[header] How to run ubuntu from windows as an executable [title] Determine the cpu type of your computer. [step] You will need to set up a virtual machine and download the ubuntu operating system that works best with your hardware. On your windows host computer, going to your control panel then viewing your system information will show you this information. 
It will show either x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit). [substeps] On windows 7 and other previous versions you can click on " start ", click on " control panel " then click on " system.