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I have Windows 7 installed on my PC. Now I need to install Ubuntu as a second OS. I googled the same and got some sites that give the option of installing either by downloading Ubuntu, making a CD and creating customized partition OR by downloading WUBI.exe.

The WUBI way is pretty simple and I wish to go that way but the links (here) suggest that the installation drive should be C Drive. Is that mandatory? What if I consider some other drive as installation drive (say E drive)?

If the answer to above questions is YES, do I need to backup that drive? Also, if the installation size is 8 GB, for e.g. than would that drive be partitioned? Or just a folder would be created?

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he beat me to an answer but thought I would add....The newest version of ubuntu lets you run from a CD before you install if you wanted to test. – harper89 Jun 24 '11 at 19:37
Yes @harper89, you can try but i need to install – romilnagrani Jun 24 '11 at 19:38
If you have the resources for it, try virtualbox.org first. You can install various Operating Systems as Virtual Machines without partitioning your hard drive. Each OS install is just a single (large) file unto itself. – iKnowKungFoo Jun 24 '11 at 19:44
Use VirtualBox to install it as VM – Vovan Jun 24 '11 at 20:57
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It is ALWAYS a good idea to backup your computer when doing an OS install, whether it is technically required or not.

Your link shows a drop down menu for WUBI, so you can likely install it on whatever drive you want to.

WUBI installs Ubuntu onto a separate partition, not just into a folder. (so yes, your drive would be partitioned)

Wubi adds an entry to the Windows boot menu which allows the user to run 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 partition. This file is seen by Linux as a real hard disk.1 Wubi also creates a swap file in the Windows file system (c:\ubuntu\disks\swap.disk), in addition to the memory of the host machine. This file is seen by Ubuntu as additional RAM.1

Source

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@viking, it is ALWAYS a good idea to back up your computer ... whether or not you are doing an OS install. :-) – CarlF Jun 24 '11 at 19:28
@CarlF Can't argue with that. – viking Jun 24 '11 at 19:30
addictivetips.com/ubuntu-linux-tips/… This says NOT to install on C-Drive (mean Windows drive) – romilnagrani Jun 24 '11 at 19:44
so i believe partition is not created if i install in say E drive? Just files are created as you mention..correct? – romilnagrani Jun 24 '11 at 20:02
If the partition is shown in Windows as "E" then it is already a Windows partition. Installing Ubuntu there would mean deleting the partition, creating a new Windows partition, and reformatting it (probably as ext4). This would mean losing all the data on the current E: drive. – CarlF Jun 24 '11 at 20:08
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up vote 2 down vote

You can either install it directly on your Windows partition or another drive. IF you install on drive you'll probably need to replace the bootloader with a Linux compatible one like grub.

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If i do NOT install in C Drive--My Windows drive and select any other drive, then i believe a boot loader is not needed.. correct? – romilnagrani Jun 24 '11 at 20:03
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