Real Noob Ubuntu question... Please humour me...
 

Let's say I have downloaded the Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS ISO and I've imaged it to a usb drive, which is bootable.

I insert it in a laptop with windows on it, and it asks me if I wanna run it from the stick, or install it...

Well I totally understand the running from the stick part, but my question is that if I install it, does it wipe out / install over my Windows install, and from then on that's all there is on the laptop, or does it like give me an icon on the desktop that I click to run it like a normal program?

In essence, am I overwriting my win install, or just having an extra OS that I can turn on / turn off at will?

It asks you if you want to run it in parallel

And consider going with the 19.04 version, it uses the upgrades kernl and better driver support. I usually stick to LTS versions, but this time the benefits were in favor of the New

The parallel thing? Not 100% on the terminology, but does that mean that both OS are on the laptop, and I choose AT BOOT which one I want to be 'in control' of the laptop?

As for the 19.04 - cool, fair play, I can do that. I'm just planning ahead and making sure I know whats gonna happen to the laptop before I commit - Its an old windows laptop that I don't use these days, but I wouldn't want to loose all the files that are on it over an experimentation :)

Yes, it means it will let you dual-boot where you can Select what OS you want to run

Just dont enable full-disk encryption in either OS :-)

OK, making sense now - thanks.

Last question, (Cause Im more familiar with mac than windows these days) Once Ive installed, how does the boot up option 'manifest' on a win machine? I know on my mac, I would have to hold down the alt key at the chime, cause I did use bootcamp a good few years ago - But how does the 'choice' appear on win pc?

Thanks :thumbsup

No problem
You get a text prompt from the bootmanager where you Select the OS you want to start. There is usually a default OS that will autoselect after 30seconds if No key or Mouse luck is detected

Cool - So because I've installed it, it will automatically give me the choice on boot - Sounds straightforward enough :)

I'm Downloading the more recent version atm and hopefully will get a chance to have a play tomorrow. I don't mind getting stuck, cause that's half the fun - Just didn't want to overwrite all my files :thumbsup

Planning to switch to Ubuntu soon for my development work - already use it on my servers so it makes sense instead of using a Mac anymore.

Protect yourself, go grab a portable ssd or something and make an image of your current disk so anything bad happens you can just restore and be back at zero.

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I would actually advise to download multiple linux distros, and try them first in live cd mode(where you burn to usb stick instead cd) and then decide which distro you want. I did that first time when i was playing with linux, i downloaded 20 distros and burned 20 cd's (usb stick was not in game yet then)

Great advice as usual :thumbsup

definitely wouldn't dual-boot on a disk that had important stuff on it. too many things that can go wrong.

Yep, but we live in cloud era where you can store all your important data online, so you are free to experiment :)

Well thanks for all the help guys, but I'm sorry to say that this entire thread has proved kinda moot!

I got the laptop that I was intending to use from the bottom of a cupboard where its been for about the last five or six years, and alas, it is completely dead. Wont boot or take power at all :(

Not the end of the world, and neither is it a priority to retrieve its files... Its nothing I really need on it - Just stuff from years ago that would have been interesting to look back on...

But as for right now, I wont be installing ubuntu on THIS laptop anytime soon :)

Used laptops are dirt cheap, you can grab one locally off a classified site to play around with.

Yeah, cool, I've not given up completely... It was just one of those 'What shall I do now for the next few days to educate and amuse myself??? I know! I'll dig out that old laptop I don't use anymore and try and learn a bit of Linux etc..." moments :)

But I was thwarted in my endeavours !

You might just need to let it sit a while to charge. If its completely "dry" I have seen it take hours before the charger manages to get enough action on the cells, to be able to charge it. Just leave it on the table plugged in, and dont try to starte it up for a few hours.

Its worth a shot

Another thought, you might want to grab yourself the newest raspberry pi, great way to play around with Linux. It even has dual HDMI now for two monitors.

If you use a Mac then Ubuntu is almost the same thing so I wouldn't bother.

:2 cents:

it won't wipe your hdd. it will simply install allowing you to chose between ubuntu or windows on startup. had it for years.

CS good luck on your learning of Linux. I personally enjoy it very much.

Sooner or later, questions will arise. Such as:

"How do I do ______ in Linux?"

"I'm having this problem in Linux and I have no idea how to fix it."

I'll be happy to help if I can.

May the poo be with you.

https://c1.thejournal.ie/media/2017/...-5-390x285.jpg

Well I got the laptop working....
 

https://i.imgur.com/K8V8Z6t.jpg

Or did I??? :helpme

Full disclosure - I also tried a distro of mint, but it also complained about my screen, but offered me a compatibility mode that made it look crap... So I went back to ubuntu for the pic above, that cunt even offer me a compatibility mode... :(

Win 7 running as expected though...

And I've just tried peppermint OS 10 (32 Bit) and that gives me a garbled screen too... Any ideas?

OK, I got round that by editing the bootup with nomodeset before the splash command, so as to not load drivers, but its still iffy...

Long time Ubuntu user here. What you want to do is dual boot with Windows. The Ubuntu installer should recognize your Windows partition. If it does not then stop the install. As for the wonky display, I would ask the people at Ubuntu Forums. I can usually resolve any technical issues there.