Spork - Staying In - Install Ubuntu

Even a dummy can get their hands
on an Ubuntu LiveCD

Download and burn the LiveCD

Ubuntu is available free of charge, so you can download it and burn the installation CD yourself. The latest version is the cheekily named Hardy Heron(or Ubuntu 8.04 if you're feeling dull)

Hardy Heron Download page

The default options on that page will give you the latest version for your PC. If you've got a snazzy 64-bit processor you can download a version to suit and benefit from the speed boost. If you aren't sure if your machine is 64-bit or not, choose the 32-bit since it works fine on both types.

If you have a machine with less than 192MB of RAM the “Alternate Install CD” will work better. If you've got a really old machine you should try the special lightweight version called Xubuntu. That'll install and run on machines with as little as 64Mb of RAM.

The file you download is called a disk image (.iso file type) You can't just burn it on to a blank disk the way you would for burning mp3s or pictures. If you don't have a burner or aren't confidant burning an .iso, you can get them to mail you a pre-burnt disk (it's free!). It's not hard to burn your own though, if you've not done it before check the .iso burning How-To and you'll see.

When you're burning the CD, it's best to set the burning speed as slow as possible, try and get it down to x2 or x4. This stops any small errors in the burning process from messing up your install half way through. Your CD burning software should have a setting for the speed in it somewhere, but by default it'll be set way too fast.

Zem Sez:
I'm not confidant at all so I checked the .iso burning How-To link. Infrarecorder was quick and simple to download. When starting to burn it asked me about burning to DVD, but as I only want to burn a CD I said no. Seems to be burning away quite happily, much easier and less scary than I thought. Just hope I don't accidentally burn a coaster!