HOW-TO Install/Partition Ubuntu 9.10 [KARMIC KOALA BIBLE #4]

The setup is quick and easy, with the exception of the Partitioning Manager which, for noobs, can confuse. This tutorial helps manage the process.

Before you begin, I suggest you read all of this section, with careful consideration to the partitioning notes. That may, quite likely, save you some time and result in a better setup.

Let's crack on ..

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Burn an .iso Image to Bootable Disk

Download Karmic Koala's .iso image file here, whether in 32 or 64 bit. If you don't know how to burn an image to a disk, read this.

(If you've already got, say, Jaunty, just right click the .iso and choose Write to disc .. easy as pie.)

Now you'll have a bootable disk.

How to Install Karmic Koala

Last call: you have backed up your data, huh? Right, onward and upward.

• Pop that disk into the tray and reboot the machine.
• On rebooting, up pop the installation language options. Choose your setup lingo.
• The Ubuntu CD menu opens. Choose Install Ubuntu. Things start loading up.

• Click Forward on the Welcome screen and choose the OS language.
• Choose a timezone, click Forward.
• Choose a keyboard layout, click Forward.
• The partitioner kicks up, then the Prepare Disk Space page opens.

OMG! Partitioner .. that's a scary word.

Here's where you divvy up your hard disk/s and, of the installation process, this is where you are most likely scratching your head or, if you have an existing operating system you want to continue to work, you may feel a little concern! Well, we'll just have to get it right then, won't we

You are provided up to three choices, depending on what's already on the disk:-

• Install them side by side, choosing between them at startup
• Erase and use the entire disk
• Specify partitions manually (advanced)

Install them side by side, choosing between them at startup

You're offerred this option if you already have one or more operating system/s on the drive.

Select this and up pops a box labelled Write previous changes to disk and continue and, if you click Yes (DON'T, yet at least), Ubuntu manages a default configuration to preserve existing operating systems while allocating space from their partitions for Karmic. One Ext4 partition is created for Karmic and another, a swap partition, for swap. If you already have a swap partition (for an existing Linux operating system), that will be used also by Karmic and only the Ext4 partition is created.

Personally, I don't like this method because it changes existing partitions automatically and I prefer to do that manually, so I know exactly what is going on. Also, I prefer to set up at least one further partition, for my data - /home, and this option doesn't allow for that.

Then again, it's pretty safe (there is a rare risk of problems with existing operating systems) is faster and is less hassle.

Erase and use the entire disk

Clearly the easiest option. Will wipe the disk bare, creating a small SWAP partition and using the rest for Karmic. Again, it will not create a separate partition for data. Not my choice, again.

Specify partitions manually (advanced)

OK. This is the best of Ubuntu's options. You have control. And you are paying attention, right?!

Check the box, click OK (or was that Forward? One of the two.) and Ubuntu again scans your disk (or disks if you have a multi-disk PC).

The Prepare Disks page opens and you see clearly charted the layout of your disk or disks, together with a partition summary below.

Study that chart and partition summary carefully, with your partition plan to hand. What, you don't have a partition plan? Oh dear, you've missed a step .. arguably the most important step in the installation process! Go back to Part 3, Plan Hard Drive Partition Strategy, have a think, then come back here.

Right. You need to take your strategy and compare it with the chart and partition summary on the Prepare Disks page. Basically, you need to consider where on that disk to put what partitions.

Let's say you've got a typical disk, unchanged from factory install, which comprises one big Windows C drive. Simple, you can shrink it from either end and, with all that freed up space, create whatever new partitions you need.

Then again, you may have the C, but with a D - maybe your old Windows data drive - alongside. In that case, you could shrink C from the end nearest D, and shrink D from the end nearest C, creating a gap in the middle and, in there, plop in Karmic.

Alternatively (or as well) you could shrink the far end of the drive, furthest away from your first partition, and have another/some of Karmic's partitions go there. Bear in mind though, just as the innermost part of a wheel spins faster than the outer edge, so the first partition runs faster than the last so, ideally, you'd have your key operating system on the first partition. The swap can be last, at the slow end of the disk, particularly if you have plenty of RAM.

Some More Partitioning Tips

Partitions for Music etc Add as many partitions as you want, leaving the mount point (see below) blank. Karmic reads most filesystems. Ext4 is recommended but, for Windows to read the partition, make it ntfs and then partition can be shared between Karmic and Windows.

Allowing for Windows If you plan to add a Windows system on one of your partitions at a later date, give that an ntfs file system.

Safeguard /home Allocate this to a partition on a secondary drive and it allows for future upgrades.

Secure backup folder This should ideally be on a separate drive.

You get the picture, there are options to consider. The most important one is, did you back up your data, just in case you are somehow unlucky.

Using this advanced manual method and with your mapped out plan to hand, here are the functions at your disposal to create your ideal setup:-

New partition table Deletes your existing partitions and everything in them. Choose this is you want to wipe your disk and build a new partition structure entirely. To add a new partition to your new table, click on free space and then on Add.

Add To utilise, click on free space, then Add. Up pops a box needing some detail:-
• Select size Clearly the size to make the slice.
• Use as For Karmic, choose Ext4 for all partitions except for your swap, which requires a swap file system.
• Mount point What the partition is for. The first available space should be for / (the root of Karmic's system), the next partition for /home (your data), then whatever else you want before the last partition for your swap.

Click OK to reserve the partition. To add further partitions, click on free space again and repeat as before.

• Revert If you make a mistake, go back a step.
• Change To use, click on the partition to change. Up pops a box and you can, for example, change the partition size. You can also change the filesystem, for example, from that of Windows (ntfs, fat32 ..) to that of Linux (Ext4 is best).

Primary or Logical?

Doesn't matter. For technical reasons you can only have 4 primary partitions. If you want more partitions, just create three primary's and then create the rest as logical.

Why Not Use gParted?

Why not indeed? I do, but more likely I would do so for a complete disk format and new partition table. But Ubuntu's Partition Manager is basically the same anyway and is more user-friendly.

But sure .. you could set up all your partitions with gParted and then, on installing Ubuntu and coming to the Partition Manager, simply allocate your gParted-created, Karmic-targetted partitions to the new operating system.

• With your disk space allocated, click Forward.
• On the Personal Identification screen, add the basic details and click Forward.
• There's an installation summary on the Ready to install screen ..
• And an Advanced tab. Most importantly, you can add a network proxy if you like.
• Back on the Ready to install screen, click Install.
• Go make a cup of tea.
• Your partitions will be formatted and Ubuntu installed. I guess you knew that.
• When the Installation Complete dialogue box pops up, click Restart now.
• When prompted, remove the disk from the tray and click 'Enter' to reboot.

NB I've noticed that, at least with the final release candidate installation disks, after this stage the computer can hang (likely it's a lack of empathy between the kernel and my HP laptop). If that happens, just do the technical thing: hold dwon the power button, force a shutdown and restart. The good news was that was the only problem I had with the installation process.

• Up pops Karmic's shiny new login screen (after the boot manager if you have a dual boot machine). Do.

Accessibility Features

For those requiring such options as enhanced contrast or larger fonts and icons, Karmic Koala delivers a host of options. Click on the accessibility icon on the initial login screen to take your pick.

You are ready to roll. Now let's enhance this baby.