Ubuntu/Kubuntu over Windows Vista?

This is my first time to use an operating system other than Microsoft's operating systems and it'll be a Linux.

I've downloaded Ubuntu's zip file from the site and I am currently using Windows Vista and I want to install a fresh copy of Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Xubuntu/Mythbuntu without Windows Vista staying in my computer any more.

I know that I can use Ubuntu and Kubuntu interchangeably which will be nice so how can I install Ubuntu/Kubuntu on my computer now with Windows Vista removed completely?

If it is to delete a partition, can I boot Ubuntu/Kubuntu from a cd if I just extract the zip into the cd?

 

You need to download the ubuntu .iso, and boot from that. During the paritioning phase, you can choose to use the entire hard drive.

You sure you want to completely get rid of Windows? Its a good idea to keep it around until your more comfortable with Linux.

 

I am pretty sure because it was a mistake to get Windows Vista in the first place.

 

I agreaa with Charr - it's a different experience using linux, and you want to be able to use the OS you're familiar with until you gain some confidence with Ubuntu.

 

I would strongly recommend not removing your windows system until you are comfortable with ubuntu. Just shrink your vista partition and dual boot with linux. There are a couple of good stickies at the top of this forum that have a lot of good info in them. There are step by step guides and links to other linux forums.

If you dual boot, you will be able to use vista while you are learning ubuntu.

Hope you enjoy ubuntu. Its a good thing to learn, as many of the netbooks are now coming with linux on them.

Also you have to burn the download as an iso for it to work. Please do a little reading before starting. It will make your life much easier.

You can also just try running ubuntu as a trial under vista without having to make any permanant changes to your system.

 

I will dual boot Linux with Windows Vista but how will I remove Windows Vista later when I get used to Linux?

I want to remove Windows Vista without losing any of my things and Windows Vista is not in a separate partition from my stuff.

 

You'll just delete the partition Windows is installed on and it'll be like it was never there. Then you can reclaim that space for Linux.

Edit: Wait you mean you want to keep your documents, pictures, etc?
Just copy them over to your Linux partition before you erase the partition with Windows then.

 

Like I said, Windows Vista is not on a separate partition and I don't want to lose my stuff.

Is there a way to delete Windows Vista without losing my things?

 

You should think about BACKING UP all your documents, pictures, mail, addresses, etc on something external. Maybe an external HD or burn them to cd/dvd. Don't even think about messing with changing OSs without a back up of everything that is important to you.

Also if you are doing any gaming you are still going to want to use vista.

If you don't have recovery CD's to reinstall vista, create them before you delete anything.

 

If you are dual booting, how will you have only one partition? I must have missed something.

 

You have to gather all the data you want to keep, and move it off of the parition. You could move them to another drive, a CD or a flashdrive, but they have to be off of your Vista partition in order to delete it.

You can also try Ubuntu out first before commiting anything to the hard drive.