Have you ever been curious about Linux? You would love to play with it, but you don’t have the spare drive space to make a dual boot system, and you don’t have the spare hardware lying around to set up a dedicated Linux machine. Well never fear, Ubuntu is here!

Usually, before you go installing Linux, you go and download the CD Images, or ISOs, that you need for the installation. Then you create the CDs, and install the operating system. You could also use the ISO files for other purposes, without ever creating CDs, but I’ll talk more about that at a later date.

Usually the Installation CDs for Operating Systems are bootable, so that you can start a computer which doesn’t have an operating system, and install whatever it is that you just downloaded. Well, in this case, you can also boot from the Ubuntu Desktop CD, and have a working Ubuntu Linux environment in just minutes.

These images ansd instructions are based on, at the time of this writing, the current release of Ubuntu Desktop. Version 7.04 or “Feisty Fawn”

Step 1: Download the image.

You can go to the Ubuntu web site, and look for a big “Download Now” button.

Step 2: Make a CD-Rom out of it.

This is usually pretty easy to do, but you’ll have to look in the directions of whatever CD Writing Software you have if you aren’t sure how. You can also look on the manufacturer’s web site.

Step 3: Boot from the CD.

Booting from the CD usually entails bringing up a boot menu when your computer starts, and choosing “Boot From CDROM”, or setting the CDRom as the first boot Device in your BIOS. I’ll try to explain both of these steps at a later date. When I do, I’ll add links here.

Note: Clicking on the following images will open the full sized version in another tab or window, depending on your browser settings

Step 4: Choose “Start or Install Ubuntu”

After Choosing this option, your patience will be rewarded with a Ubuntu Desktop

Step 5: Poke around.

That’s right, that’s about all there is to it. If your Network Card was recognized, then you should now have Internet access.

Note: The programs on the Live CD are actually running from the CD itself. They will not be as responsive, nor load as fast, as they would if Ubuntu was installed to the Hard Drive.

At the top of your screen, you’ll find a handy dandy help button, which will bring a ton of various help topics.

This CD includes everything that is included in the default install of Ubuntu Desktop 7.04, so you can also get a nice preview of what things will look like. There is an Office Suite, Gimp for image manipulation, games and Multimedia Tools. This will also give you a good idea if the hardware on your computer is going to be recognized by Ubuntu.

If you like what you see, you can Install using the install icon on the desktop.

Warning: If you do install Linux on your computer, you may lose the data that is already on your hard drive. Make sure you have a good idea of what you are doing, as well as a good backup of any important data.

Posted in Ubuntu, Linux, How To 4 Comments »