Installing a Dual-Boot with Windows and Ubuntu

Notes
Booting Ubuntu
Starting the Install
Dealing with Partitioning
Finishing the Actual Installation

Notes

This page is about installing Ubuntu but has a focus on setting up a dual-boot between Ubuntu and Windows. Before setting up a dual-boot, it's highly advised you

Back up everything that's important to you. You don't want to be 99.99% sure that your data will remain intact. You want to be 100% sure.

Defragment Windows

Read about partition planning
Use the Desktop CD as a live CD (without installing) for at least two weeks

There are also other tutorials out there. This one assumes you are using the Desktop CD. If you are using the Alternate CD, you'd be better off with this tutorial instead. While both tutorials have screenshots, if you still feel lost, you may want to check out some of the online videos about setting up dual-boots.

Note: If you're using Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy Eft) or Ubuntu 6.06 (Dapper Drake), use this tutorial instead

Booting Ubuntu

Now that you've obtained the Desktop CD (either through a purchase, ShipIt, or downloading and burning), you'll need to reboot your computer to use Ubuntu.

Your computer's BIOS must be set to boot from CD first; otherwise, Windows will just load up again. To get into the BIOS settings, you usually have to press one of these keys during boot-up: Escape, F1, F2, F12, or Delete. Usually your computer will tell you which key to use.

Once your BIOS is configured to boot from CD first, if you have Ubuntu in the drive, you should see this screen. If you're super-paranoid and want to check the disk one more time, select Check CD for defects. The checking process takes about 10 minutes.

Otherwise (if you're not super-paranoid), just select the default option: Start or install Ubuntu. This will not harm any of the data on your computer or affect your Windows installation in any way. Start or install Ubuntu will boot up a live session that runs off the CD and your computer's RAM.

After that, you should see a progress bar as the CD prepares the live session. You may notice (depending on what your computer's specifications are) that Ubuntu runs a little more slowly than your regular Windows installation. That's because it is a live session. Once Ubuntu is installed to your hard drive, it will run more quickly.

Starting the Installation

During the live session, if you decide you like Ubuntu enough to install it, click the Install icon on the desktop.

Answer the questions as best you can. Most of them should be self-explanatory.

After you answer the easy questions, a partitioner will come up.

Dealing with Partitioning

You'll then be presented with three options. This first option is ideal for users who want to set up a dual-boot (where you can choose whether you want to use Windows or Ubuntu each time you boot up your computer) but know very little about setting one up. Ubuntu will guide you through shrinking your Windows partition and creating a new Ubuntu partition out of the free space.

The second option is ideal for people who do not want Windows any more and just want to erase it and replace it completely with Ubuntu.

The third option is ideal for people who know a little bit about partitioning and mounting of partitions.

Then, Ubuntu will show you your partition table—what partitions you have and what filesystems they use.

You have to decide which partitions to use or reformat and then use, and where to mount these partitions. If these last couple screenshots confuse you, you clearly need to use either the first or second option.

If you have Windows installed and selected the first or third option, the migration assistant will help you import your Windows settings to Ubuntu, should you wish to do so. It should present you with all the usernames on your Windows partition.

Use the little triangle on the left to expand the options for a particular user and check off the boxes of the settings and/or files you want to import. Then, fill out the information for the new user in Ubuntu who should have those settings and files.

You'll then be asked for some more information. If you don't know what to name your computer, just call it ubuntu-desktop.

Finishing the Actual Installation

Regardless of which option you choose, you will eventually come to a screen that summarizes your installation choices before you finally decide to commit your changes. If you look over this screen and see that you want to change certain options, press the Back button to make those changes. When you've finally settled on committing changes, click Install.

If you know anything about Grub and have a special situation where you do not want Grub installed to the MBR, click Advanced and specify where you want Grub installed instead. If you don't know what Grub is or what the MBR is, forget Advanced. Advanced is not for you at this time.

Depending on how fast your computer is, the installation can take anywhere between 15 minutes and an hour.

Yup. Keep waiting.

When the installation finishes, you'll get this message. That's it. You now have Ubuntu installed on your computer!