The Complete Beginner‘s Guide to Installing Ubuntu on Windows 10

Hey there! Looking to upgrade your Windows experience by adding the power of Ubuntu? You came to the right place. As an IT consultant specialized in operating systems, I help people dual-boot Ubuntu on Windows 10 every day.

I‘m going to walk you through the entire process from start to finish, going beyond just the steps to explain everything you need to know along the way. You‘ll learn:

What Ubuntu is and why it‘s worth trying
How to create a bootable USB to start the install
Steps for installing Ubuntu alongside Windows 10
How Ubuntu compares to Windows 10 for speed, security, and customization
Answers to frequently asked questions about Ubuntu

I‘ll also share my own experiences using both OSs to help you determine if Ubuntu could be right for your needs.

Let‘s get started!

An Introduction to Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a completely free operating system built on Linux, the same open-source foundations as Android and Chrome OS. Offering top speed, stability, and security, Ubuntu has become popular globally both for personal and enterprise use in recent years.

Companies like Google, Netflix, Tesla, Spotify and more rely on Ubuntu to run mission-critical applications – that‘s how powerful and versatile it can be!

But Ubuntu isn’t just for huge tech corporations. With its intuitive interface, you can use it as your everyday OS just like Windows 10 or MacOS.

You can browse the web, create documents, manage photos and media, install apps from the Ubuntu Software Center, and much more. Gamers can access over 1,000 hit game titles, though some popular games don‘t run natively on Linux.

For those seeking an alternative to more bloated mainstream operating systems using tons of system resources, Ubuntu offers a lightweight yet fully functional option perfect for older hardware or speed focused users.

So why install Ubuntu alongside your existing Windows 10 system?

Dual booting gives you the best of both worlds on one device! Boot into Windows to run specialty software or access files, shut down and enter Ubuntu to enjoy faster speeds and stronger security day to day. It allows flexibly trying Ubuntu without committing fully.

Next, let‘s go over exactly what you‘ll need to prepare for installation…

Prerequisites for Installation

Before getting started, make sure your PC hardware and accounts are compatible and up to date.

Verify Hardware Compatibility

Review detailed Ubuntu certification specs covering supported processors, graphics cards, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, laptop brands, and other components here. Most modern PCs have full support, but it‘s best to confirm your model.

Free Up Storage Space

When installing alongside Windows, Ubuntu requires a minimum of 25GB of drive space for core files and smooth functionality. Clear old files first if needed.

Back Up Sensitive Data

To prevent catastrophic data loss, always maintain backups of precious files, photos, financial data, and other irreplaceable user data stored locally on your drives before partitioning. Storage is cheap, lost memories aren‘t!

You‘ll also need the following hardware and software:

Hardware

Windows 10 PC or laptop
8GB USB Flash Drive

Software

Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS (.iso file)
balenaEtcher for Windows

Let‘s continue on with downloading the Ubuntu image…

Step 1: Download the Ubuntu .iso File

Navigate to the Ubuntu downloads page and grab Ubuntu 20.04.5 LTS – the latest long-term support release. Choose the 64-bit Desktop image fitting your processor.

I suggest avoiding the minimal install and server images at first, as the standard Desktop image delivers the full Ubuntu experience.

Store the 2GB .iso file somewhere easy to access later like your Windows Desktop or Downloads folder.

Step 2: Install balenaEtcher

balenaEtcher allows you to flash OS image files onto USB drives to create bootable installation media. Think of it like Rufus for Linux ISOs.

Visit balena.io/etcher and grab their app for Windows. Run the quick installer after downloading.

Open balenaEtcher once installed. We‘ll use it shortly.

Step 3: Create a Bootable USB Ubuntu Drive

Insert your spare 8GB or larger USB flash drive you‘re willing to erase. In balenaEtcher, click Select Image and locate your downloaded Ubuntu .iso file.

Next click Select Drive and pick your inserted USB stick.

Finally click Flash to initiate the bootable drive creation process. This copies Ubuntu onto the flash drive and configures it for booting directly on your PC.

When finished, safely eject the flash drive containing Ubuntu desktop.

Step 4: Enter the Ubuntu Live Environment

First, connect your new bootable Ubuntu flash drive to the target PC you want to install on.

Shut down fully then turn your computer back on. It should automatically boot the flash drive into the Ubuntu live desktop environment instead of Windows.

If it does not boot into Ubuntu, restart again. Access the BIOS menu by pressing F2, F10 or F12 on your manufacturer splash screen. Under boot order, select your inserted USB drive as the first boot device to manually load Ubuntu.

After successfully booting from the flash media, you will see the below Welcome screen. Now we‘re ready to begin installing!

Step 5: Start Ubuntu Setup

From the Welcome window, select your language and keyboard layout. Click "Continue" or press Enter to move to the next phase.

On the Updates and Other Software page, check:

"Download updates while installing Ubuntu"
"Install third-party…" software

These options boost hardware support and grab the latest patches during install. Click Continue.

Next choose your preferred Installation type:

"Erase disk and install Ubuntu" to remove Windows and dedicate your entire drive to Ubuntu
"Install Ubuntu alongside Windows" to dual boot both OSs (recommended)