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Installing Ubuntu

Creating a Bootable Ubuntu Linux CD

1 - Download the ISO (disk image) to your desktop. Go to HERE, and select a site close to you, then select PC (Intell x86) Desktop CD. Save the ISO to the desktop. This file will be quite large (approx 700MB) and may take a while to download over slow connections. Make sure you have enough hard drive space to hold it. Consider downloading and installing Infra Recorder (Step2) and MD5SUM (Step3) while the ISO downloads.

2 - Install Infra Recorder on a PC with a CD burner from Sourceforge. Go to HERE, select downloads and download the latest version. Save, then run the executable on the desktop. Follow the Installation Wizard and complete the installation.

3 - Install MD5SUM to verify the ISO was downloaded without errors. Go to HERE, select download now, save then run the executable from the desktop.

4 - Once the ISO is completely downloaded in Step 1, run Winmd5sum. Under filename, browse and select the ISO file downloaded to the desktop. This make take a while, especially on slower PCs. Find the md5 hash value for your corresponding ISO file HERE and copy it into the compare box and select compare. If you receive the message "Checksums are the same", the ISO was downloaded without error. If not, delete the ISO and repeat step 1.

5 - Insert a blank CD into the CD burner. Select "Take No Action" if this dialog box appears and start Infra Recorder. Select Actions --> Burn Image and select the ISO on the Desktop, then OK. Congrats! You're done.

Running Ubuntu from the CD

One of the nice things about Ubuntu Linux is that you do not have to install it on your hard drive. It can be run directly from the CD without changing anything on your hard drive. Note. While running Windows, if you eject and reinsert the Ubuntu CD, it may present to you (depending on the Ubuntu version installed) the options of installing Firefox, Thunderbird, Abiword, Gaim, Gimp and other tools onto Windows.

1 - First, verify the boot order on your PC. When your PC boots up, it looks for operating systems in a specific order defined in the CMOS Configuration Menu. Watch the screen at boot time for hints of what key to press before Windows or Linux starts loading. Usually the boot menu key is only displayed for 2 or 3 second so watch close. Check with the hardware manufacturer for details on entering the CMOS boot menu. Make sure the optical CD/DVD drive with the Ubuntu CD boots before the Hard Drive.

2 - Select "Check CD for Defects" from the Ubuntu menu. When this completes, it should say "Check finished, 0 Checksum failed" if the ISO is good and the CD is good. Press any key to reboot.

3 - Select Start or Intsall Ubuntu to run Ubuntu from the CD. After it loads, play around with any applications but do NOT select the Install icon from the Desktop unless you want to modify your hard drive. Press the "Power Button" in the upper right corner when you're done and select shutdown. The CD should eject itself . Remove it and reboot. Verify that Windows starts normally.

Installing Ubuntu on the Hard Drive

A dual boot system allows a user to choose either Ubuntu or Windows as the desired operating system at boot time. Before installing Ubuntu on the hard drive, I'd very strongly recommend backing up any important data to removable media.

1 - Follow the above procedure and select the Install Icon. Follow the Wizard and select Resize the existing partition. This will take a while. Logon, perform all software updates and reboot.

2 - For fun, make sure to add games and other applications. Go to System --> Administration --> Synaptic Package Manager and select Settings --> Repository -->Add. Check both Universe and Multiverse. On the left side, select Games and Amusements (Universe). I'd recommend adding pinball, planetpenguin-racer, prboom and gltron. Select Apply. Some of these games will be found under Applications --> Games while others will need to be started from the command prompt in /usr/games.

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