-Defeating The Odds-

Okay, I'll try to explain this one in a nutshell... I took some time to learn how to install a distribution of Linux, xubuntu, on my virtual PC for Operating Systems.
So, here is my tutorial on how to properly install xubuntu in a virtual environment:

Installing xubuntu in Virtual PC:

1. Start off with a new virtual machine
- open virtual PC
- when the dialog box appears, select 'new'
- a wizard will pop up
- when prompted, click the option to created a new Virtual PC

+IMPORTANT+ Make sure that you choose the location for your virtual PC, or else it will save it in the default of the 'My Documents' folder.

Creating A New Virtual PC:

* Now, you have to choose the name and directory of your new Virtual PC, (to keep confusion down, I chose to call my Virtual PC xubuntu box).
* Next prompt if for your operating system type, choose 'Other'
* Next, change your RAM, I used 200MB, but you can use more than that, but no less.
* Next prompt will ask you if you wish to use virtual hard drive space that you have already created, or to create a new one, select 'A new virtual hard disk'
* This next prompt will give you a preset file name that uses the same name that you chose up above for the name of your Virtual PC, just leave it as it is (but be sure that it is saving to the right place, in the same drive and directory as the rest of your Virtual PC).
* You have now created your new Virtual PC, click 'Finish'
* Your new Virtual PC will now show up in your console.

2. Now, you have to download the ISO file from http://www.xubuntu.org/get , pick the Dapper Drake version for the United States and on proceeding page, select the version for PC (Intel x86).

+IMPORTANT+ Be sure you choose the 'ALTERNATE INSTALL' This will give you options you will use later.

A prompt will come up asking you if you wish to save the following file;

xubuntu-6.06.1-alternate-i386

Save this file to a location on your host computer in a folder (I called mine ../Disk Images/xubuntu).

3. Once this file is saved and fully downloaded, it's time to start your install. Start up your newly created Virtual PC. Your virtual computer will start up with a blank screen. You are now going to want to mount your disk image. To do so, you go up to the menu bar, click CD>Capture ISO>Select the file you put your xubuntu ISO>xubuntu-6.06.1-alternate-i386 and click OK. This has now loaded xubuntu onto your Virtual PC. For the ISO to take effect, you have to restart your Virtual PC. You can do this by either hitting the right ALT + DEL buttons, or going to the menu bar Action>ALT + CTRL + DEL or Action>Reset.

4. The xubuntu CD should start up, and you'll see a menu screen with options on how to install xubuntu. Before any installation can take place, hit the F4 key on your keyboard and change the video mode to 800 x 600 x 16.

+IMPORTANT+ This must be done for the successful install of xubuntu. Virtual PC has a very limited video output, so changing the resolution makes it easier for Virtual PC to handle the xubuntu environment. If the resolution isn't changed, the GUI will be distorted.

5. Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, select the 'Install xubuntu using text mode' as the method of installation.

6. As xubuntu 'unpacks' and begins installing, you will be prompted with questions.
- Language Setting (I chose english which is the default setting)
- Country Setting (I chose Canada)
- Keyboard Setting (I chose US which is the default setting)
- Host Name (I used xubuntu)

7. Next, the install will ask you about partition.
Partition>new partion>erase entire disk
It will as you to confirm this, select yes to confirm your partition format plan.

8. You'll be prompted with more questions.
- Time Zone (I chose Atlantic)
- Time UTC -> Yes

+IMPORTANT+ You should write your username and password down somewhere, so as not to forget what you used.

- Owner (you'll be prompted for the name of the owner, I entered my name)
- Username (I used kagome (no caps can be used))
- Password (Enter and re-enter a password (mine had no caps)
- Video Modes - 800 x 600 and 640 x 480 (there are other options, but I only chose those 2 to be safe.)

*After this step, it will be a while while everything installs... my suggestion, go get a snack and work on something else for a while and just let it run.*

9. Once the install is complete, reset your virtual PC with one of the methods you used earlier.

10. This part is quick, and may take a few times to get it. As your Virtual PC is loading up, the "GRUB" screen will appear (similar to the MS-DOS screen in Windows), as soon as you see this screen appear, hit the ESC key on your keyboard. This will put xubuntu back into text mode, bypassing the loading of the GUI.

+IMPORTANT+ Now that you are using the command line, it is important to know that command line is very case sensitive, so follow the next few steps very carefully.

11. Once in text mode, you will be prompted to login by entering your username and password that you entered earler.

12. Now that you're logged on, there are a few more video options that need to be tweaked. To do this, you have to modify the xorg.conf flies using the following commands;
- first, you are going to create a backup in case of any issues -> sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf
- next, we’re going to edit the settings, -> sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf -> press W+CTRL, when prompted, type in DefaultDepth and press enter.
- This will bring you to a screen that has options for the default depth (video settings) -> hover the cursor over the default depth which is ‘24’ -> ‘24’ to ‘16’ (this changes the video depth so that Virtual PC can display it properly).

13. Now, overwrite your changes using CTRL + O (writeout) and press enter to confirm

14. Type in CTRL + X to exit the editing controls

15. Finally, type in sudo reboot to reset your system. Once it reboots, you should see the GUI where it asks for your username, and then your password. Enter those, and voila, you’ve now installed xubuntu on Virtual PC.