Installing Ubuntu on i686 processor

Delpheno · 08-12-2008, 12:08 PM

Hey guys, I downloaded both versions of Ubuntu in their official website. And neither of them worked when I install it on a Virtual PC.

I have a 64 bit Gateway T-6836.
My processor is Intel Core 2 Duo T5750.

I also tried installing Windows XP 64 bit, and it told me to get a 32 bit version. Ubuntu told me to get a i686 version.

Where is the i686 version of Ubuntu? Why does Windows XP want a 32 bit version when I have a 64 bit machine?

P.S. I'm running Windows Vista 64-bit.

pixellany · 08-12-2008, 12:16 PM

I'm not up on virtual machines, but whoever helps you will need to know what you are using--eg VMWare, Virtual Box, QEMU, etc. Also, I assume that virtual PCs also come in 32-bit and 64-bit flavors.

32-bit SW will run on a 64-bit machine, but not the inverse.

The most common generic 32-bit SW will be labelled "X86" or maybe "i386". Some distros are optimized for i686, but I'm not aware that Ubuntu is one of them. (The Ubuntu site offers "X86".)

Delpheno · 08-12-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pixellany

I'm not up on virtual machines, but whoever helps you will need to know what you are using--eg VMWare, Virtual Box, QEMU, etc. Also, I assume that virtual PCs also come in 32-bit and 64-bit flavors.

32-bit SW will run on a 64-bit machine, but not the inverse.

The most common generic 32-bit SW will be labelled "X86" or maybe "i386". Some distros are optimized for i686, but I'm not aware that Ubuntu is one of them. (The Ubuntu site offers "X86".)

Thanks for your input. The strange thing is I can't install a 64 bit version of Windows XP...

I'm using Virtual PC 2007 to run my virtual machines.
Virtual PC 2007 has a 64 bit installer, but when it comes down to it, it's a 32 bit program.

amani · 08-12-2008, 12:46 PM

It will be a better idea to install the 64-bit *buntu directly or try QEMU.

xkero · 08-12-2008, 04:32 PM

As far as I know, no visualisation programs support 64bit (aka x86_64 or amd64/ia64) operating systems. Any time you see i[3-6]86 (i.e. i686) it means its part of the 32bit family and that's what you need for visualisation at the moment.