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the goal of this tutorial is to teach people who are not intimate to computers how to set an operating system on a netbook
...or on an old computer with a low capacity processor or memory
in this case the tutorial focuses on netbooks that usually have less than 1gb of memory and a processor that is around 1.2ghz.
I will install Lubuntu on an Acer Aspire One with a 1.6ghz processor and 2gb of memory.
but I have already installed Lubuntu on a netbook with a lower capacity
Lubuntu is a distribution (also called Distro) based on Linux, that offers more than a hundred different distributions with different features, for different machines and configurations.
And today I will use Lubuntu, a very light distribution of linux that I found to fit perfectly for netbooks.
It is really light, the system boots in less than 40 seconds, it offers all the functionality that Windows based computers have and I will teach you how to install it from a pendrive.
And why a pendrive (flashdrive)? Because, differently from desktop computers and most notebooks, netbooks do not come with a cd or dvd drive,
that is this tray where you put the software installation cd or dvd such as Windows to install it in your computer
And what do we need to start the process? Unfortunately as this tutorial is aimed to Windows users that will work with linux for the first time, we need a computer running windows
...we also need a regular pendrive of at least 2gb. Sizes smaller than 2gb may not fit the ISO file. I am using a Kingston Datatraveler of 2gb
And you need to download the software that turns the pendrive into a device capable of installing Linux (bootable) and Lubuntu's ISO file.
So the first step is to plug the pendrive in an USB port on your windows based computer
Now I will format the pendrive.
I go to COMPUTER... It is very important to copy the files existing on that pendrive to another place or computer to avoid accidentally deleting them (videos, photographs, texts, spreadsheets,...)
It is also important to know which letter refers to your pendrive on your computer (in my case, the letter is N) or compare the sizes of the discs you see. Pendrives show an aproximate size to that it was supposed to offer (1.88 instead of 2gb)
It is showing that my pendrive has a total capacity of 1.88gb and that 1.19 is still available to store data.
So that is the drive I will format (N)
To format, I click with the right button of the mouse on the drive N and choose the option Format
And when a new rectangular screen appears, you just need to make sure that FAT32 is set as File System and you can mark the Quick Format option and then click start
It will warn you that all the files will be deleted from that device. Just click OK and wait till the process ends.
click ok and close this window
And now we start to make the flashdrive bootable
I will minimize this screen
And now you look for LUBUNTU on Google
Lubuntu is the operating system we will use
You go to Lubuntu's page. The site will be in English. It's not a problem if you don't speak the language. This is the home page of the site, so you just have to click the first link here with the option INTEL X86.
Iso files are disk images. Those images should be burned to a cd in order to be installed through a CD or DVD drive.
Netbooks do not offer a cd drive, so we will use a program to make this image file bootable from a flashdrive the same way an installation cd would do.
So after downloading the ISO file, you have to download the program
let me zoom the screen
The program is called Universal Usb Installer
So you just have to search for Universal USB installer on Google and you click the link to Pendrivelinux.com
Let me go back to the search results on Google to show you where you have to click
You have to click the first link, then when you are on the Pendrivelinux home page
The site has some print screens of the step by step installation process. The program is not installed on your hard disk.
And then you just have to click at this blue button to download the program and check on the folder where you usually save tyour downloads
And now you go to that folder
As I have already downloaded and organized both the program and the ISO file in a specific folder, I will not go to Download folder
And now you click on the Universal USB Installer executable file
That's the default Windows warning asking you if you really want to run the program. Click Yes.
And then you go to the program window. The program is in English asnking you if you agree with the terms and blah blah blah. Just click I Agree.
and then you have this first radio button to select the Linux distribution you are going to install.
The program suggests many different distributions, but you do not need to read through them. You just go to the end of the list and click the option Try Unlisted Linux ISO
You click it and then you will see a text in yellow on the next field saying Browse To And Select Your ISO. Click BROWSE button and go to the folder where you have saved Lubuntu's ISO file
You click on the Lubuntu-12.04-desktop-i386 file and click OPEN
And now the last step. Once again be careful not to choose the wrong drive letter. If you are not sure, write down the letter that corresponds to the flashdrive you are using in the process
In my case specifically I know that the drive is N. So I will click on the radio button STEP 3 and select drive N.
