Has anyone done this? I can't get it to work, and since I am not a Linux Master, most of the sites I found explaining how this worked I was unable to comprehend. Thanks

I have done it using VirtualBox and VMWare, but never with VirtualPC. Is there a reason you need to use that software? Virtualbox is dead easy to use.

No, there is no reason. Someone at work mentioned VirtualPC, so I tried it. I am interested in having Ubuntu to play with.

I will check out Virtualbox.

Any one else tried this with Virtual PC.

Since I haven't used Virtualbox, does it make a huge file for the whole file system, or does it add to it.

I looked at VMWare, but only the player is free, is that correct. Is it true that you need to buy it to make your own virtual environments? If that's the case, then is the an Ubuntu 8.10 out there for free?

Sorry for all the silly question, but you gotta start somewhere, and when it comes to forums, Gamedev is the best.

Thanks again.

Virtualbox gives you the choice of using a dynamic or static file for the virtual hard-drive. Each operating system has some default settings in virtualbox for the size of the RAM and HD (of course you can change them). Hope this helps.

Well.... You can try Ubuntu without screwing the system even when you have already installed WinXP or WinVista.
It should be a piece of cake. However if you say you're too newbie and you care about losing important information, here goes a little help with Virtualbox

VirtualBox behaves much like a whole PC. You set up a CD ROM drive (which can be either your real CD ROM drive or an ISO file) and then you set to boot up from it (in order to get to the Ubuntu installer)

As for the Hard Drive, you can use a real disk partition (NOT recommended, you can screw your system more easily by doing this than by installing Ubuntu natively)
Or you can use a disk image: static or dynamic.
Static images are fixed in size. It's a whole file in your HDD with i.e. 10GB and the emulated OS will see that as the only HDD present.
Dynamic images are pretty much the same thing, however they can grow. If you're out of emulated HDD space, VirtualBox increases the size of that file. Note however, that this may affect your true HDDs space and you may run out of free storage quickly, not to mention that may increase the real File System fragmentation.

As for internet connection, VirtualBox allows setting your own virtual Ethernet card which will connect to the real system connection. That way you can share data between the real OS and the emulated one

Shame though, because VirtualBox & Co won't offer much video acceleration (I think there are some linux video drivers specially designed for VirtualBox) and the most awesome kick-ass feature is Compiz-Fusion (which you need 3D acceleration) IMHO

Hope this helps
Cheers
Dark Sylinc

You should take a look on Wubi ;)

I would reccomend trying Ubuntu as live CD it is the easiest way.

Thanks everybody for your comments. I am not trying out Ubuntu for the first time. I am using it at work, and I wanted to be able to use it at home also. There are many times when I could use the extra weekend time to figure out how to compile libraries, install services, stuff like that.

My home computer, however, is the whole families game machine. I didn't want to try adding a dual boot, because I've had that go wrong before, and I think if I killed my kids Sims 2 games, they would not be happy. Plus, I don't want to reinstall the 10 expansion packs.

Anyway, I digress. I thought if I could run Ubuntu in some kind of Virtual platform, it would be really easy to just delete the file and practice installing and configuring a development environment.

I installed Ubuntu 8.10 a month ago and I have to admit it is the best system I have used. Simply the best. I just simply installed mine on another hard drive and dual booted it from there. I was going to partition the drive, but thought it would be better to just have dedicated hard drives for both my windows and ubuntu (my mate tried partition the drive before, and he had serious problems). On a virtual PC, or liveCD it just isnt the same as Ubuntu takes advantage of the accelerated power of your PC (seriously fast compared to my windows!). I admit now I rarely use windows and strictly only on Ubuntu. Developing on it is super as the libraries are easy to install. The only problem is the lack of a decent IDE.

Got to say I agree with Matias comment about Compiz fusion. If you have 3D hardware accelerated graphics card, you will see as Compiz is a brilliant piece of eye candy and runs fast.