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Recently, I fucked up with broke my old Ubuntu and I don’t have the patience, or the ability, to fix it step by step. So, the easiest way to get my system back is to re-install it, and upgrade to the latest version by the way.

My old Ubuntu was installed alongside with Windows 10 in different partitions, dual-booting from Ubuntu GNU GRUB. The following guide is also applied to new installation of Ubuntu with Windows already installed.

Preparation

Download Files

Before starting the installation, download the required files.

Backup Files

Backup all the files of those are necessary, and Backup!!! Backup!!! Backup !!! Repeat it 3 times making it more important!

Create Start-up Drive

A new, or formatted USB drive is required.

After downloading the required files, create a USB start-up drive.

  • Option 1: Extract Ubuntu iso file directly to USB drive with WinRAR.
    1. Right click the downloaded ubuntu iso file,
    2. choose Extract with WinRAR,
    3. set the target location to be the USB drive,
    4. and let the WinRAR do its job.
  • Option 2: Create a start-up drive with Rufus

    Detailed instruction could be found in https://rufus.ie

Make Free Space

A free partition of about 50 GB space separated from Windows installation partition is required.

  • Old Ubuntu installation partitions could be utilized. There is no need to format those in advanced, this could be carried out in the installation section.
  • Or it may need to shrink the Windows partition to make space for the Ubuntu.
    1. In Windows, hit Win and X keys at the same time,
    2. Choose Disk Management and pick the partition with large free space,
    3. Right clock the selected partition and choose Shrink Volumn,
    4. Follow the instruction to make unallocated space.

Disable Fast Startup

The feature Fast Startup of Windows should be disabled.

  • In Windows, hit Win and X keys at the same time,
  • Choose Power Option - Choose what power button does?,
  • Click Change settings that are currently unavailable,
  • Scroll down and make sure the box marked Turn on Fast Startup (Recommended) is UNCHECKED,
  • and Save changes.

Installation (18.04.1 LTS)

Change Booting Order

Change system booting order in order to boot from the USB drive.

  • Insert the USB drive, reboot the system and press F1 key to enter BIOS,

    “F1” key may not work for all BIOS (it works for ThinkPad BIOS), try “F1”~”F8” of the one that works.

  • In Security tab, choose Secure Boot and hit Enter,
    1. Now in Secure Boot tab, make sure the option of Secure Boot is Disable and,
    2. Hit Esc key to come back up to Secure tab.
  • In Startup tab, choose Boot and hit Enter,
    1. Move the highlight bar to USB Flash Disk(or the name of your newly created USB start-up drive) with arrow keys,
    2. Move the USB Flash Disk up to the top of Boot Priority Order list with + key,
    3. Hit Esc key to come back up to Startup tab, and make sure the option of UEFI Boot is Both(Legacy and UEFI),
  • Hit F10 to Save and Exit. Then the system would reboot itself.

    “F10” key may not work for all BIOS (it works for ThinkPad BIOS), follow the BIOS instruction to save all changes and reboot the system.

Start Installation

If succeed, a GNU GRUB startup option panel should appear. Install Ubuntu following the instructions.

  • In GNU GRUB panel, choose Install Ubuntu and hit Enter,
  • Setup install language, keyboard layout and Connect to WiFi,

    Wifi connection is preferred! If no wifi is connected, some packages may not be installed during the installation.

  • Choose Minimal installation (or full installation works too), and check Download updates while installing.

Customized Installation

Now it comes to the MOST Important part. I assumed that,

  • Windows is already installed, and
  • After installation, system would boot from Ubuntu GNU GRUB achieving the goal of Dual Boot.

In Installation Type section, choose Something else to customized the partitions for installation.

  • (Optional, if old, fucked up ubuntu partition is still shown in the partition list) Free all previously Ubuntu installed partition by selecting the corresponding partition(s) and clicking the - button.
  • Leave all Windows (and files storage) partition untouched,
  • Add 100 Mb Logical partition as a EFI system partition by clicking + button,
  • Add 4096 Mb Primary partition as a swap area,
  • Add 35840 Mb Primary partition as a Ext4 partition for root(/),
  • With whatever left space, add Primary partition as a Ext4 partition for /home,
  • Choose EFI system partition for boot loader to be installed.

Continue Installation

Now, installation could be started.

  • Choose location, setup user name and password,
  • and let the installer do its job.
  • When the installation is completed, the system would reboot itself.

Reset Booting Order

Reset system booting order in order to boot from the newly install Ubuntu

  • Removing the USB drive and rebooting the system,
  • Instruction refers to Installation - step #1, making sure the EFI system partition, usually called ubuntu, had been moved to the top of Boot Priority Order list,
  • After rebooting agian, if succeed, an Ubuntu GNU GRUB startup option panel should appear and Ubuntu or Windows could be chose to boot from.

Till now, the basic installation is completed.

Settings (18.04.1 LTS)

Further more in Things to do right after Ubuntu installation.