<div dir="ltr">Hi, I don't want to create a lot of spam, but I have also added this discussion to: <a href="https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/690575">https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/690575</a> and <a href="https://askubuntu.com/questions/1237424/install-ubuntu-in-a-file-on-windows-partition-similar-to-wubi-installer">https://askubuntu.com/questions/1237424/install-ubuntu-in-a-file-on-windows-partition-similar-to-wubi-installer</a> I am not sure where is the proper place to ask this question: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am installing ubuntu in a file on my ntfs windows partition. This is quite easy to do: ``` disable safe boot in bios you might also need to set AHCI SSD interface access boot and run live cd ``` open a terminal and as root ``` #mount ntfs partition mount -t ntfs /dev/nvme0n1p3 /mnt #create installation folder mkdir /mnt/ubuntu #create virtual drive mknod /dev/sdx b 7 100 #create virtual disk image dd if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/ubuntu/ubuntu.img bs=1G count=256 #link the virtual drive to the virtual disk image losetup /dev/sdx /mnt/ubuntu/ubuntu.img ``` and install ubuntu in /dev/sdx like on a separate disk. common problems: ``` /dev/nvme0n1p3 not showing up - these are related to bios settings mount -t ntfs /dev/nvme0n1p3 /host fail to mount - windows partition can be encrypted, so disable from windows (no need to format or reinstall windows) ``` to boot from the new environment I use grub config: ``` ### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ### menuentry 'ubuntu' { rmmod tpm loopback loop (hd0,gpt3)/ubuntu/ubuntu.img root=(loop) linux /boot/vmlinuz-generic root=/dev/sdx rw verbose nosplash initrd /boot/initrd.img-generic } set timeout_style=menu if [ "${timeout}" = 0 ]; then set timeout=10 fi ### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ### ``` the rmmod tpm is causing mounting loop to hang (grub 2.04) on older versions loading ntfs driver was needed (grub 2.02): modprobe ntfs this will actually drop the boot process to initramfs shell at this point you need to manually add commands to load the image ``` #create mount point needed by initramfs image mkdir /host #mount ntfs partition mount -t ntfs /dev/nvme0n1p3 /host #create virtual drive mknod /dev/sdx b 7 100 #link the virtual drive to the virtual disk image losetup /dev/sdx /host/ubuntu/ubuntu.img #continue boot up exit ``` this can be easily added to an initramfs scripts. my question is, can we add this functionality to Ubuntu? I find it easy to do and very useful. I can boot ubuntu in a native environment, but also can move my image around just like a virtual disk image. To move my installation, I just need to follow the same steps on another instance, and just copy my ubuntu.img file from the old instance and overwrite it on the new instance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you, Razvan</div>