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Ubuntu

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Ubuntu desktop

Ubuntu is a free Linux operating system that is easy to install. It has an interface that is similar to Mac OS, using a launch bar for applications.

Being Linux-based, Ubuntu has very few issues with malware or spyware and is very stable. It is free software, issued under free licenses.

Ubuntu comes with the Firefox web browser, LibreOffice word processor and spreadsheet, the Gedit text editor and many other applications most users need. It also has about 30,000 additional free software applications available at no charge, that can be installed using the included Ubuntu Software application.

If your computer has a DVD drive, you can download the ISO file from Ubuntu.com and burn it to a DVD yourself with an ISO writer. If your computer does not have an optical drive, you can install it from a USB drive, as described below. You can try Ubuntu out as a "live session" before you install it. You can install it in place of Windows or along side it, choosing which system to use on reboot.

It is a good idea before replacing Windows to ensure that you will be able to open and edit your existing documents on your new operating system. Most commons formats, like .doc, .docx, xls, ppt, .pps, .txt, .pdf, etc are no problem. You can try this on a "live session", or, if you are unsure, you can ask on the NCF Free Software Discussion Group. That group is also a good place to ask general questions about Ubuntu and Linux.

Recommended System Requirements

If your PC runs Windows Vista or later it will run Ubuntu well.

Ubuntu minimum recommended hardware:

  • 2 GHz dual core x86 processor
  • 4 GB of system memory (RAM)
  • 25 GB of disk space

Installing Ubuntu

This explains how to install Ubuntu from Windows:

Ubuntu installation (if you have a DVD already)

A sample of some methods of backing up your files: a DVD and three USB mass-storage devices ("Thumb drives").
  1. Complete a back-up of all documents and bookmarks
  2. Boot to a "live session" ("Try Ubuntu without installing") to ensure that Ubuntu will work properly with your hardware (many computers require entering the computer set-up on boot to allow it to boot to a DVD before the hard drive)
  3. Install Ubuntu from live session desktop "Install" or from boot screen "Install Ubuntu"
  4. Re-install documents from back-ups
  5. Re-install bookmarks in Firefox Ctrl-Shift-O → Import and back up
  6. Set up and test printer, if you have one
  7. Add desired applications from System Tools → Ubuntu Software

Ubuntu installation (with your own DVD)

  1. Download the Ubuntu ISO file from https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop
  2. Verify the integrity of the downloaded Ubuntu ISO file by comparing its SHA256 sum to the one for your release on http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/releases/. This ensures that the ISO has not been compromised or corrupted.
  3. Launch the ISO recorder and use it to burn the ISO image to your DVD
  4. Complete a back-up of all documents and bookmarks
  5. Boot to the DVD, and at the two icon screen, hit any key to take you to the menu. Test it using the DVD's built-in "Check disk for defects" to ensure the DVD was burnt correctly (many computers require entering the computer set-up on boot to allow it to boot to a DVD before the hard drive)
  6. Boot to a "live session" ("Try Ubuntu without installing") to ensure that Ubuntu will work properly with your hardware
  7. Install Ubuntu from live session desktop "Install" or from boot screen "Install Ubuntu"
  8. Re-install documents from back-ups
  9. Re-install bookmarks in Firefox Ctrl-Shift-O → Import and back up
  10. Set up and test printer, if you have one
  11. Add desired applications from System Tools → Ubuntu Software

Ubuntu installation (with your own USB)

  1. Download the Ubuntu ISO file from https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop
  2. Download the UNetBootIn ISO USB recorder at http://unetbootin.github.io/
  3. Verify the integrity of the downloaded Ubuntu ISO file by comparing its SHA256 sum to the one for your release on http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/releases/. This ensures that the ISO has not been compromised or corrupted.
  4. Launch UNetBootIn ISO USB recorder and use it to unpack the ISO image onto your USB
  5. Complete a back-up of all documents and bookmarks
  6. Boot to the USB, and at the two icon screen, hit any key to take you to the menu. Test it using the USB image's built-in "Check disk for defects" to ensure the DVD was burnt correctly (many computers require entering the computer set-up on boot to allow it to boot to a USB before the hard drive)
  7. Boot to a "live session" ("Try Ubuntu without installing") to ensure that Ubuntu will work properly with your hardware
  8. Install Ubuntu from live session desktop "Install" or from boot screen "Install Ubuntu"
  9. Re-install documents from back-ups
  10. Re-install bookmarks in Firefox Ctrl-Shift-O → Import and back up
  11. Set up and test printer, if you have one
  12. Add desired applications from System Tools → Ubuntu Software

See also

External links

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