Saturday 23 April 2016

Ubuntu 16.04 LTS along with Windows

Background:


            I had Windows 10 (upgraded from 7) with Ubuntu 14.04 32-bit. I wanted to upgrade to 16.04 so started researching about it. While digging into my system I found out that I have 4 GB ram and yet I installed 32-bit version. So I decided to remove 14.04 and install 16.04 with 64-bit architecture.

Getting started:


            Download the ISO from Ubuntu site and burn it to disk or make a bootable USB flash drive. Make sure that you have proper architecture, 32-bit if you have less than 3 GB else go for 64-bit.

Partitions:


Let talk about hard disk partitions a little because it’s important for advance but rather easy installation. Each hard disk can have 4 primary partitions and that is where OS can be installed.  Now that doesn’t mean you can only install 4 OS in one hard disk. This is where extended and logical partition comes into picture.

            You can create 3 primary partitions and 1 extended partition. This extended partition can have multiple logical partitions. So you can either create 4 primary partitions or create 3 primary partitions and 1 extended partition (which is primary partition in a way) with multiple logical partitions.

            Open ‘Computer Management’ application from start menu and click on ‘Disk Management’. Here you should be able to see various hard disks and its partitions.



            So basically in windows file system each partition is represented as drive letters (c: d: e:  etc.,). In Linux, file system its bit different, it has sda which represents hard disk and sda1, sda2, sda3 etc. as partition representation.

As you can see top three entries without any file system are Ubuntu OS and the forth entry is reserved by laptop manufacturer for OS restore. Rest 4 are NTFS partitions from which one has Windows OS installed (c:), one has boot for Linux (e:) which was created by Ubuntu (more on this later), one has my data (g:) and last one (d:) is reserved by laptop manufacturer for drivers etc.

            You can install Ubuntu in as small as 15 to 20 GB but I have used approx. 46 GB. You need to free up space from either primary or extended partition via disk management utility or various third party tools available online.

Installation:


            Use the disk or bootable USB flash drive that you created earlier and restart the system. Change boot order so that the disk or USB flash drive is accessed prior to hard disk.

Once media is accessed you will see various options as below:

·         Try Ubuntu without installation
·         Install Ubuntu
·         OEM install (for manufacturers)
·         Check disk for defeats

Select Install Ubuntu and let the installation load which might take a little time. You will be greeted at Welcome screen where you should choose language. After continuing you should see Preparing to install Ubuntu screen with following options:

·         Download updated while installing Ubuntu
·         Install third-party software for graphics and Wi-Fi hardware, Flash, MP3 and other media

First options is not selectable because you are installing directly from media, if you chosen
‘Try Ubuntu’ first and installed from there then you should be able to select this option. You should select second option as it’s recommended.

            When you click continue you might get pop up ‘Force UEFI installation?’ UEFI is a new bios firmware that is used with newer OS and hardware. If you have Windows 8 or later you should continue with UEFI method. As mentioned before I had Windows 7 and upgraded to Windows 10 so I did not continue with UEFI method, instead I clicked go back.

            You should see Installation type screen with following options:

·         Install Ubuntu alongside them
·         Erase disk and install Ubuntu
·         Something else

I got first option because I already Ubuntu prior to writing this blog. Select the ‘Something else as we want to custom install Ubuntu.



            Above image is of ‘Gparted’ application from my installed Ubuntu which we will use here as a reference to custom install Ubuntu. Remember the e: drive I mentioned that is where Ubuntu updated boot record. You should see a screen which look little similar to shared image but with some options below.

Swap


‘Swap’ is used for paging. It is used when you RAM memory runs out. You should keep its size as 1.5 to 2 times of RAM memory. Select ‘Unallocated’ and click on ‘+’ button.

·         Size : As I have 4 GB RAM I have kept 6000 MB
·         Type of the new partition : Primary
·         Location for the new partition : Beginning of this space
·         Use as : Swap area

Root (/)

           
This is where Ubuntu OS is installed along with installation of software and updates. Keep this partition size at least 10 to 15 GB.  Again select ‘Unallocated’ and click ‘+’.

·         Size : As you desire. I have allocated 20000 MB
·         Type of the new partition : Primary
·         Location for the new partition : Beginning of this space
·         Use as : Ext4
·         Format : true
·         Mount point : /

Home


            Home is where user data is stored this is similar to user documents in Windows OS. You know the drill select ‘Unallocated’ and click ‘+’ (You are becoming pro now J).

·         Size : Remaining space
·         Type of the new partition : Logical
·         Location for the new partition : Beginning of this space
·         Use as : Ext4
·         Format : true
·         Mount point : /home

            That’s it tuff part is over. Click “Install now” and Ubuntu will start installing. While it is being installed in background you are presented with few basic settings like location, keyboard layout and login credentials.

            After installation is competed you might get a pop up to set boot record for Ubuntu click ok. You might also get pop up regarding UEFI, select the option you selected earlier. Restart PC and remove bootable media. You should see menu with different OS options.

OOPS !!!


            If you do not see Windows OS option in boot menu don’t panic. Boot into Ubuntu, open terminal and enter following command:

            sudo update-grub

            Restart PC and you should see Windows OS option in menu.

Conclusion


            We have reached to the end of Ubuntu 16.04 LTS Installation. If you have any queries or feedback let me know in comment section below.


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