Leeky
Posts: 3,357 +116
So I’ve noticed some interest in members trying out Linux since I’ve arrived here, so thought I would spend a bit of time and write a very detailed guide, with lots of pictures to help those considering it.
I’ll try to explain certain options and helpful hints along the way, so rather than just following the guide, you can understand the reasoning behind the decisions.
I’m not a professional, and the guide below is drawn from my experiences, and from what I have learned doing this myself. If there are any mistakes please draw my attention to them and I’ll correct as needed. I’ve tried to make this as simple as possible.
In this guide I will cover the installation of Ubuntu linux 10.04, 32bit version, from a live CD. The installation of Kubuntu versions, or 64bt versions is near enough identical.
Step 1:
So the first thing everyone should do is head to http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download and download Ubuntu 10.04 Live CD. Just click the big orange Start download box.
Step 2:
Using your disc burning software, burn the .iso you downloaded to a CD.
Step 3:
Before you go any further, ensure all important data is backed up, in case of data loss on all your drives. This guide assumes you have media backups of your Windows partitioned hard drive, and you are safe to proceed.
Hint: Installing another operating system without first ensuring you have backups of your current files and operating system is a big risk. If you have no data to lose, or you’ve backed up important data, you’re now ready to proceed. I’m not responsible if you lose data.
Step 4:
Ensure you have a network cable connected, and restart your computer, and boot from the CD drive.
Step 5:
The Live CD will load up, and you’ll be presented by the following box:
For the purposes of this guide, we’ll assume you’ve already seen and tried Ubuntu, and want to go ahead and install it now. So to get started, let’s click “Install Ubuntu 10.04 LTS”
Hint: “LTS” refers to long term release. Ubuntu offers two types of their Linux. You can use the most cutting edge (the latest release) which offers 12 months updates, or you can use the more stable, long term release, which is updated and kept current for 3 years from its release date.
Step 6:
You’ll now be greeted by the box below, with the “where are you?” title, exactly as below:
Select your current region. In my case, I’m in the UK so have selected United Kingdom. Select forward when you have finished this step.
Step 7:
The next screen you’ll see is the “keyboard layout” screen as below:
It should already be set to the correct keyboard (its uses your region to find the best match), so confirm it is correct. United Kingdom as been correctly set for my keyboard. Click forward once your finished.
Step 8:
The screen that now greets you is the “prepare disk space” screen. Picture is below:
You have three options:
1. You can “install them side by side” letting the installer sort it for you automatically.
2. You can use the guided disk utility, and let the installer automatically erase and then format an entire disk (you can select the disk from the drop down box)
3. You can specify the partitions manually, for advanced users, or those wanting to create several seperate partitions. This is ideal if you would like to set partitions a certain size, so your not wasting too much hard disk space.
Hint: Linux recognises and assigns ID’s to drive in a different manner to Windows. In the above image you can clearly see my hard disk in the list. It is identified by “sda.” Linux recognises hard disks in the following way:
• Sda = 1st hard disk
• Sdb = 2nd hard disk
• Sdc = 3rd hard disk and so on.
However, (and this is where it gets confusing) partitions are also shown after the drive letters. So if I had 2 partitions on my first disk, they would be identified as:
• Sda1 – 1st hard disk, 1st partition
• Sda2 – 1st hard disk, 2nd partition
You will not see the common windows C: in the disk menu in the above list. You do however have key things to help you recognise your windows c: drive. Both of these can be used to identify which is your windows disk.
• The size of the disk is shown
• The name of the drive is shown
Option 1: Install them side by side, choosing between them each startup
This option will be the most common one for users wishing to use only one hard disk. It’s far easier for an inexperienced person to let the installer do the work for you. Ensure this option is selected, and then click forward and you’ll then be greeted by the following box:
Click continue, and then proceed to step 9, ignoring option 2/3 below.
Option 2: Erase entire disk and use for Linux
The easiest option by far is to select a 2nd disk from the list which doesn’t contain your Windows partition, and erase and use the entire disk. If you have a 2nd hard disk, use this option, but remember to check your using your “non-windows” hard disk! So select the correct disk, and press forward. Continue to step 9 ignoring option 3 below..
