Ubuntu-Linux Installation Tips
PC has already Windows XP OS installed and we want to keep it.
Dual-Boot Installation
NOTE:
If you attempt to install Windows on a hard disk that has Ubuntu, Windows will
overwrite Ubuntu.
Pre-installation Steps
1. Check how the disk is partitioned
Go to Control Panel and switch to Classic View.
Administrative Tool Computer Management Storage Disk Management.
2. Check how much free space is left.
My Computer Properties
NOTE: Ubuntu needs at least 3GB of free space (the base installation takes 2GB),
more if we plan to install a lot of programs
3. Clean the Disk.
Start All Programs Accessories System Tools Disk Cleanup
4. Write Down:
- usernames and passwords
- Phone number of your dial-up connection and technical settings
- DSL/Cable modem settings
- IP address
- make and model of:
graphic cards, modems, DSL/cable cards, sound cards, harddisks, CD/DVD
My Computer Properties Hardware Tab
Installation Steps
Step 1: Prepare the Windows Partition
Scan the Disk for Errors
Defragment Hard disk
Ensure Windows is shut down correctly
Step 2: Boot from the DVD-ROM
Make sure the BIOS setup program has the CD-ROM Drive in the Boot Sequence before
the main Hard Disk.
Step 3. Language Settings
Choose the Language in which you want the Ubuntu boot Menu to appear
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Step 4. Select from the Boot Menu
Select Install Ubuntu
Step 5. Choose a Language for Ubuntu
Step 6. Select your Country and Time Zone
Step 7. Confirm your keyboard layout
Step 8. Repartition your Hard Disk
Resize the existing Main Partition
(install Ubuntu in the newly created free space)
Partitions
o Device: logical representation of the hardware device in Ubuntu
o Type: file system type (NTFS or VFAT are windows file systems), ext3
indicates the Ubuntu partition, and swap indicates the swap file partition
o Mount Point: this is how Ubuntu can access the partition once it is up and
running.
The mount point for the main partition is root: /
The mount point for the swap partition is not assigned by the user
Ubuntu makes non-Linux File systems (such as windows NTFS) available
by mounting them. Example of mount point: /windows or /dos
Rule of thumb: if the physical SRAM is smaller than 1 GB the size of the
swap partition should be set to 2x the physical SRAM, else to 1x the
Physical SRAM)
o Format?: indicates whether the partition will be formatted during
installation
o Size: size of the partition (in megabytes)
o Used: how much disk space has been consumed (in megabytes)
Step 9. Enter a Username
It must be one word without any spaces in it
You can use uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers, but not symbols and
punctuation
The username cannot start with an Uppercase letter
Step 10. Import Documents and Settings of existing accounts from your
Windows Partition
Sep 11. Confirm Installation Choices
Step 12. Wait for installation to complete
Step 13. Reboot and Start Using Ubuntu
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