Ubuntu Install Guide (Step by Step)

Step 1 - Download the Ubuntu 8.04 Desktop ISO image from Ubuntu site

Step 2 - Burn the ISO image. Make sure you select "burn image to disc" option while burning. Don't burn it as a data disc.

Step 3 - Insert or leave the CD in your CD/DVD-ROM device and reboot your computer. Boot from your Ubuntu CD. Select your language when asked:


Then select the second option "Install Ubuntu" and hit Enter:
It'll take some time to start the installation so be patient.




You can also select "Try Ubuntu Without Any Change to your Computer"
In this case you'll get boot into an ubuntu os from livecd. You can just click on install when you boot and rest will be the same in either case.



Once installation setup starts up or when u click on install button.
When the installer appears, select your native language and click the 'Forward' button

Next select your timezone. Just move the mouse over india and then click on the dot on kolkata. This will automatically set values which you can see below



Select Your Keyboard Layout:
Just Click Forward Here

Hard disk partitioning

This is the tricky part. Be careful here.
Select "Manual"

Now Here you can see your HDD partitions. I'm assuming that there's only one HDD in the system and that you have free space on it to install ubuntu.

You need to create 3 partitions here
1. Root (/) (This is the root partition where your os will be installed 10GB should be enuf
2. Boot (/boot) (This is a separate partition to store your boot files. 100-200MB)
(This will help you if you need to remove ubuntu or windows so that the other is not affected)
3. swap (swap) (This is like the windows Virtual Memory. Not very useful nowa days 1024MB should be enough )

Note: You can only create maximum 4 primary partitions and since u need to create 3 more here. I suggest you create an extended partition first. You can do this here or from windows itself. Just goto Control Panel> Administrative tools > Computer Management> Disk Management > Right Click free Space > Create new Partition> Select Extended and you are done. You can do it here also in a similar manner.
All Partitions inside an extended partition are logocal partitions.

I suggest create the boot partition first,then the root and then the swap
For boot
Just Select Free Space > Click on new partition > Set the size of the partition > Set the mount point as "/boot" > Leave the filesystem as "ext3" > Click OK

For Root Partition
Just Select Free Space > Click on new partition > Set the size of the partition > Set the mount point as "/" > Leave the filesystem as "ext3" > Click OK

For swap
Just Select Free Space > Click on new partition > Set the size of the partition > Set the filesystem as "swap" > Click OK
No need to set mountpoint here.

Now just fill in the details as asked and press Forward


No need to do anything here if you have only one HDD. Just press Forward


If you have two or more HDD and your ubuntu install is in your primary HDD still u need not do anything.

Just Click on install here




Then Restart


You are ready to go

Thank a lot!:clap: I have installed and uninstalled Ubuntu several time. So I don't think installing Ubuntu is hard anymore.
BTW. Could you tell me how I can install Windows and Ubuntu. And Uninstall either OS if I want without damaging the other.

Nice thread gauviz...

Rep point for u...

i could not post everything in one post because i cant put more than 8 images in one post. But i had added another post right after this.It has all the dteails about partitioning and all which is the most important part. I think it's waiting for approval.

Sorry about the trouble gauviz

@admin no problem

@vishnu Read the HDD partitioning part. You have to just make a separate 100-200MB boot partition and if you do that whenever you remove any os it'll not affect the other. This is true for all linux ditros. Ubuntu is no exception.

Good job gauviz.

Added a repo for you.

Keep it up.

Originally Posted by gauviz

@admin no problem

@vishnu Read the HDD partitioning part. You have to just make a separate 100-200MB boot partition and if you do that whenever you remove any os it'll not affect the other. This is true for all linux ditros. Ubuntu is no exception.

Thanks so much gauviz. This the best set by stem guide I have seen. I always used automatic free space detection option (don't remember the real name). You deserve Reputation.

Thanks again.

Also rated this this thread excellent.

Originally Posted by vishnus89

Also rated this this thread excellent.

Me too...

I made a 6 pages MS Word and PDF documents out of this thread. And also took a print out. Now all I need to do is buy some blank CDs to back up the data and then it's total formatting time. :33:

Thanks again gauviz.

u really didnt need to just boot from ubuntu live cd and u can open this in firefox and install by clicking on install icon on dekstop.

Originally Posted by gauviz

u really didnt need to just boot from ubuntu live cd and u can open this in firefox and install by clicking on install icon on dekstop.

It's for safe keeping.

Repo point to you, gauviz. It will be better if you can make a proper guide out of this using MS-Word or any such software. Create the guide, zip it and post it on the forum. Admin or I can make the thread 'stick'.

