Your steps to Ubuntu
From GreyHaven. For the Desktop, keeping Windows too.
PC didn't start from the USB stick?
Restart and press your PC's startup menu key (often F12, F11, F8 or Esc) again and again as the PC starts. Then pick your USB stick.
1. Try Linux
See how it works on your PC. Nothing is installed yet.
Choose Try Ubuntu when it asks. Nothing is installed, and your files aren't touched.
Check these things work. Skip any your PC doesn't have:
Screen. The desktop fills the screen and looks sharp. If you use more than one monitor, connect them and check each one shows a picture.Wi-Fi. Click the network icon in the corner of the screen, join your Wi-Fi network and open a website.Wired network. Plug in the network cable (unplug Wi-Fi first if you like) and open a website.USB network adapter. Plug in the adapter, connect to your network and open a website.Sound. Play a video with sound. Check the speakers and, if you use them, headphones. In Settings, open Sound and check your microphone's level moves when you speak.Sound through your monitor or TV. If you play sound through a monitor or TV, choose it in Settings > Sound and play a video.Bluetooth. Turn on Bluetooth in Settings and pair something you use, such as headphones, a mouse or a phone.Camera. Open a video-call website (or a camera app if one is installed) and check you can see yourself.Touchscreen. Tap to click, and drag a finger to scroll a web page.USB ports. Plug a USB stick or another device into each port you use, including any USB-C or Thunderbolt docks, and check it works.Memory card reader. Insert a memory card and check its files appear.
On a laptop
Touchpad. Move the pointer, tap to click, and scroll with two fingers.Sleep and wake. In the live USB session, choose Suspend from the power menu (or close the lid), wait a minute, then wake the PC. Check that the screen, keyboard, touchpad, Wi-Fi and sound all come back.Battery life. In the live USB session, unplug the charger, browse for 15 minutes and note how fast the battery percentage drops. A live USB uses more power than an installed system, so treat this as a rough guide.
If GreyHaven said a part needs an extra step after installing, it may not work fully yet. That's expected.
Happy with how it works? Go on to Install. Not happy? Shut down from the power menu, take out the stick, and Windows starts as before. Nothing has changed.
What could go wrong?
Everything is a bit slow, because it's running from the USB stick. That's normal. Something didn't work? Note it down. Your GreyHaven report can help find out why.
2. Install Ubuntu
Put Ubuntu next to Windows. Each time your PC starts, you pick one.
GreyHaven suggests giving Ubuntu about 30 GB.
Ubuntu installer window titled Welcome, with a list of languages, English chosen, and a Next button at the bottom right.
Welcome
Welcome to Ubuntu
Deutsch
English
Español
Français
Italiano
Nederlands
Next
Close picture The language list and the Next button Open the installer from the desktop (its name starts with "Install"). Or restart from the stick: it opens by itself. Pick your language, then click Next.
Ubuntu installer Keyboard layout screen with English (US) chosen and the Next button highlighted.
Keyboard layout
Select your keyboard layout
English (UK)
English (US)
French
German
Type here to test your keyboard
Back
Next
Close picture The keyboard layout screen Click Next on Accessibility. Pick your keyboard, then click Next.
Ubuntu installer Connect to the internet screen with three choices and the Next button highlighted.
Internet connection
Connect to the internet
Use wired connection
Connect to a Wi-Fi network
Do not connect to the internet
Back
Next
Close picture The Connect to the internet screen Connect to the internet, then click Next.
Ubuntu installer screen 'What do you want to do with Ubuntu?' with Install Ubuntu chosen.
Try or install Ubuntu
What do you want to do with Ubuntu?
Install Ubuntu
Install alongside (or instead of) your OS.
Try Ubuntu
Try it without making any changes.
Back
Next
Close picture Install Ubuntu chosen Choose Install Ubuntu, then click Next.
Ubuntu installer screen with Interactive installation chosen.
Type of installation
How would you like to install Ubuntu?
Interactive installation
Guided step by step.
Automated installation
For advanced users.
Back
Next
Close picture Interactive installation chosen Choose Interactive installation, then click Next.
Ubuntu installer Applications screen with Default selection chosen and Next highlighted.
Applications
What apps would you like to install?
Default selection
Just the essentials.
Extended selection
Office tools and more.
Back
Next
Close picture Default selection chosen Keep Default selection, then click Next.
Ubuntu installer Optimise your computer screen with both boxes ticked: third-party software for graphics and Wi-Fi, and support for additional media formats.
Optimise your computer
Install recommended proprietary software?
Third-party software for graphics and Wi-Fi
Support for additional media formats
Back
Next
Close picture Both boxes ticked on Optimise your computer Tick both boxes for extra software, then click Next.
Ubuntu installer Disk setup screen with 'Install Ubuntu alongside Windows Boot Manager' chosen.
Disk setup
How do you want to install Ubuntu?
Install Ubuntu alongside Windows Boot Manager
Erase disk and install Ubuntu
Manual installation
Back
Next
Close picture Disk setup with the alongside option chosen Choose Install Ubuntu alongside Windows Boot Manager, then click Next.
