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I am downloading Ubuntu but I am confused. Should I download the desktop version since I want to keep using Windows as it is.

I just want to run some applications and install some framework using linux. Please let me know what I should do?

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Installing the desktop version of Ubuntu alongside Windows should not damage it in any way. Your other options (as mentioned below) include running it in a virtual machine or directly from CD/DVD/USB without actually installing it at all. – oKtosiTe Feb 1 '11 at 8:37
In any case using this community documemtation article as an installation guide is probably a good idea. – oKtosiTe Feb 1 '11 at 8:44
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migrated from stackoverflow.com Jan 31 '11 at 21:15

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3 Answers

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Ubuntu is an operating system, Windows is one too, so there is no Ubuntu “for Windows”.

However you can run Ubuntu in a virtual machine, on Windows, using VMWare or VirtualBox for example. So this will keep your Windows untouched, and Ubuntu will be running in a window like an other program.

Here are some tutorials on how to do this:

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There sort of is -- Wubi, a Windows-based installer for Ubuntu. Part of the official distribution. – grawity Jan 31 '11 at 21:58
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up vote 0 down vote

ubuntu is the operating system, like windows. its not a program you run in windows. you can load ubuntu on a dvd or a USB drive and boot from the dvd/usb and run the OS from the dvd without installing, then you can keep windows how it is. they have the instructions here http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download

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up vote -2 down vote

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/windows-installer

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This doesn't solve the OPs problem @Jim, he doesn't want to install Ubuntu as a dual boot, but run it together with Windows. – Ivo Flipse♦ Jan 31 '11 at 23:51
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