Need Help Getting Started -- Again!

[kaiser0792]

VM's -- Determining the best way to go.
Hello. I am new to Ubuntu. I have a PC running Windows 7. I tried to run Ubuntu with VMWare and had multiple problems, printing, sound, CDROM, etc. I uninstalled VMWare and have read some discussion here that seems to favor VirtualBox or KVM.

I'm a computer engineer student and I am going to have to write and compile C++ programs on a Linux based system. I've never worked with Linux and I would like to know the best combination to run a virtual Linux-based OS that I can download a decent C++ compiler on and also be able to use my printer, sound card and CDROM drive while working on the Linux-based system. Which VM should I use and which version of Ubuntu would you guys recommend? Are there any "tricks" or specific things that I should know as I set the system up? Thanks for any and all help.

By the way, my PC has an AMD II x4 635 Processor and my Windows 7 is 64-Bit.

[Stafke]

Ok, so I assume you need Linux, but don't want to really install it, either dual boot or ditch your Win.

Perhaps you could try Wubi-installer from http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ub...ows-installer?

Although I've never used it myself, it should just behave as a Win application and won't affect your OS

[mastablasta]

however if wubi file gets corrupted for some reason you wil loose all data in linux.

why not try to make a dual boot system. as a computer engineer student you should learn about disk partition and running multiple boot computers.

edit: another simple way is to get a USB key (1 GB is enough) and then create a persistent LiveUSB. that way you wont' touch you system when running Ubuntu.

[toekneewood]

In the past we have had problems with the workstation of VMware. All of the Network engineers here have the following setup:

compaq desktop 64bit
8GB RAM
1TB HDD
Ubuntu 10.10 64bit (gnome version)

VM's

Windows 7 64bit
and a few other test systems