Before We Begin
What Hardware Will It Run On?
One of the most attractive attributes of Linux is the relatively low level of system requirements needed by even the most modern distributions. Ubuntu's minimum system requirements are listed as simply 384 MB RAM and 4 GB of disk space.
The computers used for this guide are not bleeding-edge desktops or gaming rigs. On the contrary, both systems are very ordinary. They are typical office PCs chosen with Windows Vista in mind. The 32-bit test system was built to reflect PCs currently being replaced due to poor performance using Vista. The 64-bit system is newer and can handle Vista, but it's still just an office system. Note that I only use multiple test systems to check functionality, not to test performance, but here are the test-system specs if you are interested:
| 32-Bit Test System | 64-Bit Test System | |
| CPU | Intel Pentium 4, 2.4 GHz | AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2.0 GHz |
| Motherboard | Biostar P4M80-M4 | Biostar NF61S-M2 TE |
| Memory | 512 MB DDR, 266 MHZ | 4 GB DDR2, 800 MHz |
| Video | Radeon 9550 256 MB DDR AGP | Nvidia GeForce 6100 Integrated |
| Hard Drive | EIDE 7,200 RPM | SATA 3 Gb/s, 7,200 RPM |
Disclaimer
It is highly recommended that you backup your vital data before you begin following this guide, especially if you are planning on installing it on the same hard drive with a Windows installation. It is also highly recommended that you read the entire article once through before following the directions.
This guide is going to require changes to your partition table and data loss is certainly possible. You will need to know how to burn an ISO file to a CD as well as how to set your BIOS to boot from the optical drive. You will also need to know some hard disk partitioning basics. If you want to dual-boot Ubuntu with Windows, make sure to install Windows first, since installing Ubuntu before Windows will most likely invite problems. If you don't trust the partitioner with the Ubuntu installation CD or just want to use your own partitioning solution beforehand, you'll need at least 10 GB of un-partitioned free space for Ubuntu in order to follow this guide. If you want to install Ubuntu on a second hard drive, with Windows on the first, just follow the directions for a blank hard drive.
Which Version Should I Choose?
First, you will need to download an ISO file from the official Ubuntu Web site. Your first choice is between version 9.04, which is the latest stable version, and 8.04 Long Term Support (LTS ). A new version of Ubuntu is released every six months, but an LTS release comes out every two years. The LTS is supported for three years, while non-LTS releases are maintained for two. If you are the type of person who wants the latest software, go for 9.04 and upgrade to the latest version every six months. On the other hand, if you want to get your system set up and leave it that way, go for 8.04 LTS and do an upgrade every two years.
How Many Bits Do I Need?
The next choice is between either the 32-bit or 64-bit edition of the version you choose. Keep in mind that, like Windows, the 64-bit edition of Ubuntu will have more compatibility issues than its 32-bit counterpart. Popular programs that won't run on the 64-bit edition include Google Earth and Adobe Flash 10. Driver support also lags behind on the 64-bit platform. Ultimately the choice is yours, but the 32-bit editions are going to provide for a more painless experience. All screenshots have been taken from the 32-bit edition of Ubuntu 9.04, but the instructions are essentially the same for 8.04, 32-bit, and 64-bit editions.
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If you forget your username, you are plain stupid. But it is not an issue. Boot up in safe mode/recovery mode or whatever. Once at the recovery mode screen, choose to start terminal as root. You can type "ls /home" to list users. You're username will be there.
Type "passwd yourusername" hit enter and type in your new password type. Remember it this time dummy. Confirm it by typing again. Remember linux is case sensitive.
You've succesfully changed your password and recovered your username. Type "exit" funnily enough and boot into Ubuntu.
You win!!!
I tried out Ubuntu Ibex (dual boot with vista) for a little while a couple of months back. It was simple to install and I loved the GNOME desktop but I found that some of the software I installed didn't work and my wireless wouldn't work. I searched a lot on line (wired access of course) but every suggestion I tried didn't solve my issues. Since I loved the GNOME desktop so much though I recently tried out FEDORA 10. It's working perfectly for me (only had it a week but used it a lot already). I haven't booted to vista since bar once just to check that I can actually dual boot. I'll probably use Fed for my work and vista only for my games when I'm bored with my PS3.
