How to Install Linux on an Alienware Laptop

Installing Ubuntu Linux on your Alienware laptop is a fun and free way to try an open source OS.

Alienware laptops are some of the highest-end laptops on the market today. By default, they ship with the latest version of Microsoft Windows. This doesn't preclude you from installing or dual-booting your own operating system like Linux. There are many variations of Linux to be downloaded online, but Ubuntu is one of the most user-friendly versions. Downloading, burning and installing Ubuntu Linux is a fairly straightforward process and can be accomplished in less than 45 minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Blank DVD
• DVD burner
• Latest version of Ubuntu Linux
• Imgburn

Instructions

Download and Burn Ubuntu

1. Point your web browser at the Ubuntu download site (see Resources) and download the appropriate disk image for your laptop. If you're not sure which image to download, consult your Alienware owner's manual to determine whether you've got a 64-bit or 32-bit system.

2. Download Imgburn (see Resources) and double click its icon to install it. Make sure you install Imgburn in a location that you can easily locate.

3. When both programs finish downloading, launch Imgburn and click the "Mode" tab and switch the option to "Write." Insert your blank DVD into the drive and under the "Source" drop-down menu, select the newly downloaded Ubuntu image file and click "Burn."

4. Eject the disk from the drive and label it with a permanent marker. Allow the marker to dry for a minute or two, then place the disk back in the drive and reboot the PC.

Installing Linux

1. When prompted, press the proper key to boot from the DVD. Enter your name, verify that the date and time are correct and enter your timezone.

2. When selecting a partition, be sure to select empty disk space if you don't want to overwrite your current operating system. Set the amount of space you'd like to partition off (8GB minimum) and click the "Continue" button.

3. Follow the prompts to complete the installation and allow the computer to reboot. Remove the disk from the drive when you've booted into Ubuntu.

Tips & Warnings

• Many programs that are Windows-exclusive have free Linux alternatives that are just as functional as their Windows counterparts.

• If you choose to overwrite your previous operating system's active partition, you will lose all of your data. Be sure to have recent backups if you decide to go this route.

References

• Ubuntu Support
• Imgburn Support

Resources

• Ubuntu Download
• Imgburn