How To Install Ubuntu Desktop – Reliable, Repeatable Setup for Modern Systems

No-nonsense overview: A clean Ubuntu Desktop installation remains the fastest way to convert unsupported Windows laptops, bootstrap developer workstations, or establish a compliant workstation baseline in regulated environments. The details below assume a recent hardware model (post-2015 x86_64 system) and current LTS release.

Prerequisites

• Supported machine (x86_64, ~4GB RAM minimum, UEFI recommended)
• 8GB+ USB stick (4GB not sufficient for some images, especially custom spins)
• Reliable wired or fast Wi-Fi connection (hardware drivers may be required pre/post-install)
• Latest Ubuntu Desktop ISO (ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso from ubuntu.com/download/desktop)
• Utility for writing bootable media:
  • Rufus (Windows)
  • balenaEtcher or dd (macOS/Linux)

1. Download the Official Ubuntu Desktop ISO

Fetch the exact ISO from Canonical’s servers—SHA256 checksums are provided on their download page. Verify downloaded image before use:

sha256sum ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso

Match result against their published sum. Skipping this often leads to obscure install failures.

2. Create Bootable USB Installer

On Windows (Rufus 4.x):

• Launch Rufus, insert USB
• Device: select target USB
• Boot selection: choose ISO image
• Partition scheme: GPT (if UEFI), MBR (only if legacy BIOS)
• File system: FAT32 (required for UEFI boot)
• Click “START”; accept ISOHybrid prompts

On macOS/Linux (balenaEtcher):

• Start Etcher
• Select ISO as image
• Choose USB device
• Click “Flash!”
• Watch for errors; Etcher occasionally fails silently if USB is old/defective

CLI alternative:

sudo dd if=ubuntu-24.04-desktop-amd64.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress oflag=sync

Note: Replace /dev/sdX with the entire USB device, not a partition (e.g., /dev/sdb). Use lsblk or diskutil list to confirm path.

3. Boot From USB: UEFI/BIOS Configuration

Insert USB stick. Power on and enter firmware settings (usually by pressing F2, Del, or F12 immediately after POST beep/logo).
Adjust ‘Boot Order’ so the USB device precedes internal drives.

Issue: On several Lenovo/HP models, "Secure Boot" must be temporarily disabled for installer boot. Re-enable after successful installation to avoid BitLocker or secure chain warnings.

4. Launch the Ubuntu Installer

On boot, choose one:

• “Try Ubuntu” → live session for hardware troubleshooting
• “Install Ubuntu” → launch installer directly

Unless diagnosing hardware, proceed with Install Ubuntu.

5. Localization: Language and Keyboard

Select your working language and relevant keyboard layout.
In multinational setups or with non-US peripherals, check auto-detected keyboard with a test phrase. Unexpected mapping? Use the layout detector or swap to desired one before continuing.

6. Updates & "Third-Party" Drivers

At this stage, decide:

• Normal installation: browser, office suite, media, utilities
• Minimal installation: browser & essentials—faster, smaller footprint, ideal for VMs

Strong recommendation:
Enable

• “Download updates while installing Ubuntu”
• “Install third-party software…” (graphics/Wi-Fi drivers, codecs)

If omitted, hardware acceleration and Wi-Fi may be missing post-install, especially on laptops with Broadcom or Nvidia chips.

7. Disk Partitioning

Default for most workflows is Erase disk and install Ubuntu.
All partitions on the drive will be lost—back up essential data beforehand.

For dual-boot or encrypted environments:

• Select Something else for manual layout
• Configure mount points as needed:

Tip: LUKS full disk encryption is available; not selected by default. Use “Advanced Features” at partitioning step.

8. Region, User, and Host Setup

• Select via map or dropdown (critical for clock sync and software mirrors)
• Enter full name, machine hostname, UNIX username
• Set a strong passphrase (avoid trivial, dictionary words)
• Decide on “automatic login” (tradeoff between speed and security)

9. Installation Process

Installer copies files, applies selected drivers and security updates—~10–20 minutes typical. Progress bar occasionally stalls mid-way; check for underlying hardware I/O errors if so (common with marginal USB media).

Sample error (faulty USB):

[Errno 5] Input/output error

Swap media if this recurs.

10. Completion: Remove Installation Media

You’ll see:

Installation complete. Please remove the installation medium, then press ENTER:

Physically disconnect the USB, press ENTER to reboot.

First login may trigger additional update checks and driver setup, especially with Nvidia hardware. Allow these processes to finish.

Post-Install: Immediate Sanity Checks

• Open terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T), update system:

  sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
  

• Confirm network connectivity (ping 8.8.8.8)

• Test audio output and Wi-Fi; open “Software & Updates” > “Additional Drivers” if anything missing

• Add SSH via:

  sudo apt install openssh-server
  

  if remote management is needed

• System logs in journalctl -b flag hardware issues missed by installer

Notes & Practical Advice

• UEFI installations default to secure boot—Windows dual-boot possible, but bootloader (GRUB) issues can arise. If missing OS entries after reboot, use efibootmgr to inspect and Boot Repair utility as needed.
• For systems with <8GB RAM, consider swapfile tuning or zram deployment for better responsiveness.
• Alternate network install method: create a preseed file or use Netboot image for automated/hands-off installs (out of scope here).
• Not all USB sticks are reliable: Sandisk Ultra and Kingston DataTraveler often work, but avoid generic unbranded devices.

Example: Common Customization Script (Run After Install)

sudo apt install git vim htop curl build-essential gnome-tweaks
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface clock-show-seconds true

Tweak as needed; default GNOME settings are minimal.

By following this workflow, you achieve a reliable, up-to-date Ubuntu Desktop installation suitable for both end-users and technical workstations. Minor installer bugs do surface; always verify post-install network and audio, especially after LTS release updates.
For advanced deployments (disk encryption, LVM), consult the official Ubuntu documentation and don’t skip reading the release notes—unexpected regressions can appear even on LTS cycles.