#1: Installing Ubuntu

There are many distributions of Linux available to choose from, my favorite one is Ubuntu Linux. The newest version is version 8.10, otherwise known as Intrepid Ibex. You will have to download the iso and burn it to a CD, or you can order one for free from Ubuntu's website (Link).

I would recommend installing the 32 bit version of Ubuntu first, because it will be slightly easier to do things if you are a first time Linux user (like installing Flash and Java... which will be covered in later articles).

Let us cover the different ways you can install Ubuntu, and this will help you choose which version you want to install.

There are two different download choices, normal, and alternate CD. Then you have multiple ways of downloading each, you could use the normal Ubuntu download (Link), or you could use torrents (Link).

First, we will cover the normal install CD. This allows you to install two different ways: Live CD and Wubi. Many Linux distros have Live CDs (this means you can install them on a CD/USB and run the OS without installing anything onto the computer.

Wubi was brought in with Ubuntu 8.04, and allows you to install a Linux partition right inside of Windows. This might be best for someone who wants to keep Ubuntu, but doesn't know how to partition a hard drive. The disadvantages of installing in Windows is that you will get slightly slower performance, but if you want to head back to Windows it is very easy to do.

In order to install using Wubi you will burn the .iso to a CD, and insert the CD while inside of Windows. This will launch Wubi, and will lead you through installing Ubuntu inside of Windows. At any time if you wanted to uninstall Ubuntu, you could go into your Add/Remove programs, and remove it.

In order to install using the Live CD, you would insert the CD, and restart your computer. The CD should automatically boot up, and it will put you on a menu. Choose "Boot as Live CD". It will take its time loading, and then you will be in Ubuntu.

You can play around with the menus, run some programs, check everything out, but the real power will not come until you actually install the OS.

The third way to install is using the alternate CD. This gets rid of Wubi, and the Live CD, and allows you to install only through a text based installer. This is good for installing Ubuntu fast, and if you are having graphics problems with the Live CD version.