Originally Posted by just4kix

Repo point to you, gauviz. It will be better if you can make a proper guide out of this using MS-Word or any such software. Create the guide, zip it and post it on the forum. Admin or I can make the thread 'stick'.

Vishnu has already prepared the Word Document for this...May be he can post it in the forum....What do you say Vishnu....

Originally Posted by jee.ramesh1983

Vishnu has already prepared the Word Document for this...May be he can post it in the forum....What do you say Vishnu....

I send the file link to gauviz. Hope he got it.

Cool...........

I would post the pdf and doc here but i cant find the edit button on any of my posts. I'm not sure because i'm logged into the forum. Can admin please help.

Anyways i was thinking of putting some extra help into the document for people new to linux for example howto install MS Word in ubuntu and solution of common problems. It would be great if people could post any problems that they faced after installing ubuntu.

Ps: i can edit this post but the button dosent appear in any of my previous post

@pothi i can still edit this post .

Gauviz,

I think you can't edit your post, if someone has posted after you. For example, now I've posted this post. Now you can't edit your post. Can you understand?

I think Admin would help you in putting the pdf and doc. Just wait for some time. If he reads this thread, he would come forward to help you.

Thanking you,
Pothi.

Originally Posted by gauviz

I would post the pdf and doc here but i cant find the edit button on any of my posts. I'm not sure because i'm logged into the forum. Can admin please help.
.

Edit button will disappear after a certain time. I think admin can still edit the post.

Downloading Ubuntu....60 % over.....

Originally Posted by jee.ramesh1983

Downloading Ubuntu....60 % over.....

thats great ramesh jee....

should install by tomorrow....
Even if I face any issue....no problem...
You guys are there to help me out..

Yes you can install it whenever you want and we are always there to help you in any case

you can see me online on AOL anytime starting from 1PM IST to 11PM IST
on indiabroadband.net i stay from 1PM IST to 3AM IST

and we have some Linux freeks too

yeah...in case if u have any problems..u can come online using the live-cd itself...and post ur problems here

I have downloaded Ubuntu & have also burned the iso image on to the cd...

Before I install...got few doubts...
I have 2 partitions in my system:
C drive (30 GB ; 17 GB Free) &
D drive (120 GB ; 82 GB free)

I have installed Windows Xp in the C drive.

1) Should I install ubuntu in C or D drive...
2) I could understand the "Hard disk partitioning" part in the Install guide...
Mainly the "extended partition" one

no no..dont install in C drive..when ur in the partition manager of the ubuntu..slect D drive ..select new partion...there select swap...size=1024MB

then..one more partition..select ext3 partion..with a minimum size of 4-5GB..then give the mount point as / ...thats all..if any problem ..u can come online from there itself, and post here

Hey i thought people will find it difficult so i'll elaborate a little.
Now you have a 30GB and 120 GB partition.
I'll clarify things a bit
1. Dont touch ur 30 GB XP paritition.
2. You need 3 partitions for ubuntu (root,boot,swap)
3. And one more u'll need to store your data (i.e. a D drive for ur XP)
4. Now you can only create a maximum of 4 "primary partitions". Now if you want to have more than 4 partitions on your harddrive you need to create 1 "extended partition" which counts as 1 primary partition. An extended partition can have as many "logical partition" in it as u want.

Now I suppose you have some data in ur 120GB Drive. I would recommend that you copy all of this data to an external HDD or your C drive( it has some free space) for backup.

Now just goto Control Panel> Administrative Tools>ComputerManagement> Disk Management Tab in the left Bar> Right Click on your 120Gb partition> Delete Partition> Click Yes (this will delete your 120 GB partition and show unallocated space. > right click again the free space > New Partition> Select Extended>Leave the size as the whole 120GB> Click Next Next after that wherever needed. Now you have created an extended partition. You can create any number of partitions inside it. Right Click on the new extended partition > create new partition > Next (Logical default).> Selec the size suppose 100Gb > Next > Next

Now u'll have a 100Gb partition instead of 120 GB and 20GB free space to install ubuntu. Follow the guide from here.

Ask for help if you find anything difficult.

@above..

yea nice..but boot partitions are not needed explicitly..all he has to do is just create swap and a root partition..(make root partition logical in the installation step)

@ramesh

if u know how to use partition manager u can avoid data backup...all u have to do is create a new partition of 10-20GB..then install ubuntu..

