There are a few methods you can use to run Ubuntu "on top of " Windows:
1. Virtual machines
Virtual machines behave basically just like a real computer, except they run in a window. Running an operating system in one provides the best possible performance without dual-booting. Things like graphics acceleration will be extremely limited or non-existent, however.
2. Emulators
Emulators like QEMU and Bochs can be used to run Ubntu on an emulated machine. This is much slower than a virtual machine, and is thus usually only useful for debugging or for running Ubuntu for a non-native platform, such as PowerPC or ARM.
3. Cooperative Linux (not recommended)
Cooperative Linux runs a Linux kernel as a process on Windows. The reason I don't recommend this is because:
A. It is more difficult to set up than the other methods.
B. It is not supported by Canonical, and thus you cannot file bug reports.
C. It will require installing several pieces of software (such as a terminal emulator and an X server).
D. It has the potential for corrupting your Windows installation.
No. It is entirely possible to install and run Ubuntu on a computer without ever having run Windows on it.
Ubuntu should run on a Dell Dimension 4600, provided enough RAM is installed. I'm not sure what you mean by "run Windows finally;" Windows is a separate operating system from Ubuntu. One does not typically run operating systems "on" one another.
So here are your options:Use WINE to run some programs from Windows. (May not always work)Buy and use CrossOver Games to run Windows games on Ubuntu LinuxOther than that, Ubuntu has some awesome games.
Crossover software is not strictly needed for any version of Ubuntu. Its purpose is to allow you to run Windows applications. if you have no need to run Windows applications, you do not need it.
All pcs can run Linux. Specifically, you can download and run Ubuntu, which is Linux based. Any PC can run Ubuntu and/or dual-boot Windows and Ubuntu.
Ubuntu generally creates a different partition on your hard drive, formatted with the EXT4 filesystem. Therefore, without special software, you cannot access your files on Ubuntu from Windows. However, you can access your Windows files from Ubuntu without any trouble. When Ubuntu is installed, you get to choose whether to boot into Ubuntu or Windows when the computer turns on. That means that you cannot be actively logged into both Windows and Ubuntu on the same computer. However, you can install Ubuntu on a virtual machine, making the computer run Ubuntu inside an emulator in Windows. This makes it possible to run Ubuntu while you are logged into Windows. I do not recommend it, though. Ubuntu users and Windows users are in different operating systems, so you cannot just switch between them like you can in Windows accounts.
Most games are designed to run only on Windows PC's. In order to user some Windows programs on Ubuntu, you will have to utilize Wine.
Yes, it can be done from the windows installation disk, but it's cleaner if you remove ubuntu with the ubuntu live cd and then install windows.
Ubuntu is a whole operating system, not a simple program. It does not run on top of Windows, but instead of it. Thus user accounts on Vista do not come into play. Ubuntu supports its own user accounts, so once it is installed, no one except the person who installed it can use it unless an account is created for them.
You would need to create a partition to install Windows to. Or you can run it in a virtualized environment using Virtualbox by Sun Microsystems. With virtualization you can run Windows or another operating system (OS) of your choice on top of Ubuntu. Of course with either method you will need an install disk of Windows. If you choose to do what is called a "dual-boot" from what I described earlier, you will like I have stated, create a partition into which you will install Windows to. Be careful though when you are working with partitions as it is best to backup all of your data in case of complications. To create a partition from within Ubuntu you may use a program called Gparted. You can install that through your "Applications" -> "Add Programs".
Windows viruses do not affect the Ubuntu system .
A quick and relatively easy method of getting Ubuntu Linux - if you already have a Windows system and you want to run Ubuntu Linux on it - is to download Ubuntu and install it by using the Wubi (the Windows-based Ubuntu Installer) from this Ubuntu web site: http://wubi-installer.org You can use the Wubi (Windows-based Ubuntu Installer) to download and install Ubuntu Linux in Windows and this is very similar to installing any software program in Windows. One of the great benefits of using the "Wubi Installer" is that you can also uninstall Ubuntu Linux from Windows if you need to (in the same way as you uninstall any Windows program). When you use the "Wubi Installer", you DON'T have to do the following steps (that you would "typically" need to do) to install the Desktop version of Ubuntu Linux on an existing Windows system: download a Linux ISO file burn the Linux ISO file to a Linux CD set up your computer to boot from CD boot with the Linux CD to run Linux "Live" and get to the GNOME desktop double-click on the "Install" icon to start the installation routine run the Ubuntu Linux installation routine Ubuntu Linux Training Tips: The Wubi Installer is only used to install the Desktop (not Server) Edition of Ubuntu Linux on an existing Windows system - and not on a new or used computer system that doesn't have Windows already installed on it. All of the "download, burn, setup, and so on" steps listed above will be described shortly in upcoming sections. The Ubuntu Linux installation steps described above are required to install the Desktop and Server Editions (versions) of Ubuntu Linux - either on a computer system that has Windows (to create a Dual-Boot Windows / Linux system) or one that doesn't have Windows Ubuntu Linux Training Tips: Keep in mind that prior to installing Ubuntu Linux (or any Linux distro) on an existing Windows system, you need to do a complete backup of your Windows system - twice! Also make sure that you can use the backups that you have created to restore your Windows system from backup. (copied from "http://www.ubuntulinuxbookblog.com/wubi-installer-windows-based-ubuntu-installer-training-download-install-ubuntu-linux-in-windows.html" ) A quick and relatively easy method of getting Ubuntu Linux - if you already have a Windows system and you want to run Ubuntu Linux on it - is to download Ubuntu and install it by using the Wubi (the Windows-based Ubuntu Installer) from this Ubuntu web site: http://wubi-installer.org You can use the Wubi (Windows-based Ubuntu Installer) to download and install Ubuntu Linux in Windows and this is very similar to installing any software program in Windows. One of the great benefits of using the "Wubi Installer" is that you can also uninstall Ubuntu Linux from Windows if you need to (in the same way as you uninstall any Windows program). When you use the "Wubi Installer", you DON'T have to do the following steps (that you would "typically" need to do) to install the Desktop version of Ubuntu Linux on an existing Windows system: download a Linux ISO file burn the Linux ISO file to a Linux CD set up your computer to boot from CD boot with the Linux CD to run Linux "Live" and get to the GNOME desktop double-click on the "Install" icon to start the installation routine run the Ubuntu Linux installation routine Ubuntu Linux Training Tips: The Wubi Installer is only used to install the Desktop (not Server) Edition of Ubuntu Linux on an existing Windows system - and not on a new or used computer system that doesn't have Windows already installed on it. All of the "download, burn, setup, and so on" steps listed above will be described shortly in upcoming sections. The Ubuntu Linux installation steps described above are required to install the Desktop and Server Editions (versions) of Ubuntu Linux - either on a computer system that has Windows (to create a Dual-Boot Windows / Linux system) or one that doesn't have Windows Ubuntu Linux Training Tips: Keep in mind that prior to installing Ubuntu Linux (or any Linux distro) on an existing Windows system, you need to do a complete backup of your Windows system - twice! Also make sure that you can use the backups that you have created to restore your Windows system from backup. (copied from "http://www.ubuntulinuxbookblog.com/wubi-installer-windows-based-ubuntu-installer-training-download-install-ubuntu-linux-in-windows.html" )