Is there a Linux distro that will install from a .exe file and run virtually from inside of Windows10

dale1957 · 01-15-2023, 07:57 AM

I remember way back there was a linux distro that would run
virtually from inside of msdos. you would install it from an
.exe file after you exited it you were back into dos.

Is there a version of Linux that you can install from a .exe
file inside of a running Windows 10 system, and it will
run more or less virtually from in ram ?

What is it's name , and where can I find it ?

Thanks Dale

boughtonp · 01-15-2023, 08:40 AM

I vaguely remember a distro which provided an option of booting from within Windows, but I never ran it that way and can't remember what it was.

However, you can just download QEMU and then run any live distro, e.g:

Code:

/path/to/qemu-system-x86_64.exe -m 512 -cdrom /path/to/TinyCorePure64-13.1.iso

mjolnir · 01-15-2023, 09:28 AM

At one time I believe you could run a version of ubuntu inside windows with something called 'wubi.exe.' https://www.howtogeek.com/9142/easil...lick%20Install.

fatmac · 01-15-2023, 11:51 AM

Maybe this was it - http://www.slackware.com/zipslack/

Edit: I think you may also use Tiny Core Linux from a vfat partition, it loads to & runs from ram.

rokytnji · 01-15-2023, 03:34 PM

Lick it.

https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=336

syg00 · 01-15-2023, 04:46 PM

What problem are you trying to solve ?.

I've run WSL since it was first announced, although I have no need for GUI support.

frankbell · 01-15-2023, 08:26 PM

I remember running Wubi until Ubuntu deprecated it. In my experience, it worked quite nicely, though, of course, it did have limitations.

shortarcflyer · 01-15-2023, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankbell

I remember running Wubi until Ubuntu deprecated it. In my experience, it worked quite nicely, though, of course, it did have limitations.

I ran it a bit way back in the day myself when I thought I needed to keep windows around. When I realized I didnt need windows at all, I dumped windows and went straight Linux and no need for Wubi either.

pan64 · 01-16-2023, 12:52 AM

yes, it depends on what do you really want to do with it (if you need gui for example). There are a lot of different ways, like: use real VM (virtual machine) and you can run almost anything inside, run cygwin or a similar linux-like environment within windows, use WSL, or try any other ideas from other posters.

syg00 · 01-16-2023, 05:05 AM

OK, so decided to scratch an itch.

I updated WSL to latest to get GUI support. Installed gedit - which pulled in X and gnome ...

bigger download than I was expecting.
So, launching gedit from the bash command line, or from the (Windows11) start button worked as expected. Not a true Linux install, but might suffice for most. Me, I will still do it all from the CLI.

John VV · 01-17-2023, 11:44 AM

way back i used MinGW and Cygwin on Win xp
whether they are still supported anymore i do not know

michaelk · 01-17-2023, 01:35 PM

Quote:

I remember way back there was a linux distro that would run
virtually from inside of msdos. you would install it from an
.exe file after you exited it you were back into dos.

I do not remember that since linux is 32 bit and MSDOS is 16 bit. I do remember using loadlin to run linux which I could choose from the autoexec.bat file but linux replaced the running DOS. wubi is just the installer but the installed Ubuntu did not run from RAM or was a virtual machine. There is a wubiuefi version but I have no idea how well it works. Besides what has been posted I can not remember if anything else exists.

pan64 · 01-18-2023, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelk

I do not remember that since linux is 32 bit and MSDOS is 16 bit. I do remember using loadlin to run linux which I could choose from the autoexec.bat file but linux replaced the running DOS. wubi is just the installer but the installed Ubuntu did not run from RAM or was a virtual machine. There is a wubiuefi version but I have no idea how well it works. Besides what has been posted I can not remember if anything else exists.

That's why I suggested cygwin. There is a setup.exe to install it and you can start it from a dos box and you can exit from here with an exit command. But I still don't know if it was really the case.

jefro · 01-20-2023, 08:58 AM

I think you are talking about MKT (x?) toolbox or maybe zipslack.

There is or was a colinux that ran along windows.

Windows has it's available services for unix.

Brains · 01-29-2023, 12:26 AM

I really don't see the point.

Maybe better to package Windows in a Tar.gz or similar, unpack it into /etc and such and slap a menu link to the launcher.

Might save a lot of Monitors from fists, just click on the X on the top right to get rid of it instead of punching out the monitor.

EDIT:
I have a handle on Windows, no issues, but I'm loaded with nice laptops with broken monitors because the owner through it up against the wall on the other side of the room and such. Never ignore the patterns.