Get started with Linux - part 1

As the years go by, many computers start to slow down. One way to breathe new life into an old computer is to re-install Windows but, unless you have all the required discs, this can be tricky. One easier way to bring an old computer back up to speed is to install a copy of Linux.

Here, we will explain how to get started with Linux. No experience is necessary, as we will guide you through all the basics. To start we will explain how to install the software, either by replacing Windows or running alongside it.

Getting Linux
We will use a version of Linux called Ubuntu, one of the most popular versions of Linux as it is very easy to use. You will need to download a copy of Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop Edition from the Computeractive website.

The download is an ISO image file that contains everything found on the Ubuntu CD. The download is quite large at around 700MB, so it is suitable for broadband users only.

If you don’t have broadband you can get an Ubuntu CD at little cost. Our very own Ultimate Guide to Linux comes with a CD on the cover, so you can order a copy by going to the link above.

If you don’t mind waiting a little longer, the company that produces Ubuntu will send out a CD for free. Create an account here and a CD will be sent to you.

Broadband users will have to burn the ISO file to a CD after downloading it. This process is different to simply copying the file to a CD. Instead, use software such as Active ISO Burner to convert the ISO file into a finished CD.

Trying Linux
Once you’ve got an Ubuntu CD, the next step is to give it a try. This won’t change your computer in any way, so if you don’t like it you can go back to Windows at any point. Insert your Ubuntu CD and restart the computer.

You may see a message asking you to ‘press any key to boot from CD’ – if you do, press a key and the first Ubuntu menu will appear, asking you to choose a language. Alternatively, your computer may go straight to the language menu, ready to start Linux. Either way, skip the next paragraph.

If your computer doesn’t start Linux and runs Windows instead, you may need to make a small change to the Bios – the basic settings used by the computer. Restart the computer again and, just after it starts, look for a message that says something like ‘Press F2 to enter setup’.