If you are interested in running Ubuntu on your PC, then read this!
Ubuntu is a Linux based operating system that is not only free, but powerful as well. Windows XP and Vista both cost a fair amount and if your want MS-OFFICE, well, get ready to shell out even more.
Ubuntu is 100% FREE! You pay nothing. Are you ready to install and use Ubuntu? Here is how to get it.
1. First, download the ubuntu .iso file. This file is right at 699 MB, so it will fit on a CD-ROM.
http://www.ubuntu.com/download
2. Use NERO or whatever CD burning application that you have and create the .iso file. If you can’t get that far, ubuntu will mail you a disk for a nominal fee. I did say free, but that is really the extent of what you need to pay if you can’t do that yourself or find your resident nerd to burn it for you.
3. Power off the PC and put the newly burned CD into the CD/DVD player. Power up your PC and the disk will load the PC. Do note that you can try the Ubuntu software without harming your PC. If you choose to click on “INSTALL” then all bets are off and you will wipe out the contents of the hard drive.
4. DUAL BOOT YOU SAY? Ok so you only have one PC and you still need Windows XP or Vista. You can dual boot the partition on the disk, but I will steer you clear on this. Even the experts can crash a disk. Here is you other option. Install a second disk so the PC can see it. Now disconnect the primary disk power. This way, you will in no way disrupt your valuable Windows XP disk. Run the Ubuntu CD from power on and watch it load After you have loaded Ubuntu, reconnect the disk and as you PC starts, tap the <ESCAPE> key and you can go into the boot menu and pick the disk you want to boot from. That is, either the Windows XP disk or the Ubuntu disk. This is an easy way to ease into the world of linux.
5. Loading: Assuming that you are ready to install and the Ubuntu menu came up and is happy with your hardware, click the “install” icon in the upper left and follow along. When it asks about the disk, tell it to use “the entire disk”. Easy enough eh?
6. Up and Running! You should be up and running with your system now accessing the internet. Try some of the functions under “Applications”, “Places” ,”System” in the upper right hand corner.
See how easy it was to install and use Ubuntu?
Firefox is your browser.
Open Office is your MS-Office
Start there. If you have gotten this far, you will only want more!