Well the boot partition is not necessary but is highly recommended. If you make a boot partition you can easily remove ubuntu without affecting your windows boot. Also if u want to remove windows it wont affect your ubuntu installation. Yes you can avoid data backup by using tools like "Partition Magic" but sometimes it screws up destroying your data.So be careful in this case.

yaa...dont use partition managers..if u're not familiar with them

Originally Posted by gauviz

Hey i thought people will find it difficult so i'll elaborate a little.
Now you have a 30GB and 120 GB partition.
I'll clarify things a bit
1. Dont touch ur 30 GB XP paritition.
2. You need 3 partitions for ubuntu (root,boot,swap)
3. And one more u'll need to store your data (i.e. a D drive for ur XP)
4. Now you can only create a maximum of 4 "primary partitions". Now if you want to have more than 4 partitions on your harddrive you need to create 1 "extended partition" which counts as 1 primary partition. An extended partition can have as many "logical partition" in it as u want.

Now I suppose you have some data in ur 120GB Drive. I would recommend that you copy all of this data to an external HDD or your C drive( it has some free space) for backup.

Now just goto Control Panel> Administrative Tools>ComputerManagement> Disk Management Tab in the left Bar> Right Click on your 120Gb partition> Delete Partition> Click Yes (this will delete your 120 GB partition and show unallocated space. > right click again the free space > New Partition> Select Extended>Leave the size as the whole 120GB> Click Next Next after that wherever needed. Now you have created an extended partition. You can create any number of partitions inside it. Right Click on the new extended partition > create new partition > Next (Logical default).> Selec the size suppose 100Gb > Next > Next

Now u'll have a 100Gb partition instead of 120 GB and 20GB free space to install ubuntu. Follow the guide from here.

Ask for help if you find anything difficult.

I have stuff of around 38 GB in D drive & the free space in C Drive is 17 GB..
I also dont have any external hard disk...
Partition Manager....? Hearing this for the first time....dunno how to use it....

Try "Partition Magic". Do you know about it

What is that....

Originally Posted by jee.ramesh1983

What is that....

Partition Manager is a tool to edit partitions. This is how Partition Magic's screen looks like.

You can use it to Create, Resize, Delete, Merge, Split partition. You can also use it to convert file system of partition (NTFS, FAT32, FAT etc). Its really easy to use. But if not careful you will loss data.

You can use it to create free space to install Ubuntu.

is it a freeware?

i dont think it is safe to use partition managers when u dont know how to use it...

Originally Posted by jee.ramesh1983

is it a freeware?

Partition Magic is Shareware. I don't know if there is a freeware application to do the job.

Is the shareware enough or full version is required...

Originally Posted by jee.ramesh1983

Is the shareware enough or full version is required...

You won't be able to do anything with demo version. Its for show only. I search and EASEUS Partition Manager is the only freeware I could find.

This is how it's screen looks like.

It looks simple to understand. And have all the important options.

thanks mate....My only fear is if something goes wrong...then all my data could be lost....

Originally Posted by jee.ramesh1983

thanks mate....My only fear is if something goes wrong...then all my data could be lost....

Pleasure. I have used Partition Magic and no problems yet. Good Luck!
Don't use the partition manager on your main disc( c: ) no matter what.

apart from C & d drive I have some 8 GB free space...& while installing ubuntu it showed this 8 gb free space....can I use this free space to install ubuntu...

yaa..use it..create a swap and root partition

Originally Posted by mahehellraiser

yaa..use it..create a swap and root partition

what abt boot partition...

i dont think u require a boot partition...even if u re-install windows and loose your grub..u can restore it easily...

Boot partition is not neccessary. Boot loader would be installed in mbr(master boot record).

Originally Posted by pothi

Boot partition is not neccessary. Boot loader would be installed in mbr(master boot record).

so,is swap and root partition enough..Kindly confirm...

yes u can

ya..enough..go ahead

just convert that space into an extended partition as i posted earlier.
Then u can continue with installation guide.

This is my partition...I dont see that 8 Gb free space here...

Originally Posted by jee.ramesh1983

so,is swap and root partition enough..Kindly confirm...

Yes, swap and root partitions are enough to install ANY linux distribution.

Originally Posted by pothi

Yes, swap and root partitions are enough to install ANY linux distribution.

How much space shall I give to both (out of 8 GB)

By default I choose 1GB for swap and the rest for root, irrespective of the memory.

thank you..this is what one of my friend also suggested that only root & swap are enough....

My RAM capacity is 2 GB....is 1 GB of swap enough....

Actually you would curse linux developers for making swap as mandatory. Even though I have only 1GB RAM, I've NEVER seen even 1% of swap used at ANY time. So go ahead with the installation. Don't bother about your data in windows. If something goes wrong, you can always back up the data using LIVE CD.

I tried the first option...Try ubuntu without any changes to ur computer....

my 1st msg from ubuntu...

u're using manual partition settings rite?

Originally Posted by mahehellraiser

u're using manual partition settings rite?

no i dint use any partition....i clicked on "Try Ubuntu without any changes to your computer"
& I am using Ubuntu...I dint install it....