What's the best way to install Ubuntu/Linux?

candtalan

'I decided to create a partition and install it alongside Windows'

No problem, however, the Ubuntu installer will offer to do the re sizing of Windows partition for you (but do have a backup of your windows stuff first anyway, just in case). The Ubuntu installer offers several useful options. One of them which I use a lot is to 'install into the largest unused space on the drive'. To prepare for this in advance, you can resize Windows partition yourself, but do not do anything with the resulting free space - no new partition, no formatting, just leave it unallocated unused.

The Ubuntu installer will not be too happy to install into an already prepared partition because it might be some of your data.

It is advisable and useful to run the machine with a live CD or live USB stick first, before any install. This helps to verify that the machine hardware is recognised fully, before you go to install. Check stuff like display normal looking, sound and audio, wireless if used etc. Get any advice first if you foresee any problems. (http://ubuntuforums.org is very good).

also, this is free from the *Author* :
http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/index_main.html
and:
http://ubuntu-manual.org
free magazine downloads:
http://fullcirclemagazine.org

Remember to get your extra software from the Ubuntu Software Centre (in the Ubuntu libraries).
hth

VoucherMan

Since the thread's been brought back to the top of the pile I thought I'd update.

Struggled creating a live CD - disc size 698MB, file size 702MB. Only DVD's I could find were RW's which didn't seem to work as boot discs.

I found a link to install to a memory stick. Can't remember if it was Ubuntu's site or another, but once I'd downloaded the files it virtually created the files on the USB at the click of a button. Personally I think it was easier than creating a disc. All I had to do was change the boot sequence.

I've had a quick try. Only used Firefox so far. The layout seems different to Firefox on Windows but I'm sure I can change it/get used to it.

Hopefully if I decide to go ahead and install it there seems to be plenty of information out there. Google comes in useful sometimes.

Main issue may be that I've already shrunk the drive (but done nothing with leftover section).

Thanks for the help. If I get stuck I'll might be back.

piratebrido

VoucherMan wrote: »

Since the thread's been brought back to the top of the pile I thought I'd update.

Struggled creating a live CD - disc size 698MB, file size 702MB. Only DVD's I could find were RW's which didn't seem to work as boot discs.

I found a link to install to a memory stick. Can't remember if it was Ubuntu's site or another, but once I'd downloaded the files it virtually created the files on the USB at the click of a button. Personally I think it was easier than creating a disc. All I had to do was change the boot sequence.

I've had a quick try. Only used Firefox so far. The layout seems different to Firefox on Windows but I'm sure I can change it/get used to it.

Hopefully if I decide to go ahead and install it there seems to be plenty of information out there. Google comes in useful sometimes.

Main issue may be that I've already shrunk the drive (but done nothing with leftover section).

Thanks for the help. If I get stuck I'll might be back.

First I would like to say congratulations for taking your first step towards being a Linux User,

Ubuntu is absolutely the best choice for new users, and there is a ton of support out there. Give it 6 months and you will be a Distro hopper in no time!

The actual install of Ubuntu is very friendly, Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, put a lot of effort into this. When you run the install and it comes to partition time, you will be able to point it towards your empty partition you created. It should all be clearly labelled, and they give you a graphic of your disk so you can see what partition is what. It will also clearly label your windows partition, so don't have any worries about overwriting it (important files should always be backed up however, nothing is 100% safe).

Be patient as a new user while you get used to things. Don't be afraid to ask, Ubuntu is the distribution of choice for new users and people know this, and are more than willing to help.

Good luck!

gonzo127

yep Ubuntu is a great distro and i have been using it for over a year now and only ever go into windows to play my games (although i am getting well excited by the idea of Steam coming properly to Linux thats another story)

just remember the one thing that most people need is the ubuntu restricted extras package as that contains all the codecs for DVD playback and mp3 etc its only a small download and you can find in the software centre or package manager

any problems just go over the the ubuntu forums and they will 99% of the time answer your questions politly the other 1% is the internet trolls that get everywhere and just try to upset as many people as possible - and as you have also found out google in your friend :P

[Deleted User]

candtalan wrote: »

'I decided to create a partition and install it alongside Windows'

No problem, however, the Ubuntu installer will offer to do the re sizing of Windows partition for you (but do have a backup of your windows stuff first anyway, just in case). The Ubuntu installer offers several useful options. One of them which I use a lot is to 'install into the largest unused space on the drive'. To prepare for this in advance, you can resize Windows partition yourself, but do not do anything with the resulting free space - no new partition, no formatting, just leave it unallocated unused.

