Install Ubuntu 13.04

How to install Ubuntu

Dual boot the easy way Windows can stay on your computer, when you install Ubuntu! It's handy to turn your computer into a dual boot machine. That way you can choose each time you turn on your computer, what operating system you want to boot: Ubuntu or Windows. Note: it's also possible to install Ubuntu withinWindows, basically as an application. This is done with an installer called Wubi. I advise against this method, because it's technically inferior to a normal dual boot on a separate partition on the hard disk. With a Wubi installation of Ubuntu, you have lesser performance, dependance on Windows and it's bootloader, less reliable file recovery and some security issues. In short: a separate partition for Ubuntu is much better. Do you already have a Wubi installation of Ubuntu? Then remove it first, within Windows, using Windows' ownAdd/Remove Software function. It's easy to turn your computer into a dual boot: 1. Backup all your documents, pictures, music et cetera, on an external storage medium (DVD-RW, external USB hard disk, flash memory stick). 2. Make Windows perform an error check on the hard disk. In Windows XP, you can do that as follows: My computer - click the C-drive - right-click: properties - tab Tools Check only the first option box: Automatically fix file system errors See this screenshot (click to enlarge): Note: in Windows Vista and Windows 7, this picture looks a little different. But it's basically the same. Now Windows will ask for a reboot, in order to perform the error check. So reboot. During the reboot, Windows will do an error check with CHKDSK. Note: defragmentation is unnecessary! That saves a lot of time.... 3. Shut down your computer. 4. Unplug all peripherals from your computer, except for display, mouse, keyboard and printer. 5. Wire your computer: temporarily establish internet connection with an ethernet cable, wired internet therefore. If you have a laptop, connect the power cord as well: you definitely don't want to run the risk of an empty battery during the installation of an operating system. 6. Boot your computer from the Ubuntu Desktop DVD (are the BIOS settings OK for booting from a DVD?), hit the space bar and choose "Check disc for defects", thus performing an integrity check on the DVD. The DVD has to be completely error free. If it's not, burn a new DVD at low speed (4 x). 7. Then choose "Try Ubuntu" in the boot menu of the Ubuntu DVD. In the trial (live) session you can find out if all the hardware works like it should. Note: in the live session Ubuntu functions much slower than usual! 8. You can start the installation by clicking the special desktop shortcut. The installer will start by asking you a couple of questions. Only after you have made a choice for partitioning, installation will begin. In Ubuntu 13.04 you'll be presented with this window (click on the picture to enlarge it): (Screenshot of Ubuntu 13.04. In Ubuntu 12.04 this window looks slightly different) Tick "Install this third party software". Then click "Continue". Then choose the "alongside" option, so that your Windows will be safe (click on the picture to enlarge it): (Screenshot of Ubuntu 13.04. In Ubuntu 12.04 this window looks slightly different) 9. One of the last questions will be a disk partitioning proposal. The installer will namely propose to free some space on the hard disk. Thus leaving somewhat less space for Windows, and allowing Ubuntu to be put on the cleared space. Don't worry: the installer respects the disk space that's already used by Windows files, and only proposes to divide the remaining unused space on the hard drive. This proposal looks approximately like this (click on the picture to enlarge it): (Screenshot of Ubuntu 13.04. In Ubuntu 12.04 this window looks slightly different) The mouse pointer is at the divider: move the divider at will. The proposal is unclear about which is which: Ubuntu is on the right, however. Click Install now. In principle, you could simply agree with this proposal of the installer. However, on small hard drives the installer tends to underestimate the disk space (the surplus empty "breathing space") needed by Windows or Ubuntu. So you may want to increase the disk space for Windows or Ubuntu, by moving the slider with your mouse. Note: give Ubuntu preferably no less than 20 GB. Ubuntu is the block on the right. In other words: the installer assumes automatically (by default) that you don't want to wipe Windows and that you want a dual boot computer. Ubuntu is user friendly! 10. When you use the first edition of the CD of Ubuntu 12.04 (not in 13.04), you'll be presented with the option to import existing Windows accounts in Ubuntu. Don't use that option: it's better to build a clean Ubuntu. Don't select anything and just click the "Continue" button. See the screenshot underneath (click on it to enlarge it): Don't select anything, just click "Continue". 11. Now the installation of Ubuntu takes place and in the end you have a dual boot computer. 12. The first time you start Windows in the dual boot configuration, Windows will discover that it's disk space has shrunk. Windows has to adjust itself to that. During the first Windows boot you'll see therefore a blue screen with white letters, informing you that Windows is checking the hard disk and "repairing" it. Simply let it do it's job. 13. Afterwards Windows will want to reboot. Go along with it. Then Windows will be used to it's new disk space and will function normally. 14. That's it! You're done. Now you can reboot into Ubuntu and start polishing your new operating system. To the content of this website applies a Creative Commons license.