Now that everything is ready, just click CREATE. You will see a screen showing all the procedures that will happen to your flashdrive. Just click YES.
And now you just wait. I will pause the video a little. This process takes about 8 minutes
And while the process is taking place, nothing impeaches you of using other softwares on your computer.
The total elapsed time till now is a little longer than 5 minutes and we are already at 97% of the process, so it might take less than 6 minutes to finish.
And that is a good thing specially when you are in a hurry or need to install the system in more than one machine.
and once you created the bootable flashdrive with Lubuntu, that installation is going to remain on that flashdrive. You don't lose it after the first installation
And now the program shows you an error message about an AUTORUN file. You just click CLOSE.
The process will finish when you see the sentence Instalation Done, Process is Complete! above the green progress bar. Click CLOSE.
And now we have finished using the Windows based computer. We don't need it for the rest of the process. You can unplug the flashdrive from it.
And now I will pause again to arrange the Netbook in front of the camera
Netbook is here and now an interesting information
We need an internet connection in order to install Lubuntu. In case your computer or netbook does not work with wireless connection, you will need to plug to it an ethernet cable such as this.
Depending on your computer the ethernet jack could be on a different side from my netbook. If you have wireless connection, just make sure that your router is working properly.
And now you just plug your flashdrive to the USB jack
An interesting detail: when you turn your computer on and you have that black screen with white letters, the computer is searching for a drive with an operating system
Some computers are factory configured either to search for the operating system in the CD drive, flashdrive or hard disk.
but as our operating system, Lubuntu, is in the flashdrive, it might be necessary to access the boot page during the boot process to choose that drive as the boot drive. You just need to read what is the button you have to press in order to access that.
I know that I would have to press F12 to access the boot options on this netbook model. And then I just have to choose the flashdrive line.
I'm turning it on and clicking F12 repeatedly
Now that we are at the Boot Manager I will choose the fist option: USB HDD Kingston DataTraveler 2.0 and click ENTER.
When you get to this screen, don't be afraid. If you are just trying Lubuntu but don't want to install it on that computer, this is the LIVE option, where you run Lubuntu from the memory, without changing anything on your hard drive. Choose your language
Mouse will not work here, so you have to choose the option with the arrow keys on your keyboard.
The options here are: try Lubuntu without installing. Install Lubuntu. Check disc for defects. Test memory. Start from first hard disk drive.
Last option would let you start the operating system already installed on your hard drive (usually Windows...)
In this case, click TRY LUBUNTU WITHOUT INSTALLING. I will explain the reason for it.
I am really going to install Lubuntu on this netbook, so why have I clicked TRY Lubuntu instead of INSTALL Lubuntu?
Because we need to set up the wireless connection before we proceed with the installation, so that the netbook is able to download the files to finish the process.
And that is one of the drawbacks from Linux: you depend on an internet connection to complete the installation.
So first we set up the wireless connection
then we click on an icon that shows on the upper left corner of the desktop screen to start installation
The system loads really fast
The desktop look is very clean with no effects
This pop-up indicates that there are wireless networks available
And the networks icon is near the clock on the task bar. it looks like a pizza slice.
I click on that icon and choose my network connection.
You might see a Restricted Drivers Available message. You can click that after rebooting.
Now I will type my network password
You can check the SHOW PASSWORD box in case you want to be sure you have typed it correctly
And at the side of the network icon you will see a system message icon indicating you have not checked some new change or problem in the system.
Ubuntu calls restrict drivers all the proprietary software necessary to install devices such as a wireless dongle, a sound card or a webcam.
And yes... As I suspected the wireless connection did not work because I have typed the wrong password... My bad!
And now that I have typed the right password you can see a message on the right upper corner of the screen indicating that the netbook is connected to my wireless network
At this point of the process I have not installed anything yet, but I have a functional operating system running from the flashdrive
Lubuntu comes with Chromium that is the same as Google Chrome browser, except that it works on Linux
Now I will check that internet connection is working properly
I will try to open Youtube just to check if Flash is working
The page informs that I have to update Adobe Flash
But I will try to play a video anyway
let me pick one
let me choose an appropriate video
It is reproducing properly although there seems to be no sound.
