Ubuntu Linux Help

This tutorial will take you every single step of the way through installing Ubuntu Studio using VirtualBox for Windows. In other words, even new users should be able to follow along.

Who this tutorial is for

This tutorial is for anyone with a PC running Windows (Windows 2000 SP3, XP or Server 2003) who is curious about Linux - specifically Ubuntu Studio, and has about an hour to kill (not including the time it takes to download Ubuntu). The great thing about installing Ubuntu Studio using VirtualBox is that if you decide you don’t like it, you can uninstall VirtualBox, delete its files and folders, and its like it never happened. You don’t have to worry about partitioning your hard drive (which when done incorrectly can delete your valuable files). That, and all of the software involved is entirely free.

The steps and screenshots used for this tutorial are specific to VirtualBox 1.3.8 and Windows XP SP2. With that said, they will be nearly identical if you have 2000, XP SP1 etc.

Background

Ubuntu Studio is a free, open source Linux-based operating system. It’s referred to as the “multimedia creation flavor of Ubuntu”. Ubuntu Studio is aimed at the GNU/Linux audio, video and graphic enthusiast as well as professional. Their aim is to make it more accessible for new users to get into the tools that GNU/Linux has to offer for multimedia creation/production. For more information on Ubuntu Studio, visit https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuStudio.

VirtualBox is a general-purpose full virtualizer for x86 hardware. Targeted at server, desktop and embedded use, it is now the only professional-quality virtualization solution that is also Open Source Software. Download VirtualBox here.

Before you start - make sure to download Ubuntu from http://mirror.imbrandon.com/ubuntustudio/7.04/. The file you�ll want to download (as of 5/13/07) is ubuntustudio-7.04-alternate-i386.iso (use the bittorrent link if possible to help the mirror conserve bandwidth). Also, make sure VirtualBox is installed.

Setting up VirtualBox for Ubuntu

During the installation of VirtualBox, don’t be surprised if you get a few “are you sure you want to do this” messages. Just click Continue Anyway when they pop up.

Launch VirtualBox and click the New button.

The Wizard will open - click Next to continue.

Give your new virtual machine a name - it doesn’t matter what you call it, but something descriptive is a good idea. From the OS Type select Linux 2.6. Click Next to continue.

Select the amount of RAM you want to dedicate to Ubuntu Studio. The amount you select should be at least 128MB, but you probably won’t want to select more than half of your actual PC’s RAM. If you have 512MB of RAM, select 256MB (give or take) for your virutal machine. Click Next to continue.

Click the New… button to create a virtual hard drive.

Click Next…

Review the differences between a dynamically expanding image and a fixed-size image. Dynamically expanding image is a good choice. Again, click Next to continue.

Give the Image File Name a name - again, it doesn’t matter what you name it, but something descriptive is always good. Then use the slider to determine how large to make your virtual hard drive. VirtualBox suggests at least 8GB, but you can get away with less (but going below 2 or 3GB isn’t a great idea). When you’ve selected an amount, click Next.

Review the settings and click Finish when you’re ready.

Now that your virtual hard disk is set up, click Next to continue.

The wizard is now done. Click Finish.

Back in the main VirtualBox window, click Settings

Select the CD/DVD-ROM entry from the left navigation. Place a check in the box labeled Mount CD/DVD Drive, and then select ISO Image File.

A Virtual Disk Manager will appear. Click the Add button.

Navigate to your Ubuntu Studio ISO file, select it, and then click Open

Once the ISO has been added, click Select.

Your CD/DVD-ROM screen should look similar to the screenshot below. Click OK when you’re ready.

Installing Ubuntu Studio

Now it’s time to install Ubuntu Studio. Click the Start button to begin.

You’ll probably be given a ‘warning’ that explains how to change the cursor and keyboard focus from the virtual machine to Windows. By default, use the right control (ctrl) key. Click OK.

Watch as VirtualBox loads Ubuntu Studio…

Click inside the VirtualBox window, make sure that Install Ubuntu Studio is highlighted, and hit Enter on your keyboard.

Use the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard to select your language, and hit Enter when you’ve made your choice.

Again, use the up and down arrow keys to select your Country, and hit Enter to continue.

Use the left and right arrow keys to select Yes to auto-detect your keyboard layout. As always, hit Enter to continue.

You’ll be prompted to press one of several keys on your keyboard. Click the appropriate key.

Similar to the previous step, click the appropriate key on your keyboard.

Use the left and right arrow keys to select Yes or No regarding the keys on your keyboard. Hint: if you’re using a US keyboard, select No. You’ll be prompted to repeat this step with various “keys” a number of times. Again, if you’re using a US keyboard, select No every time.

Assuming Ubuntu detected the correct keyboard, make sure Continue is selected and hit Enter.

Watch as Ubuntu detects your hardware..

and loads additional components…

and configures your network.

Now enter a Hostname for your virtual machine. As usual, a short but descriptive name is a good idea.

Once again Ubuntu will detect your hardware.

Then it will start the partitioner.

Select Guided - use entire disk and hit Enter.

Hit Enter again.

Watch as the partitioning finishes up.

Select Yes and then hit - you guessed it - Enter.

Your newly created virtual partitions will be formatted.

Use the up and down arrow keys to select your time zone. Hit Enter when you’ve selected the appropriate one.

Select Yes, hit Enter.

Enter your name and hit Enter.

Select a user name. This is the login/user name that you’ll use in Ubuntu. Note that user names can contain numbers (though it can’t start with one), and all letters must be lower case.

Enter the password you want to use to login to Ubuntu.

Re-enter the password.

Ubuntu Studio will begin installing the base system. Go grab a cup of tea. This will take a while.

Review the packages that Ubuntu Studio can install.

Select the packages you wish to have installed. Use the up and down arrow keys to move through the list, and use the Space Bar to select a package. Hit Enter after you’ve selected the packages you want installed.

Again, this can take quite a while, but it depends on how many of the software packages you opted to install.

Now you’ll select the resolutions you want available to Ubuntu studio.

Use the up and down arrow keys to navigate through the list, and the Space Bar to select them. Keep in mind - if your video card and monitor don’t support a specific resolution, don’t select it.

Watch as more software is installed.

And finally, it’s done. Ignore the message about removing media from your CD-ROM, but if you have a floppy in your floppy drive, take it out. Select Continue and hit Enter.

Watch as the pretty Ubuntu Studio boot screen loads.

Enter your password and hit Enter.

To enter Full Screen mode, select VM from the top menu, and then Fullscreen Mode from the drop-down list. The first time you enter fullscreen mode, you’ll be given a ‘warning’ that explains how to exit and return to ‘windowed’ view.

Have fun with Ubuntu Studio!

Tidying up (adding sound and a CD/DVD-ROM)

After you’ve powered Ubuntu Studio off, select Settings from the top menu.

Select the Audio entry from the left navigation. Place a check in the box labeled Enable Audio, and choose Windows DirectSound from the drop-down list.

Next select CD/DVD-ROM from the left navigation, and change the Mount CD/DVD Drive from ISO Image File to Host CD/DVD Drive.

The next time you start Ubuntu Studio, sound should work and you’ll have access to your CD/DVD-ROM.

Copyleft