How to Install Ubuntu Linux From a Live CD
For most, deciding on a computer operating system is a "one or the other" choice: Apple's Mac OS, or Microsoft Windows. But in recent years, a very solid, very reliable and completely free (yes, it costs nothing) third option has gained popularity: Linux.
Linux is a blanket term that refers to the underlying code written by Finnish programmer Linus Torvalds in the 1980s. Torvalds made the code free to use and free to be modified by others--this is called "open source" code. As a result, Linux takes many forms and many different identities. These different versions of Linux are called "distributions." If you are a mainstream user looking for a solid, easy to use, free alternative to Windows or Mac-OS, Canonical Software's Ubuntu Linux is likely the distribution you will use.
With some basic computer knowledge, you can download Ubuntu onto a "live CD," test it out and then install it on your computer--alongside Windows, if you want. With Ubuntu, you can do everything you need to do in terms of computing: word processing, email, photos, image editing, music and even games.
This guide will deal with Ubuntu Linux on a PC (x86) computer only. It is possible to install on a Mac, but the process is considerably different.
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Things You'll Need
- PC (x86) computer
- Existing operating system (Windows, unless you already have Linux)
- CD burner
- Blank CD
Instructions
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Go to www.ubuntu.com and download the Ubuntu operating system CD image.
Ubuntu has an attractive, user-friendly website. For most, the Ubuntu "desktop" edition is the version you want--it is designed to work with all mainstream desktop and laptop PCs. Pick a download site closest to your city, and begin downloading the CD image (.ISO file). Make sure you know where you are saving the .ISO file on your computer. The Windows desktop is always good place.
The download will take a long time--it's several hundred megabytes. In the meantime, get milk and cookies, have lunch, or do some freelance writing for eHow. -
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Download and run InfraRecorder's InfraExpress (see Resources). When you install InfraRecorder, you will be asked if you want to install a bunch of free third-party software. Don't. Choose "decline" on each one. Programs like this can slow down your computer.
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Put a blank CD into your burn-capable drive. In InfraRecorder, choose "Create data CD" from the main menu. Next, under the "Actions" drop-down menu, choose "Burn image." Choose the Ubuntu .ISO file you just downloaded. Within a few minutes, InfraRecorder will burn an Ubuntu live CD.
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Simply restart your computer with the Ubuntu live CD in the drive. Your computer should automatically boot from the CD. If this doesn't work automatically, you may have to go into your BIOS and change the boot order so the CD drive is first. In any case, booting from your live CD will get you to the Ubuntu setup menu.
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Before installing Ubuntu, it's wise to test it out on your PC by running it directly from the CD (hence the "live.") Choose the first option in the menu, "Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer" and your system will boot into an Ubuntu desktop environment. Be aware, when running directly from the Live CD, Ubuntu will run very slow. But don't worry. When you actually install it (in the next step), it runs quite fast--probably even faster than Windows.
When the desktop finally loads, explore and make sure you like everything. You have plenty of programs to choose from already, such as Open Office (it does everything Microsoft Office does) and GIMP, an alternative to Adobe Photoshop. More important, check to see if your computer works like it should: Can you connect to the Internet? Do you have sound? Does your mouse work? Does your screen display everything properly? For the most part, Canonical does an amazing job giving Ubuntu support for most widely used computer hardware. However, there will always be some hardware that doesn't work perfectly--or, rarely, at all. If you're happy with the way everything works, double click "Install" on the left side of the desktop. This will take you back into the setup utility. Or you can just reboot your computer with the live CD inside. -
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Choose the second option in the setup menu, "Install Ubuntu." You will answer some basic questions, such as time zone and keyboard layout, and then you will arrive at the drive partitioning screen. This is the most important part of the installation--here you will determine the fate of Windows (and/or any other operating systems already on your PC).
To install Ubuntu alongside Windows, without affecting it at all, choose the first option: "Install them side by side, choosing between them each startup." This way, each time you turn on your PC you get a menu where you can choose between Ubuntu or Windows. This is called a "dual boot" configuration. It's like having two computers in one.
In a dual boot setup, none of your files, settings and programs in Windows will be affected. Likewise, Ubuntu will function totally independently of Windows--however, you will have the ability to access most of your Windows documents (MS Word documents, photos) in Ubuntu. For instance, you can work on your term paper in Open Office in Linux, save it, then continue working the same file in MS Office in Windows. You can even listen to your Windows music files in Ubuntu, as long as they are not proprietary (i.e., purchased from iTunes). Unfortunately, though, it doesn't work the other way around: you won't be able to get documents from the Ubuntu side while running Windows. Windows doesn't play as nicely with other OSes as Ubuntu does.
If decide to dual boot, you must specify how much of your hard drive to devote to Windows and how much to devote to Ubuntu. To accomplish this, there is a rather intuitive sliding gauge that lets you divide the hard drive into two proportions. You can devote as much space as you want to either operating system. As a general rule, devote more space to the OS you plan to use more often, because you'll be generating more documents. Ubuntu does require somewhat more hard drive space than XP (6 gigabytes minimum for Ubuntu, and 1.5 for XP), but neither of these is really that much considering the size of hard drives these days. On the other hand, Ubuntu requires a lot less space than Windows Vista (15 gigabytes minimum for Vista). If you're not sure, just split it 50/50.
If you're ready to dump Windows altogether and use Linux exclusively, you can also choose "Use entire disk" on the partition manager screen. This will devote the entire drive to Ubuntu and completely wipe out Windows. This will utterly destroy all your files, settings and programs in Windows, so back everything up before going this route.
Next, all you have to do is wait until Ubuntu is fully installed. You'll then be prompted to remove the live CD, and Ubuntu will run from your hard drive, quickly and efficiently.
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Resources
- Photo Credit All images are screenshots taken by the author
