Install Ubuntu with Virtual PC on Windows 7

First of all, you can only use Ubuntu 9 with Virtual PC on Windows 7.

I tried Ubuntu 10 and used quite a lot tricks published on Internet. Unfortunately, none of them works.

Steps to Install Ubuntu 9 with Virtual PC

Step 1: Download the Ubutun 9.04 ISO

Do not use the Ubuntu 9.10 ISO. It will generate some issue related to missing applets.

Step 2: Create a Virtual PC machine

Set the D drive to point to the Ubuntu 9.04 ISO.

Step 3: Start the Virtual PC machine

Step 4: Follow the Ubuntu Install Wizard

If you run into any problem by using the Ubuntu default installed, you can use the following way

1. At the installation screen, use "English"
2. Then, press F6 to use the Startup Option. Replace "-- quite splash" with "-vga=791 noreplace-paravirt"
3. After getting into the main ui, click the icon "Install Ubuntu 9.04" on the desktop
4. Follow the wizard.

Step 5: Restart the Virtual PC Machine

The system will remind you to restart. Follow it. You can see a black screen. Do not be panic. Just click Enter.

Step 6: Login the Virtual PC Machine after it starts up

Step 7: Change the resolution to support 1024x768

You need to change the file /etc/X11/xorg.conf to following:

---------------------------------------------------------

# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# Note that some configuration settings that could be done previously
# in this file, now are automatically configured by the server and settings
# here are ignored.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
horizsync 30-60
vertrefresh 50-75
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
DefaultDepth 16
SubSection "Display"
Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
EndSubSection
EndSection

---------------------------------------------------------

Step 8: Restart the Virtual PC Machine

Click the menu item "Restart" in Ubuntu 9. Do not directly turn off the VPC machine.

Option

You can upgrade 9.04 to 9.10. It should run smoothly. Meanwhile, the missing-applet issue does not happen this way.