How to install Ubuntu

[kabatura]

Im assuming that Ubuntu is the Linux OS I want.

I have my brothers computer here that he doesnt want and I want to try out Linux on it. I really dont know where to start. I thought I could download Unbuntu onto a flash drive then do it from there but that didnt work. I thought my brother had completely cleard the hard drive but when I started the computer it gave me the option to run the computer in XP Home or XP Home, not sure why there were two. So it looks like there is just a fresh XP without any files. I have the XP cd so I think its fine to format the hard drive or whatever needs to be done.

 

[Evzone]

Im assuming that Ubuntu is the Linux OS I want.

I have my brothers computer here that he doesnt want and I want to try out Linux on it. I really dont know where to start. I thought I could download Unbuntu onto a flash drive then do it from there but that didnt work. I thought my brother had completely cleard the hard drive but when I started the computer it gave me the option to run the computer in XP Home or XP Home, not sure why there were two. So it looks like there is just a fresh XP without any files. I have the XP cd so I think its fine to format the hard drive or whatever needs to be done.

My honest opinion, unless you're running a web server, I don't see the point to Linux. If you're really dissatisfied with Windows, consider maybe a Mac--at least some people make software and games for them.

 

[Nygard]

Disregard what Evzone said. Linux is pretty fast and it's pretty stable, with wine you can run any windows app or game on it and it's easier to install than windows. But dont think I'm a Linux fan, i'm using Vista right now.

I believe you should dual-boot it for now, just to see if you like it. 5 to 10 gb on your hard drive, on any part is enough,you wont really need a partition. Just put the Ubuntu Cd and follow. No code stuff or weird driver searching needed.

 

[Darles Chickens]

You can install from a flash drive but it´s alot easier to do it from the Ubuntu Live Cd. This way you can check to see if all your hardware is compatible and you can also start this in windows without having to actually install Ubuntu.

Here is an excellent resource for getting started:

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/

I think there is even a tutorial for installing off a flash/usb stick

Also check out the Ubuntu forums. It´s probably one of the most extensive forums on the internet...ahem, present company accepted. You can find almost any answer to your problems there and i have to say it´s helped me out many times.

http://ubuntuforums.org/index.php

I still dual boot at the moment as the people i live with still prefer XP but when i started out on Ubuntu i found it helpful to have a working internet connection to hook up to an sort any issues i had out that way.

 

[kabatura]

Im just wanting to try it out

I put a program called wubi that was pretty simple, so Im dual booting right now.

After restarting once though, firefox, which was already loaded onto it and the help client wouldnt launch. I click on them and they say they are loading down at the bottom but then nothing. I got tired of messing with it though, maybe Ill try wine

 

[Alle_Gory]

Im just wanting to try it out

I put a program called wubi that was pretty simple, so Im dual booting right now.

After restarting once though, firefox, which was already loaded onto it and the help client wouldnt launch. I click on them and they say they are loading down at the bottom but then nothing. I got tired of messing with it though, maybe Ill try wine

Its not loading on XP? Or Ubuntu?

Wine won't help if its Ubuntu. Wine is an emulator (not really, it is and it isnt) for windows programs. If you can run the program native in Linux, then do it. Faster than emulation.

 

[Alle_Gory]

My honest opinion, unless you're running a web server, I don't see the point to Linux. If you're really dissatisfied with Windows, consider maybe a Mac--at least some people make software and games for them.

Mac is garbage. Its like a PC for dummies. The only advantage Mac has is aesthetics.

And there are fewer games for Mac than Linux. Go figure.

 

[3countriesPlan]

Download and burn a Ubuntu Live CD. Make sure you select ISO
Then load it into your computer and it pretty much takes care of itself.I tried Xubuntu once on an older computer and I had to search online to learn which commands to copy and paste into it just to get it to work! Ubuntu is nice but even though I love LINUX.. I still use XP because of the ease involved.

 

[Desdinova]

My honest opinion, unless you're running a web server, I don't see the point to Linux.

I run it 95% of the time as my main OS.

To actually install it, it's easiest to burn yourself a CD. Download the ISO from Ubuntu.com and burn it onto a CD from the image. Don't just burn a data CD with the file on it. Not sure what burning software you use. I used Nero to burn mine, and it gives you the option of opening a disc image. Use that option.

If you're planning on dual-booting, create your partitions first: one for Windows, one for Ubuntu, and one for Linux Swap (somewhere around 500M will be fine for this one). It just makes things easier. I use a boot CD called gparted. Install Windows before you install Ubuntu. Then, boot off the Ubuntu CD and start the install. It will detect that you have Windows already installed and automatically configure Grub for dual booting and automatically write the new MBR.

However, if you have a spare computer like it sounds like you do, then just wipe the whole drive and install it. You don't even have to bother with Gparted: Ubuntu will figure out all the partitions. The experience off the Live CD doesn't really give a good impression of the experience. Ubuntu 8.04 is incredibly stable and snappy. With this install, I've NEVER had the black screen of death (the linux equivalent to the blue screen). Oh yeah, and compiz kicks ass too. If you've never see it, check out some screenshots.