Ubuntu installer screen with a bar split between Windows and Ubuntu and a slider between them to drag.
Disk setup
Make room for Ubuntu
Windows
Ubuntu
Drag the slider to share the space.
Back
Next
Close picture The slider between Windows and Ubuntu Drag the slider to give Ubuntu at least 30 GB (more if you have room), then click Next.
Ubuntu installer Create your account screen with boxes for your name, computer name, username and password, and Next highlighted.
Create your account
Create your account
Your name
Your computer's name
Your username
Password
Confirm password
Back
Next
Close picture The Create your account screen Type your name and a password, then click Next.
Ubuntu installer time zone screen with a world map and a dot on your location.
Select your timezone
Where are you?
Back
Next
Close picture The time zone map Pick your time zone, then click Next.
Ubuntu installer Review your choices screen listing the disk setup, with a green Install button at the bottom right.
Ready to install
Review your choices
Disk setup
Erase disk and install
Installation disk
nvme0n1
Applications
Default selection
Back
Install
Close picture Review your choices with the Install button Check your choices, then click Install.
Ubuntu installer Installation complete screen with Continue testing and a green Restart now button.
Installation complete
Ubuntu is installed and ready to use
Continue testing
Restart now
Close picture The Restart now button When it's done, click Restart now, then take out the USB stick.
When your PC restarts, you'll see a menu. Pick Windows or Linux with the arrow keys, then press Enter.
Installer screens change a little between versions. Follow the words on screen if they look different.
What could go wrong?
Plug in your laptop before you start. If the power goes off while installing, start again from the USB stick.
3. After installing
A few last things to make Ubuntu yours.
Install updates
Open Software Updater and install everything it offers. Then restart.
If GreyHaven said your NVIDIA graphics needs an extra step
Follow the pictures. Don't download drivers from websites: that can break your setup.
The Software & Updates window with its tabs, and the Additional Drivers tab highlighted.
Software & Updates
Ubuntu Software
Other Software
Updates
Authentication
Additional Drivers
NVIDIA Corporation: your graphics card
Close picture Open "Software & Updates" and go to the "Additional Drivers" tab. Open "Software & Updates" and go to the "Additional Drivers" tab.
The Additional Drivers tab listing NVIDIA drivers, with the one marked 'proprietary, tested' chosen and the Apply Changes button highlighted.
Software & Updates
Ubuntu Software
Other Software
Updates
Authentication
Additional Drivers
NVIDIA Corporation: your graphics card
NVIDIA driver from nvidia-driver (proprietary, tested)
NVIDIA Server driver (proprietary)
X.Org X server - Nouveau display driver (open source)
Revert
Apply Changes
Close picture Select the NVIDIA driver marked "proprietary, tested" and click "Apply Changes". Select the NVIDIA driver marked "proprietary, tested" and click "Apply Changes".
A Linux power menu with Restart highlighted.
Power Off
Restart
Log Out
Close picture Restart when it finishes. Restart when it finishes.
Or type this in a terminal:
sudo ubuntu-drivers installA blue screen after restarting is normal
If Secure Boot is on, you may be asked to make up a password while the driver installs. After you restart, a blue screen appears. Choose "Enroll MOK", then "Continue", and type that password. This is normal.
If GreyHaven said your Broadcom Wi-Fi that needs the "wl" driver needs an extra step
Follow the pictures. Don't download drivers from websites: that can break your setup.
A laptop connected to the internet with a network cable or a phone's USB cable.
Network cable, or USB from your phone
Close picture Connect to the internet with a network cable or USB tethering from your phone. Connect to the internet with a network cable or USB tethering from your phone.
The Additional Drivers tab with the Broadcom wireless driver chosen and Apply Changes highlighted.
Software & Updates
Ubuntu Software
Other Software
Updates
Authentication
Additional Drivers
Broadcom Inc.: your Wi-Fi
Broadcom 802.11 Linux STA wireless driver (proprietary)
Do not use the device
Apply Changes
Close picture Open "Software & Updates", go to "Additional Drivers", select the Broadcom driver and click "Apply Changes". Open "Software & Updates", go to "Additional Drivers", select the Broadcom driver and click "Apply Changes".
A Linux power menu with Restart highlighted.
Power Off
Restart
Log Out
Close picture Restart. Restart.
Or type this in a terminal:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install broadcom-sta-dkmsA blue screen after restarting is normal
If Secure Boot is on, this driver needs your OK before it can run. While it installs, make up a password. After you restart, a blue screen appears. Choose "Enroll MOK", then "Continue", and type that password. This is normal.
Install your apps
Your list of apps, with where to get each one, is in the printed or saved copy of your guide from GreyHaven. It isn't on this page, to keep it private.
Where to get help
When you ask for help, share your GreyHaven report. It lists your parts without any personal details.
This page is the same for everyone who picked Ubuntu (Desktop) and chose to keep Windows. Anything personal on it comes from the part of the address after "#", which your browser keeps to itself. GreyHaven 0.1.0.