I love Linux, I've been using it since my college days (actually, I needed it, along with Unix, for engineering work). I think it's a bit complicated for the average Joe that just does not know any better than to point and click, especially if you have to play with it in the cli and the actual inner workings of the OS. Linux has come a long way but it still needs to polish some rough edges associated with the OS. Some of these issues are not the OS fault for example gaming, proprietary drivers, patent ridden codecs, etc. I hate it when I have problems with my video card drivers (yeah ATI), I hate it when a printer is just not supported (yeah Lexmark). Anyways, Linux is in the way up and I think this (rough edges) is going to change soon. I will continue to use Linux for a long time, heck I never actually used Windows ME or XP as my primary OS, Linux was my primary OS before that (Debian 2.0 rings a bell, ha)
Other people may well disagree, but the last time i tried ubuntu (8.04) It took me over 30hours to get my wifi card working, and that's depsite fllowing letter for letter guides written by other people.
I wouldnt mind but I consider myself extremely knowledgeable most of the time I used to install fairly complex multi-server networks, and the card that wouldnt work is a netgear wpn311 - not even an uncommon model.
Windows - literally plug and play, less than 5 minute job including shutdown and reboot, clearly linux has a way to go before it is acceptable for everyone.
I want to love Linux, I really do, but overall Windows makes things easier. In this day and age we shouldn't need to go to a CLI, I haven't really done that in anger since I used my old BBC Micro. I hate the fact that when I finally figure out how to get one of the many different package types to finally install, I then can't find where the program has actually gone. At least with Windows you say exactly where the program is to reside. Lets be honest, most people don't care about /usr /home /var etc etc. Outside of the Linux (UNIX?) world it means nothing and adds nothing but confusion. OK it does make sure everything is in its place but it also adds complexity. If I want to install a program on Windows I double click the install program and off it goes, installs and then adds a shortcut to the start menu. Simple. Windows even now asks for authorisation before running an executable. It isn't perfect, nor as secure as the Linux way, but a darn site easier. As I said, I want to love Linux, I want it to be easy to use and simple from an average users perspective. I love computers, always have, but I like using them, not fudging around 'under the hood' when I just want to install a simple program. Until that day I am resigned to using Windows with all the risks that go with that
What people generally confuse themselves with regards to drivers is that it's not a Linux issue. The problem is with the manufacturers of the hardware. They restrict themselves to creating windows only drivers, which means the Linux community have a hard time trying to reverse engineer those drivers to make one that will work with Linux. If the manufacturers of hardware were to release Linux drivers then these issues would simply disappear.
So for those people with misconceptions about problems with hardware and drivers, think for a second where did your windows driver come from?
People fail to realise that drivers under Linux for the vast majority have been painstakingly created from little or no knowledge of the underlying hardware. For the drivers that do work flawlessly and lets come on and admit it there is a lot of them now, hats off to the dedicated developer community for persevering.
Don't get me wrong I love Windows XP, and before that Windows 98/se but I have used linux for over 5 years and the progress these developers have made is truly amazing. I am no Linux fan boy, I have been using a Mac for more than 2 years now but have other machines that run a gamut of OS's.
smartroad, the thing is, if you want to install something in ubuntu, you can do it with a gui too. Just go to System, then Administration (I don't really know the english version of it, so I might as well be wrong), and then click synaptic. Then, you will be able to search, select and install/update whatever packages are listed on your repositories. If you want to have all your applications to be in a specific location, then you should compile from source. That won't be as easy and will require a cli, unless someone writes a script for it.
But I don't think we should be afraid of cli, there are many thing you can do a lot faster in a terminal than using a gui. There are gui tools for just about everything you will need using linux, it's just that using the cli is faster and easier on experienced users, that's why we are trying to teach the cli to newcomers.
I'll switch to Linux when Adobe release their software on it.
kthxbai
I have now actually switched to UNR on my NC10 and to be fair it is a much better experiance then I was expecting. There are a few nags I have, unlike windows it doesn't simply switch to my external monitor when I plug it in, for one thing. But on the whole it is a much better and easier experience then when I first used SUSE linux back in '98
I also want to love Linux, and the only reason I still stick with Windows, is its ample game support... but that is not Linux's fault, off course...
~ Mortov Molotov