I’ll try to explain certain options and helpful hints along the way, so rather than just following the guide, you can understand the reasoning behind the decisions.
I’m not a professional, and the guide below is drawn from my experiences, and from what I have learned doing this myself. If there are any mistakes please draw my attention to them and I’ll correct as needed. I’ve tried to make this as simple as possible.
In this guide I will cover the installation of Ubuntu linux 10.04, 32bit version, from a live CD. The installation of Kubuntu versions, or 64bt versions is near enough identical.
Step 1:
So the first thing everyone should do is head to http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download and download Ubuntu 10.04 Live CD. Just click the big orange Start download box.
Step 2:
Using your disc burning software, burn the .iso you downloaded to a CD.
Step 3:
Before you go any further, ensure all important data is backed up, in case of data loss on all your drives. This guide assumes you have media backups of your Windows partitioned hard drive, and you are safe to proceed.
Hint: Installing another operating system without first ensuring you have backups of your current files and operating system is a big risk. If you have no data to lose, or you’ve backed up important data, you’re now ready to proceed. I’m not responsible if you lose data.
Step 4:
Ensure you have a network cable connected, and restart your computer, and boot from the CD drive.
Step 5:
The Live CD will load up, and you’ll be presented by the following box:
For the purposes of this guide, we’ll assume you’ve already seen and tried Ubuntu, and want to go ahead and install it now. So to get started, let’s click “Install Ubuntu 10.04 LTS”
Hint: “LTS” refers to long term release. Ubuntu offers two types of their Linux. You can use the most cutting edge (the latest release) which offers 12 months updates, or you can use the more stable, long term release, which is updated and kept current for 3 years from its release date.
Step 6:
You’ll now be greeted by the box below, with the “where are you?” title, exactly as below:
Select your current region. In my case, I’m in the UK so have selected United Kingdom. Select forward when you have finished this step.
Step 7:
The next screen you’ll see is the “keyboard layout” screen as below:
It should already be set to the correct keyboard (its uses your region to find the best match), so confirm it is correct. United Kingdom as been correctly set for my keyboard. Click forward once your finished.
Step 8:
The screen that now greets you is the “prepare disk space” screen. Picture is below:
You have three options:
1. You can “install them side by side” letting the installer sort it for you automatically.
2. You can use the guided disk utility, and let the installer automatically erase and then format an entire disk (you can select the disk from the drop down box)
3. You can specify the partitions manually, for advanced users, or those wanting to create several seperate partitions. This is ideal if you would like to set partitions a certain size, so your not wasting too much hard disk space.
Hint: Linux recognises and assigns ID’s to drive in a different manner to Windows. In the above image you can clearly see my hard disk in the list. It is identified by “sda.” Linux recognises hard disks in the following way:
• Sda = 1st hard disk
• Sdb = 2nd hard disk
• Sdc = 3rd hard disk and so on.
However, (and this is where it gets confusing) partitions are also shown after the drive letters. So if I had 2 partitions on my first disk, they would be identified as:
• Sda1 – 1st hard disk, 1st partition
• Sda2 – 1st hard disk, 2nd partition
You will not see the common windows C: in the disk menu in the above list. You do however have key things to help you recognise your windows c: drive. Both of these can be used to identify which is your windows disk.
• The size of the disk is shown
• The name of the drive is shown
Option 1: Install them side by side, choosing between them each startup
This option will be the most common one for users wishing to use only one hard disk. It’s far easier for an inexperienced person to let the installer do the work for you. Ensure this option is selected, and then click forward and you’ll then be greeted by the following box:
Click continue, and then proceed to step 9, ignoring option 2/3 below.
Option 2: Erase entire disk and use for Linux
The easiest option by far is to select a 2nd disk from the list which doesn’t contain your Windows partition, and erase and use the entire disk. If you have a 2nd hard disk, use this option, but remember to check your using your “non-windows” hard disk! So select the correct disk, and press forward. Continue to step 9 ignoring option 3 below..