.
• A minimum of 5GB available hard disk space for DVD's.

Extract the zip file

This zip file contain all required boot files

Create a folder named xpcd on c:\ drive and copy all the files and folder of windows XP cd in it

Now start your CD burning software I have used NERO for it

Select new options from files menu then choose CD-ROM(BOOT)
In right pane do following settings

• Select boot tab
• Select Image file from Source of boot image data
• Click on Browse and choose boot.ima ( where you have extract image files)
• Check Enable expert settings (for advanced users only!).
• Set Kind of emulation: to No Emulation.
• Set Load segment of sectors (hex!): to 0000.
• Set Number of loaded sectors: to 4.

Click on the ISO tab.

• Set File name length to Max. of 31 chars (ISO Level 2).
• Set Format to Mode 1.
• Set Character Set to ISO 9660 (standard ISO CD-ROM).
• Check the Joliet check box.
• Check all Relax ISO Restrictions.
• Check Allow more than 64 characters for Joliet names.

Click on the Label tab.

• IN ISO 9660 text field Enter volume lable
• IN Joliet text boxes. Enter system identifier label

Click the Burn tab.

• Check Write.
• Check Finalize CD (No further writing possible!).
• Set Write Method to Disc-at-once. (We have had Track-At-Once work as well.)

Click the New button

Locate the folder C:\xpcd ( OR where you have copied xp cd)
Select everything from the folder and drag it to the ISO compilation panel.
and Click the burn CD Dialog button

Verify the settings. Correct if needed.
Click the Burn button.
This will launch CD burning wizard

Click the OK button

Congratulations you have successfully created windows xp bootable cd.
Now you can use this window XP bootable cd for installation.

How to make XP unattended installation CD

Standard installation of XP requires several information's from user. To provide this information automatically we have a created an answer file in our previous article
How to Create Answer File for xp unattended installation
Now in this article I would use this answer file to create an unattended installation cd of XP.
Create a folder named xpcd on c:\ drive

Copy the entire windows XP pro CD

Paste windows XP pro CD in xpcd folder

Now Open My Computer Select folder options from tools menu
In view tabs remove the tick marks from hide extensions form known file types

Go to the folder where you have saved you answer files there would be two file unattended.txt and unattended.udb
Slect the unattended.txt and rename it with winnt.sif

Copy the winnt.sif and past it in c:\xpcd\I386

Don't forget to tick marks back to hide extensions from known file types in folder options after renaming the unattended.txt

• Now you need iso maker tools download it from here
• And extract it in a folder
• And Click on Image WinXP Pro

This tools opens in command prompt and will make xpcd image in c:\ drive

Now open your CD burning software I have used Nero. Choose burn image to disk options

Now select the C:\WXPUNA_EN.ISO image files to burns
Let the nero burn image on CD

Congratulations! you have successfully completed all the necessary steps required in making windows pro unattended CD. Now you can install Windows XP pro in any computer without any user interface from this cd.

How to create answer file for XP unattended installation

During a standard installation of XP setup requires several information's to be filled from user such as the time zone, network settings, and so on. One way to automate an installation is to create an answer file that supplies the required information. Answer files are really just text files that contain responses to some, or all, of the questions that Setup asks during the installation process. After creating an answer file, you can apply it to as many computers as necessary.
In this article we would create answer file for unattended installation and in next article we would use this answer file for unattended installation. We need to execute Setupmgr.exe to create answer file.

What is Setupmgr.exe ?

Setupmgr.exe stands for Windows Setup Manager.
Its provides a wizard-based interface that allows you to quickly create an answer file for an unattended installation of Windows XP Professional. Windows Setup Manager enables you to create scripts to perform customized installations on workstations and servers that meet the specific hardware and network requirements of your organization.

Creating Answer File

• Create a new folder and rename it with deploys tools
• Insert the Windows XP Professional CD in the CD-ROM drive.
• If the Welcome To Microsoft Windows XP screen is displayed automatically, click Exit to close that screen.
• Now go on my computers select CD drive and choose open options from right clicks

locate the \Support\Tools\ Deploy.cab files on the Windows XP Professional CD-ROM

Copy this file and paste it in deploy tools folder created in first step
Now right click on it and select Extract here option

Delete all other files expect Setupmgr.exe
Double click on Setupmgr.exe

Click Next on Windows Setup Manager Wizard.

Select Create A New Answer File and click Next

Select Windows Unattended Installation and click Next

Select Windows XP Professional and click Next

Select Fully Automated, and click Next

Select No, This Answer File Will Be Used To Install From A CD, and click Next

Select I Accept The Terms Of The License Agreement, and click Next

Type your name in the Name box and your organization in the Organization box, and click Next

Leave the default settings on the Display Settings page, and click Next

Select the appropriate time zone, and click Next

Type the product key which you received with XP cd and Click Next

In the Computer Name text box, type a name for the computer, and click Add. Repeat this step to add additional computers to the installation and Click Next.

Gives Administrator Password In Answer File, and then click Next

Select Typical Settings and Click Next

Select Workgroup and Click Next

Leave default setting and click next

Leave default setting and click next

Leave default setting and click next

Leave default setting and click next

Leave default setting and click next

Leave Blank and click next

Leave Blank and click next

Leave Blank and click next

Give the location of desktop and click next

Window Setup Manager would create a unattended.txt file on desktop. We would use this file for unattended installation in next article.