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Tom Isabelle

Installing Ubuntu Desktop Edition On Your PC

An Easy Step-By-Step Guide To Setup Ubuntu

Before you get started, make sure to check these Minimum System Requirements:

  • 256 MB of RAM
  • 4 GB of disk space
  • will run on most PCs including those with Intel, AMD and compatible processors

Since I prefer to install Ubuntu over the entire hard drive, following these instructions will destroy all programs and files on your computer, your entire operating system (which if you still must use Windows XP, I can show you how to run it through a virtual host called VirtualBox), and (good news for some) any viruses your system may have. Consider this your warning, back up anything you consider valuable data.

My instructions assume you know some basic administrator tasks about computers such as how to change the boot sequence. If you need help, please create a free user account so you can contact me through my web form (sorry, for spam purposes, I do not allow my contact form to be used unless you are an authenticated user on this site).

Once you have a boot CD of Ubuntu Desktop Edition (tested with version 9.04 and 9.10), you may proceed with the following instructions.

  1. Power on your PC.

  2. Open the CD tray and insert Ubuntu disk. Close the tray.

  3. Power off your PC (it's perfectly fine to just press the power button, you won't break anything, I promise).

  4. Power back on your PC (if your computer if not set to boot from the CD tray, you will have to change the boot sequence so that the CD will boot first).

  5. The first screen will show various languages you can run Ubuntu is. Keep the default as English and press <Enter> (if you need help in another language, please ask someone who speaks one).

  6. The next screen will show the Ubuntu logo on a black background. You will have five options:

    a. Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer
    b. Install Ubuntu
    c. Check disc for defects
    d. Test memory
    e. Boot from first hard disk

    I recommend starting with “Check disk for defects”. The Ubuntu CD will scan the entire hard drive of your PC for defects. The first message will state, “Checking integrity, this may take some time.” When done, you should get the second message, “Check finished: no errors found” and underneath that message, “Press any key to reboot your system.” If all goes well, proceed as suggested (if not, consider purchasing a new hard drive or a new computer - do not continue with a bad hard drive).

  7. The PC will reboot. You will be back at step 5 above, then step 6. This time, choose “Test memory”. This may take a while depending on your system. At the top of the screen, you will see the text “Pass X%” (X = the actual percentage checked). This may take 30 - 40 minutes to complete. When done successfully, you should get the message, “Pass complete, no errors, press Esc to exit”. If all goes well, proceed as suggested (if not, purchase a new memory card(s)).

  8. The PC will reboot again. You will be back at step 5, then step 6. This time, choose “Install Ubuntu”. From this point you will see the Ubuntu logo on a black background with a slider below the logo bouncing from right to left, back and forth. After about two minutes of this, the line will eventually stabilize and the slider will change color and graduate from the left to the right. The screen will change to the default desktop color (yuck brown) briefly and then to the install screen with a earth tone background (very exciting I know).

  9. Now you are ready to install the operating system. On step 1 of 7 of the installation, choose English. Click Forward at the lower right of the screen.

  10. On step 2 of 7, choose your change the time zone (or keep the default). Click Forward.

  11. On step 3 of 7, choose your countries keyboard layout (I recommend keeping the default). Click Forward.

  12. On step 4 of 7, I recommend installing Ubuntu over the entire disk (AGAIN, make sure you backup everything you want to save before proceeding as everything will be lost). Chose “use the entire disk”. Click Forward.

  13. On step 5 of 7, identify yourself on the computer. For “What is your name?”, I recommend "master" (without quotes). By default, when you type "master", "master" will also appear in the “What name do you want to use to log in?” field. You will setup your other users later. It's a good idea to keep a master user for administration purposes only. Then “Choose a password to keep your account safe.” in two fields (it must be at least eight characters, a good idea is to write it down less you want to start from step 1 above again). The question “What is the name of this computer?” will default to <master-desktop> if you took my earlier suggestion by using the name "master". Keep the “Require a password to log in” checked. Click Forward.

  14. a. If installing Ubuntu version 9.04, you will skip over step 6 and onto step 7 of 7. Click Forward to complete the installation.
    b. If installing Ubuntu version 9.10, you will be at step 6 of 6. Click Install to complete the installation.

    After every ten minutes of inactivity from your keyboard or mouse, the screen saver will turn the screen black (don't worry, you can adjust this later). Just move or click with your mouse or press the space bar to refresh the screen. This step will take about 30 minutes. When done, a message will appear with the text, "Installation is complete. You need to restart the computer in order to use the new installation.” Click Restart Now.

  15. Your PC will restart. The CD tray will eject your Ubuntu CD (you can put it away as you won't need it for the rest of the setup). As instructed, “Please remove the disc, close the tray (if any) and press ENTER to continue.”

  16. Log in. At the username login, type “master” and your password for the "password". You are logged in. At the top right of the computer screen, to the right of the date and time, you will see the name of the logged in user. If you click on this name, you are given the options to Log Out (for another user to log in), Restart (to restart your PC), and Shut Down (you guessed it, to shut down your PC).

  17. Run updates. Upon a new installation, the "Update Manager" window will automatically open. The bottom task bar will indicate any programs running. Alternatively, you can always go to “System > Administration > Update Manager” to access this. From the “Update Manger” window, click “Settings”. Type in your password as requested and confirm by clicking OK. In the new "Software Sources" window, at the “Updates” tab, under the “Automatic updates” header, choose “Download all updates in the background”. Click Close. Then, from the "Update Manager" window, click Install Updates. This may take a significant amount of time. You may choose to come back in 30 minutes to continue. When done a text box will appear prompting you to reboot your PC. Reboot as requested. You are done the update. Unlike Windows operating systems that may have you install updates, then reboot your PC, install some more updates, then reboot your PC again, several times, Ubuntu will only have you do this once. Most future updates will not require you to reboot.

  18. Setup other users. Once logged in, go to "System > Administration > Users and Groups".

    a. If running Ubuntu version 9.04, in the "User Settings" window, click Unlock.
    b. If running Ubuntu version 9.10, in the "User Settings" window, click the key icon to the left of the text "Click to make changes".

    Type in your password as requested, click Authenticate. Click "Add User".

    Type in the "Username" and "Real Name". These can be the same or different. The "Real Name" is the name Ubuntu will display in the top right of the computer identifying who is logged in. The "Username" is the actual name you need to login. If you forget this, you will not be able to login. For this reason, you may want them to be the same (though you can always access the user account through the "master" login and change the Username, Realname, or Password for any account).

    You will then select one of three profiles from the "Profile" drop down menu:  Administrator, Unprivileged, or Desktop user. An Administrator user, naturally has full access. An Unprivileged user can only use what is there, and can't change anything. A Desktop user can not make system changes, but can create and save files and other non-system changes. You must choose one, so choose wisely!

    And finally, you will create a password and type in into the "User password" and "Confirmation" fields (the password here must be at least 6 characters). Click OK to save. Create another user if you wish.

  19. Modify the screen saver. Go to "System > Preferences > Screensaver". In the "Screensaver Preferences" window you can change the screensaver theme and time your computer is regarded as idle. Click Close to save the changes.

  20. Modify your display. Go to "System > Preferences > Display". In the "Display Preferences" window you can change the screen resolution. Ubuntu will automatically select the largest screen resolution. Change this as you wish and click Apply to make the change, then Close to exit.

  21. Want to run Windows on Ubuntu? Click here to learn how.