How to install Ubuntu, Step by Step Beginners Guide

Have you tired of Windows and want to venture into using some Linux distribution, but don't know where to start? We set up a step by step with all the necessary steps to have the system running on your machine. In our tutorial, we will install Ubuntu on a conventional Leaptop, just download the image from the official website (we use Ubuntu Desktop 20.04 lts 64-bit version), which is approximately 2.5 GB. All Steps are same for Ubuntu 18.04 and 19.04.

Preparation

Before we start, it is important to decide if we want to install Ubuntu with Linux and choose which boot to boot on the machine (option we recommend for several reasons) or if we will reset the hard disk and leave only Ubuntu installed. In the first case, it is necessary to reserve disk space for the other operating system or even install the system on a second hard drive. In both cases, although Ubuntu 20.04 can be installed using only 20 GB.

Another important point is that, although Linux has evolved a lot in relation to automatic hardware recognition, knowing the components of your computer is always valuable to finish the installation and configure some additional components. If possible, write down on a paper the model of the video card, wireless antenna and so on.

 You can download Ubuntu 20.04.6 from this link Download Here, After downloading Ubuntu, just burn it to a DVD using the program of your choice. If you are using Windows 7 or 10, this step is simpler: right-click on the file and then "Save image".

Get to work

After burning Ubuntu to a DVD, restart the machine and choose the option to boot from Ubuntu. After starting, we will have two options.

Try Ubuntu: runs Ubuntu directly from the DVD, ideal for those who want to try the system without making any changes to the machine. The experience is relatively bad, after all there is a huge loss of performance since the speed of the DVD is slow, even when compared to a conventional hard disk;

Install Ubuntu: starts the installation directly. Even if the user chooses "Try Ubuntu", it is possible to start the installation using a desktop shortcut.

The installation process starts in English, but it is possible to configure the system to work in India right from this first window.

Choose the first option “Normal Installation” and hit on the Continue button.

The next step, "Installation type", asks that three items be fulfilled for a better use of the installation.

Having 20 GB of available disk space: remember that this is the minimum. We recommend at least 40 GB.

Being connected to a power source: for those who are installing Ubuntu on a laptop or desktop, it is possible to install without connecting the source. If so, we recommend that the machine has a sufficient load to withstand the entire installation process - this step takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Being connected to the internet: this option is recommended for convenience, as it automatically installs updates and proprietary codecs during the update. We strongly recommend this option and the user should check the options "Install updates during installation" and "Install third party software", because believe me: it is not pleasant to have to manually install codecs for any task, such as MP3 music, flash videos and playing any type of film.

Now we come to the part that discourages many users: disk partitioning. We have three options: install Ubuntu with Windows, replace Windows or "Something different". If you have freed up enough space, the first option can save this step while the second eliminates Windows from the machine and uses the entire disk for Ubuntu.

Both are excellent options and work most of the time, but it is important to know what we are doing and learn a little more about how Linux works, so we selected the option "Something different". The window that will open is not pretty, much less intuitive, but with a few tips we started to get more familiar.

The disks are identified as "sda" or "hdb", which are actually partitions on the disk. "sd" stands for SATA Disk (newer hard drives and SSDs), and "hd" is a hard drive (older models). The third letter is the partition number, that is, "a" is partition 1, "b" is partition 2 and so on. Knowing this, now let's see what to do with that information.

To create the root partition, select the free space and hit on the + icon below, following configurations and hit OK to apply changes.

While on Windows we are used to format partitions as NTFS, Ubuntu and other Linux distros in general use the Ext4 file system. We need to create at least one partition with this format to install the system, but we have to reserve at least 4 GB to create another "swap" partition, which works in basically the same way as Windows virtual memory.

With the information above we can already understand how to partition our disk. In our example of a 20 GB disk, we can create a 15 GB partition formatted as Ext4 with mount point "/" (which is the equivalent of Windows C:) and continue with the installation. Thus, we can install Ubuntu in its basic form: one partition for the system and one for 6 GB swap.

At the bottom we have to choose where the bootloader will be installed, which by default is the same disk where Ubuntu will be installed. This is extremely important for anyone who wants to have the machine with a dual-boot between Windows and Linux through a tool called GRUB. We don't need to stick to this part, especially on machines that have only one hard drive.

This is not the only way to partition the disk. The user can choose with more sophisticated partition layouts (separating the / home partition into an isolated Ext4 partition, equivalent to having a specific partition for data on Windows) and different file systems (such as ReiserFS or even NTFS), but this step requires additional knowledge of Linux and can compromise the integrity of the system if performed incorrectly.

After all setting click to Install Now button.

Then select the location and click to continue button.

When you click "Continue", the installation is already started, but some information is needed, such as the user's location and information, as well as the password and computer name.

 

That done, just wait for the installation to finish.

Click restart, remove the installation media and start using Ubuntu.

The system will reboot, where for a few seconds, you will be see the screen to choose what OS you want to enter, Ubuntu or Microsoft Windows.

That’s it! congratulations you have successfully install Ubuntu on your Laptop.

Were you able to install Ubuntu without any problems? Tell us!