Installing Ubuntu- Guide

So, your computers been giving you some trouble, or you just want to try something new. Well, no matter what your reasoning, Ubuntu Linux is worth a try. Ubuntu is a free and open-source(FOSS) operating system, combined with the linux kernel, GNU utilities, and Debian's solid base. You may ask what is FOSS, FOSS is software that you can modify however you like, on the source code level! This won't mean much to newbies, but you just know it's free

 

Section 1: Pre-installation​

Checklist:
You have the Ubuntu 9.04 iso( http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download)
All of your data is backed up
A blank CD-R
Windows Specifics:
Defragmented HDD (I recommend jkdefrag)
Run chkdsk on the HDD

Burning the LiveCD:
First we need to burn that iso you've downloaded. Download BurnCDCC( http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads-free-software.htm) and run it. First locate your iso. and hit burn. The CD Drive should open and now is the time to put your CD in. Now, just sit back and let it do it's magic!

Booting the LiveCD:
Now we need to boot the CD. Put the CD in your CD drive and reboot. We need to enter BIOS to change the boot order. You need to have the right key, and if you do no know, look here( http://www.cyberwalker.com/article/28). You need to get into your BIOS and make the CD boot first. Once you have done that, you need to save and reboot again. This time you will see a screen to select your language, select it, and hit enter. Then you get a list of boot options, select "Try Ubuntu without any changes to my computer". There you go, in a few minutes you will see the Ubuntu desktop before you.

 

Section 2: Live CD​

Installation:
Click the "Install" icon on your desktop. Enter all the information needed by the installer and, when prompted about partitions, choose manual. Shrink any other partition on your PC by at least 10GBs. Then create a partition of at least 1.5x your RAM size, or if you have 1GB of RAM equal size will be OK. Format this partition to linux-swap. Make another partition of the space that is left and format it to ext3, and give it a mount point of "/".

Now go ahead and start the installation. When finished, it will ask you to reboot, reboot, and you will see GRUB, a boot loader. It should have at least 3 entries, excluding ''other Operating Systems''. Under that entry, you will see the other OS's installed on your system. I recommend booting the other OS installed on the system first, before Ubuntu. This will let that OS scan the HDD and check for errors, which can take some time. After that OS completes, your system will reboot again. This time choose Ubuntu (the first entry!).. If all went well you should see the Ubuntu logo and name with a progress meter below it. Congrats, you have installed Ubuntu

 

Section 3 Post-installation​

Updating the OS:
Ok, you've installed Ubuntu, I hope your connected via ethernet? Good. Alright fire up Update Manager(System>Administration>Update Manager), refresh it. Make sure all the updates are marked, and start updating.

Install Drivers:
Go to the Hardware drivers app(System>Admin.>Hardware Drivers). Enable the drivers you want from there, I recommend activating all of them. If your wireless card isn't working, feel free to ask here, we are nice!
Check here for supported wireless cards: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wi...CardsSupported

Installing Multimedia Codecs:
Ubuntu doesn't come with the ability to play flash, mp3, etc. out of the box. But adding it is very easy. Go to Synaptic(System>Admin.>Synaptic Package Manager). Search for “ubuntu-restricted-extras”, install it, hit apply. Once your done you've got Flash, mp3, etc.

 

Reserved for later.

 

Ok guys, due to time issues I've decided to call this guide gold...if anyone wants to contribute to the extra section let me know. Hopefully I will have the guide for Ubuntu 9.04 out around release day.

 

what id we're NOT connected to ethernet cable? then we're at a standstill with wireless. how do we get wireless working in Ubuntu with a Linksys WUSB54GP?

 

95% of people have access to ethernet, using a wireless device such as your Linksys, you have to haver an ethernet connection from your router. Now, for some Linksys wireless devices you can use the Windows driver through ndiswrapper(that link only works in Ubuntu).

 

I'll probably be installing Ubuntu 8.10 soon. The other day I used the live CD and was able to connect to the Internet wirelessly. Can I assume I won't have a problem with Wifi once it's actually installed on my laptop?

 

When the LiveCD works well as far as wireless is concerned, I would find it hard to believe that it won't function properly after installation.
I'd say it's a pretty safe assumption.
Cheers.

 

Yeah, that's what I was hoping, but I've seen where others are having problems.