How to install Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a free, open-source, Linux operating system that is easy to use and powerful. Linux operating systems become more popular while commercial operating systems (such as MS Windows and Mac OS X) become more expensive. Ubuntu performs extremely well on almost all PCs, both old and new.\

You can install Ubuntu directly onto any PC, as either a stand-alone or dual-boot operating system. Alternatively, you can use virtualization to install Ubuntu as guest operating system on a PC.

You cannot install Ubuntu directly onto a Mac. However, through virtualization you can install Ubuntu as a guest operating system on a Mac OS X host operating system.

Note: For more information about virtualization, see VirtualBox.

This article explains how to:

1. Back up your data.
2. Download Ubuntu.
3. Evaluate Ubuntu.
4. Install Ubuntu.

Backing Up Your Data

The PC on which you plan to install Ubuntu might already contain some of your personal or business data. Therefore, you should back up that data before you install Ubuntu over it. Copy all your data folders and files (if any) from your PC to any of the following:

• An external hard drive
• Another computer through your home network
• Removable media, such as USB memory sticks, CDs, or DVDs

Downloading Ubuntu

To download Ubuntu, do the following:

1. Go to the Ubuntu website.
2. Click on the Download Ubuntu button to display the download page.
3. Use the "Download location" drop-down menu to select your location, such as the United States.
4. Click on the Begin download button to display an "Open Ubuntu" window.
5. Select Save File, and then click OK to start downloading the Ubuntu ISO file to your default download folder, such as MyDocuments/downloads.
6. Burn (write) the Ubuntu ISO file to an Ubuntu installation CD. For information about burning an ISO file, see How to Burn an ISO Disk Image Through Nero.

Evaluating Ubuntu

Evaluating Ubuntu lets you determine whether you wish to install Ubuntu onto the hard drive in your PC. To evaluate Ubuntu, do the following:

1. While your PC is running, insert your Ubuntu installation CD, which you created above, into the PC optical drive. After reading the CD, your PC displays the "Ubuntu Menu" window.
2. Click on the Demo and full installation button to display the "Reboot required" window.
3. Select Help me Boot from CD, and then click on the Finish button to display the "Install CD boot helper" window.
4. Click on the Install button to start installing the CD boot helper and display its progress window. After a few minutes, the installation program ejects the CD (which you need to leave it its tray) and displays the "Completing the Ubuntu Setup Wizard."
5. Select Reboot, and then click on the Finish button to start installing the Ubuntu demo. (Your PC retrieves the installation CD by retracting its tray into the optical drive.)
6. After you finish installing the Ubuntu demo, you can run Ubuntu from its CD. This lets you evaluate almost all Ubuntu capabilities. However, you cannot save any files or settings permanently.

Installing Ubuntu

If you like Ubuntu after evaluating it as explained above, you can install it as an operating system onto the hard drive in your PC.

Note: Be patient while installing Ubuntu, because some processes take considerable time.

To install Ubuntu, do the following:

1. While running the Ubuntu demo and displaying its desktop, double-click on the Install Ubuntu icon to display its "Welcome" window.
2. Click on the Forward button to display the "Where are you?" window.
3. Select your Region and Zone, and then click on the Forward button to display the "Keyboard layout" window.
4. Select the Suggested option: USA, and then click on the Forward button to start the partitioner and display the "Prepare disk space" window.
5. Choose whether to install Ubuntu in a separate partition or use the entire disk, and then click on the Forward button to display the "Who are you?" window.
6. Type in your name, log-in name, and computer name; and then click on the Forward button to display the "Ready to install" window.
7. Click on the Install button to start installing Ubuntu and display the "Installing system" window, which shows the installation progress.