Ubuntu: Up and Running

Chapter 2. Installing and Upgrading Ubuntu

In this chapter, we’ll take a look at the companion DVD for this book, which is attached to the inside back cover, and I’ll also show readers without access to the DVD how to get the same software by downloading and burning ISO disc images.

Unlike most program discs you may have used, this DVD is unusual in that you don’t actually have to install anything if you don’t wish to, because it’s been set up as a Live DVD.

This means that the DVD itself is a fully working installation of Ubuntu 9.10 that will run from the disc without the need to install anything. Therefore you can test Ubuntu to ensure it will work properly on your computer before installing it. It achieves this trick by creating a RAM disc out of system memory, which it then treats as if it were the hard disk.

The disc also contains the installer for Ubuntu 9.10 desktop edition and a set of ISO files for several of the other popular editions of Ubuntu, such as Kubuntu and Xubuntu. This chapter shows you how to use and install these files.

Note

To access the disc, you must have a DVD-compatible optical drive. If you don’t, you cannot use the disc and should refer to the section Downloading a Distribution.

The Live DVD

The great thing about the Live DVD system is that you can insert the disc into most PCs and run Ubuntu without installing anything. Once you’ve verified that all is in order, you can then choose to install Ubuntu, either as the only operating system or as an additional ...