Installing Linux for Windows Systems without WSL

For any Version of Windows older than Windows 10 Fall Creator’s Update, which is defined as less than Build 16215 you cannot use Windows Subsystem for Linux, so you will need to install a VM. This means if you’re running Windows 8.1 you will also need to follow this guide. If you’re using anything older than Windows 7, you’re gonna have a bad time.

Minimum System Requirements

• 4+ cores
• 8gb+ Memory
• 30gb available disk space

Download Requirements

VirtualBox

Download from virtualbox.com or click here

Ubuntu

Download the Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS ISO from Ubuntu.com

Setup Virtual Box

1 Create new VM

1.1 Create new Virtual Machine

Click the blue “New” button at the top of VirtualBox Manager, the following dialog will appear.

1.1.2 Enter details

• Name the VM: “Ubuntu VM”
• You can leave the machine folder as default, or enter a custom path if desired.
• Select “Linux” from type dropdown
• Select Ubuntu 64-bit from Version dropdown

1.2 Specify memory size

It’s suggested to allocate at least 4gb of ram

1.3 Configure Hard Disk for VM

1.3.1

• Select “Create a Virtual Hard Disk Now”
• Click Continue

1.3.2

• Select VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image)
• Click Continue

1.3.3

• Select “Dynamically Allocated”
• Click Continue

1.3.4

• Select at least 25GB with the slider
• Click Create

1.3.5

1.4 Select CPU Cores

• Click System
• Select at least 2 cores, if you select less than 2 cores, you may experience issues when compiling smart contracts.
• Leave execution cap at 100%.
• Click Create

1.5 Mount ISO Image

• Click “Storage” in menu bar
• In the Storage Devices section on the left, select “Empty” under “Controller: IDE.”
• Click the Blue CD Icon to the right of the optical drive dropdown.
• Select the ubuntu-18.04.1-desktop-amd64.iso file you downloaded in the previous step.
• Click “Open” in the file dialog.
• Click “Ok” in the Ubuntu VM System Options in VirtualBox.

You’re now done setting up the Ubuntu VM.

2 Install Ubuntu

2.1 Boot VM

• Select the VM you just created in VirtualBox Manager
• Click the green “Start” button

Ubuntu 18.04.1 will boot.

2.1.1

Select your language and click “Install Ubuntu”

2.1.2

For the next screens, use default settings and click next until you arrive at the “Who are you?” step.

When you’re there, fill out your details and click Continue

Installation will begin, the VM will restart and boot up.

3 Install Git

• Open the application called “Terminal” inside your Ubuntu VM
• Enter sudo apt -y install git
• Enter the Ubuntu password you chose during the installation process.
• Press enter
• wait for installation to complete.

Complete

Now that you’re finished setting up an Ubuntu VM, Continue