Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx has been officially released on 29 April 2010. If you are planning to install the latest version of the popular Linux distribution, here's a comprehensive survival guide to Ubuntu Lucid Lynx.

What's Ubuntu?

Ubuntu is an open source Linux operating system offered by Mark shuttleworth's Canonical Ltd. It is one of the most user-friendly and popular Linux distro.

Is Ubuntu for me?

If you think you will have to use codes for working with Ubuntu, you are mistaken. Ubuntu is simple and intuitive for an average Joe and  reliable workhorse for expert computer coder. After the launch of software Center in Ubuntu, one doesn't need to use any geeky commands for installing softwares or media codecs. Just open the tool, search for an appropriate application from a vast repository of open source and free programs and install it with a single click. It's as user-friendly as Windows, but far more stable and error-free.

If I use Ubuntu, I won't be able to open Windows files or music!

Ubuntu gives you the freedom to switch seamlessly between Windows or other Operating system and Ubuntu. You can listen to you Windows music collection in Ubuntu, watch videos and also work on Microsoft Word documents sent by your colleagues. One can also install 9dual-boot) Ubuntu and Windows side by side on the same computer and use the a drive partition on both the operating systems. This means you can work on some presentation in Ubuntu, then save it on the disk, and then work on the same file after booting Windows.

What can I do with Ubuntu?

1. Create and edit on documents, presentations and spreadsheets with OpenOffice.
2. Browse the Internet with Firefox Web browser.
3. Use Evolution Mail for easy, intuitive email.
4. Chat with Empathy by integrating your chat accounts from Yahoo, Gmail, MSN, Jabber and many more.
5. Access your Facebook and Twitter accounts in Menu Me panel.
6. Download pictures from phones and cameras and organize them with F-Spot. Use popular tools such as Picasa, Facebook and Flickr instantly. Edit the pictures by installing GIMP.
7. Watch videos from YouTube or DVDs. Edit your videos with Pitivi.
8. Install hundreds of games from Software Center and have fun.
9. Organize your work using the four work space or desktops available. 
10. And a lot more.

What's the recommended system requirement for Lucid Lynx?

You computer should meet the following requirements (though not necessary) for installing Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx:

• 1.0 GHz or more processor
• 256 MB RAM
• 10GB hard drive space

How to get Ubuntu Lucid Lynx?

Easiest way to get Ubuntu Lucid Lynx is to download it for free.
If you have a slow Internet connection, you can purchase Ubuntu discs.
You can also request for free CDs of Ubuntu from Ubuntu ship It.

I downloaded the stuff. What next?

Ubuntu is offered for download as a disc image or ISO file. ISO files are created by copying a disc in totality, creating an exact duplicated when burned on another disc. If you are using Windows, download and install ImgBurn. Now use it to burn the Ubuntu ISO image on a blank CD. Now, you have got a Ubuntu bootable CD that can be used for installing the Linux on any computer or testing it by running it as a Live CD (the operating system is started from the disc itself, without affecting the existing settings of the computer).

Got Ubuntu CD. Now what?

If you intend to install Ubuntu Lucid Lynx as the sole operating system on your computer, just pop-in the CD in the drive and restart the computer. You will get a screen asking you to "Press any key to boot from CD". Press any key to start the process.

If you don't see the message, your computer's BIOS setting needs to changed so that the computer tries to boot from CD before hard drive. Restart computer and press F2 or what ever is the setup key mentioned in the start-up screen for entering BIOS settings. Navigate between the tabs using arrow keys and make the appropriate change in "Boot device order" or similar setting. Save and exit.

Let your computer boots using Lucid Lynx CD. Don't choose to install right now. Make sure that your Internet connection works with the Ubuntu system. If not, seek help from your service provider to set it up for Ubuntu. An active Internet connection is vital for proper customization of Ubuntu and also for installing other applications.

Installing Ubuntu Lucid Lynx

After you have satisfied your self by exploring Ubuntu, click on the "Install" icon on the desktop. It will start a graphical interface for installing the latest version of Ubuntu. Keep selecting the appropriate options (language, location, etc.) from the lists till you reach  "Prepare disk space" section. 