The Ubuntu installer will not be too happy to install into an already prepared partition because it might be some of your data.

It is advisable and useful to run the machine with a live CD or live USB stick first, before any install. This helps to verify that the machine hardware is recognised fully, before you go to install. Check stuff like display normal looking, sound and audio, wireless if used etc. Get any advice first if you foresee any problems. (http://ubuntuforums.org is very good).

also, this is free from the *Author* :
http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/index_main.html
and:
http://ubuntu-manual.org
free magazine downloads:
http://fullcirclemagazine.org

Remember to get your extra software from the Ubuntu Software Centre (in the Ubuntu libraries).
hth

OK. I've got a 320Gb drive partitioned as a single disk in Windows C:
with probably about 100Gb used.

If I boot from Ubuntu CD will it repartition this for me into, say a 220Gb Windows partition, and a 100Gb Ubuntu partition without losing any of my data?

Or do I need to repartition first before doing the Ubuntu install? I guess its not that difficult using Gparted live cd.

patman99

Just a thought from a very exp. Linux user, Ubuntu is actually not a good first-timers distro, the best one I've come across is PCLinuxOS as it contains the full proprietary drivers for ATi, nVidia, and just about every WiFi card fitted to a laptop.

I never did get the wifi working on my laptop with Ubuntu despite over a week of trying. With PCLinuxOS, it was up and running within 5 minutes of o/s installation.

dave2

patman99 wrote: »

Just a thought from a very exp. Linux user, Ubuntu is actually not a good first-timers distro, the best one I've come across is PCLinuxOS as it contains the full proprietary drivers for ATi, nVidia, and just about every WiFi card fitted to a laptop.

I never did get the wifi working on my laptop with Ubuntu despite over a week of trying. With PCLinuxOS, it was up and running within 5 minutes of o/s installation.

Personally, with Ubuntu 9.10 + 10.04, this wasn't a problem for me.

I actually spent some time searching around looking for drivers etc for my wifi usb dongle, where I found horror stories of hacking together drivers. Damned if it didn't just work right off the bat by just plugging it in! Absolute dream, easier than Windows.

It also gave a popup-message asking if I wanted to install proprietary Nvidia drivers. It gave me 3 choices including a recommended version and the most up-to-date version (as it happens, both were the same). I hit OK and a moment later it was done. Again, easier than windows!


Now, a while back, when I first tried Ubuntu it was a different story. Didn't recognise the wifi dongle, didn't prompt for video drivers (and manually installing those was a nightmare).

Toxteth_OGrady

patman99 wrote: »

Just a thought from a very exp. Linux user, Ubuntu is actually not a good first-timers distro, the best one I've come across is PCLinuxOS

Agree. I would also put Mint 9 on a par with PCLOS for ease of use by first time users.

:cool:

TOG

S0litaire

[quote=[Deleted User];33625157]OK. I've got a 320Gb drive partitioned as a single disk in Windows C:
with probably about 100Gb used.

If I boot from Ubuntu CD will it repartition this for me into, say a 220Gb Windows partition, and a 100Gb Ubuntu partition without losing any of my data?

Or do I need to repartition first before doing the Ubuntu install? I guess its not that difficult using Gparted live cd.[/QUOTE]

It uses a version of Gparted during install so if you can use Gparted then the install will be smooth. Also if you are happy to use Gparted in the Live CD you can make room before you start the install.

*NOTE*
Run Defrag in windows and do a full backup before you do anything else. If you don't run defrag, the install will take an age! Since it has to move all the data in the windows partition to make room for the Linux partitions.

You need to create at least 2 paritions
1) The OS / files
2) Swap (the same size or a bit larger than the RAM in your machine is the tradition)

But the install should guide you through this.

fwor

S0litaire wrote: »

You need to create at least 2 paritions
1) The OS / files
2) Swap (the same size or a bit larger than the RAM in your machine is the tradition)

Sound advice - if you want to go slightly more advanced, add one more partition specifically for the /home directory. This means that you can upgrade to newer releases more easily by replacing the system files but leaving your personal files and settings in place.

If you do that, a good layout is one partition of no more than 20Gb (or as little as 10Gb if you're short of space) for the root (/) directory, then the small partition for Swap space, then the remainder of the free space as a partition for your /home directory. Having the swap space between the other two partitions should give a small improvement in performance by reducing seek time.