That happens because my netbook speaker (this model only comes with one, at left) is too low!
So you have an operating system running directly from a flashdrive with youtube working properly!
As we confirmed that internet is working properly we now click on the Install Lubuntu 12.04 icon.
It takes a few second for the system to show any response to your click. Don't click again! Wait a few seconds and you see that the pointer will turn into a rotating disk
As you have already chosen your language, it will be previously selected on the installation welcome page. Click CONTINUE.
There are 4 or 5 more screens to set before the installation process works by itself.
This is a checklist of the necessary items to start the process. You will need at least 4.4Gb of space in disk, to be pluged to a power source (specially for netbooks) and be connected to the internet.
There is a black X on Is Plugged In To A Power Source because I have previously charged my battery and disconnected the cable. My battery works for over 4 hours with Lubuntu. But I advise you to always have it connected to avoid doing it all again
...in case you run out of battery
it has detected that wi-fi is OK
And you should mark the DOWNLOAD UPDATES WHILE INSTALLING and INSTALL THIS THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE boxes before proceeding.
Differently of Windows, Linux do not let you natively play MP3 or some video formats as they are proprietary software. So by clicking it you agree to be using content that is copyrighted.
That does not mean that you have to pay anything to the creators of those software in order to play MP3 files or some formats of videos. It is just to make you aware of this issue.
now you click Continue and you go to Installation Type screen.
You can click the first option if you want to keep the operating system that is already installed to the hdd (Windows 7 for instance) and be able to choose either that OS or Lubuntu to start that session on the computer
But you will have always a dual boot screen to choose the OS you want to use each time
On that screen, if you want to make a new installation by deleting everything that was previously installed to the hard disk drive and install Lubuntu, click the ERASE DISK (REPLACE OS) and install Lubuntu option (it's the second option)
When you get to that screen and if you are using a netbook or notebook there is nothing to worry. But in case you are installing Lubuntu on an old computer with more than one hard disk drive, make sure to choose the right one before proceeding.
If you are installing it to a desktop computer, and the case is open, disconnect the cables from the hdd's you are not going to use and then plug them back after the installation is complete. Or confirm the capacities of each hdd before proceeding
It's better taking some time to check those questions to prevent accidentally deleting movies, pictures, documents, etc.
If you are using a netbook, just click Continue once more
From this point the files start to be copied to the hard disk drive
While the installation occurs, a few more questions will be made
The first I remember is about the Time Zone where you live. You are only able to select through those bands. It does not allow you to choose specific cities.
on keyboard layout page, unless you are using a home made keyboard or a very strange format, there is no need to set anything. Lubuntu automatically detects your layout.
And even if you have an odd keyboard you can click the Detect Keyboard Layout button to set up the keyboard manually.
You can still test your keyboard by clicking on random keys plus shift and Alt Gr keys and see if everything is OK.
You do not have to worry about this step. And you can always go to Configuration and change the layout after the installation is complete.
On that screen you just need to write your username. That name is going to be used to identify your computer when it is connected through a intranet, for example.
You will have to create a system password. This password will be requested whenever you try to use specific tools from the system or deal with software (delete, install, change,etc.)
If you use your computer to work or don't want strangers to get access to your files, you will be prompted to insert it everytime you start or wake up the netbook from suspension,
In my case, as I only use it to browse the web, I mark the LOG IN AUTOMATICALLY box and the computer opens with no need for passwords!
by the way, this red light you see on the screen is the reflection of my Nokia C7-00's camera led.
You don't need to worry about the CHOOSE A PICTURE screen, as the webcam (if you have a netbook) will not be working properly yet it does not show your face. And the second window will not offer any pictures to choose from.
And from now on you only need to wait. You will see a slide show with the main softwares and features offered by Lubuntu and wait for the installation process to end.
you can manually change the slide pictures
At the end of the process the system will ask you if you want to keep testing or restart the system. Click restart and you become a Lubuntu user! Free from virus and with a way faster machine than with (pirated?) Windows.
Thanks for watching! Bye!