Prepare the disk: partitioning the hard drive in Ubuntu

In "Preparing disk space", Ubuntu installer gives you the option to organize your hard disk in more manageable way. It's always better to partition your hard disk into as many manageable partitions required for keeping the operating system on one partition of the hard drive and files and folders on the rest.

If you do not see any option in the partition window, don't panic! It's because you have some of the drives mounted to the Live CD boot. Cancel installation and go to “Places” in the top panel (menu) and then “Computer”. To unmount the disks, right-click on the pyramid icons next to mounted partitions and choose unmount. Start installing afresh.

In "Preparing disk space" segment, you will have three options:

1. Use the entire disk
2. Guided partitioning
3. Manual partitioning

Use the entire disk: As the name suggests, this option will use the entire disk for installing Ubuntu. It will erase any previous data or operating system such as Windows installed on the computer. It's not advisable to use this partition even if you want the entire computer for Ubuntu. Partitioning the hard disk allows you to easily reinstall the operating system or change to another one without disturbing your data.

Guided partitioning: This option helps create partitions of the hard disk by detecting the installed operating system and installs Ubuuntu along side the existing operating system. It allows you to retain the installed operating system along with a fresh Ubuntu install. This option fails if you need to install several operating systems.

Manual partitioning: Everyone should opt for this option as it allows the user to set up the computer in a more organized way and also have as many operating systems as desired (two, three, four, any number).

If you aren't installing Ubuntu on a fresh system, you will see some partitions listed in the partition manager window. Delete existing partitions to start afresh. If you are already had Windows or any other operating system installed on one partition on the computer, and data saved on other, you can save all your data. Just delete the partition that contains Windows, usually the first one is the C drive. If your computer was shipped with a rescue partition with pre-installed operating system, do not tamper with it unless you are too sure that you don't need it in future.

Create a swap partition: We need to create a Linux swap that Ubuntu will use as additional memory. Choose the unpartitioned space from the list and create new partition by entering a partition size of 2048MB (2GB, or 1024MB if you need to save space), set "use as" option to "swap area".

Create the Ubuntu partition: Next we need space for installing Ubuntu Lucid Lynx. Select the unpartitioned space and create a new partition by entering the size of the partition (ideally 10GB or 10000MB or more) and select the "use as" as "Ext3 journaling file system" and "mount point" as "/".

Create the Ubuntu Home partition: If you want to save lots of data in default Ubuntu folders, consider creating a "Home" partition of appropriate size. Set  "use as" as "Ext3 journaling system" and "mount point" as "/home". Ubuntu will use this partition as "Home" folder, the default location for saving documents, music, videos and pictures in Ubuntu. Creating a separate "Home" partition also comes handy when reinstalling Ubuntu. You don't have to create any backup of the files as only the main Ubuntu folder is tampered with.

Create storage partitions: Now that we have the partitions ready for use by Ubuntu, we need to create at least one partition from the remaining space for use as our storage drive.  Select NTFS or Fat32 format from "use as" list.

Problem creating partition? In case you have trouble partitioning the disk, create them before beginning Ubuntu installation. Booted using the Ubuntu Live CD. Go to System > Administration > Partition Editor. Create the required partitions (a Linux swap, one Ubuntu partition, a Home partition (optional) and storage partitions). Start installing again. When you reach the "Preparing disk space" segment, choose "Manual partitioning" and then just select the Ubuntu partition for installing Lucid Lynx.

Complete the installation process.

Get Ubuntu manual

Getting Started with Ubuntu 10.04 is a beginners guide for the operating system. The manual will come handy in setting the Internet connection and also seeking help from you Internet provider. Apart from this, it will help you get familiar with Ubuntu. Download Ubuntu Manual.

Additional Ubuntu guides

Six must-have applications for Ubuntu Lucid Lynx
Dual-boot Ubuntu and Windows with common storage drives
Make Ubuntu mount partitions and drives automatically at startup