Imagine a world where you never have to defrag your hard drive, viruses are merely a theoretical threat and your PC still runs as quickly as the day you bought it. That's the prize waiting for those brave enough to follow our step-by-step guide to migrating from Windows to Ubuntu.
Moving to a completely different operating system (OS) isn't something you should do quickly. It's better to make baby steps that will gradually build up your confidence, which is exactly what this article will guide you through.
Changing your applications
The worst part of changing your OS is acclimatising to using different applications, while working in a strange desktop environment. Therefore, it's a good idea to get used to new applications while still on the OS you're familiar with.
Browsers
Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Opera are all available for both Windows and Linux. Therefore, as long as you use your browser's online profile synchronisation, migration will be automatic. As soon as you install and log in to your new browser on Linux, you'll find everything as you left it in Windows.
The following guides will show you how to set up your browser's online sync for Firefox, Google Chrome and Opera.
However, if you use Internet Explorer or Safari, you'll need to change to one of the above cross-platform browsers. In general, the safest way to get your bookmarks from these browsers into any other is to export them to an HTML file. Follow this guide for Internet Explorer or this guide for Safari.
If you use web-based email then you can access your mail anywhere. However, if you're using something like Outlook Express or Windows Live Mail, you'll need to change to Mozilla Thunderbird.
Moving locally-stored email is the trickiest part of migrating to cross-platform desktop applications. Fortunately, Mozilla has great guides for transferring your data from a range of Windows applications, which you can read here.
When you're at the point of actually changing OS, you'll need to save your Thunderbird profile on an external drive for copying to your Linux account. Again, the Mozilla Foundation has a great guide that explains how to do this.
Office software
LibreOffice is the best open source office suite available. It's compatible with all Microsoft (MS) Office file formats, so you can immediately get to work editing your MS Office files. Unless you need niche features of MS Office, LibreOffice will serve you well. Furthermore, it's free.
An alternative that's more convenient but less functional is Google Docs. You can upload your office files to this service and edit them in your browser and Android devices.
Everything else
Every Linux distribution, including Ubuntu, comes with a suite of pre-installed applications to cover the rest of your needs, such as image editing, instant messaging, music and video playback.
Getting a virtual feel for Ubuntu
The least disruptive way of trying a new OS is to install it as a virtual machine (VM). VM applications simulate basic computer hardware, which you can test another OS on.
VirtualBox is one such application and it's free of charge. It isn't the only available solution, but it's the most beginner-friendly. To install Ubuntu as a virtual machine, download the latest Live CD image.
To create a new VM in VirtualBox, click New on the toolbar. You'll then be taken through a wizard to set the specifications of the VM, and to create the file that will be used as its hard drive. Ubuntu requires much less disk space than Windows, so a file size of as little as 4GB will be sufficient to experiment with.
You'll also be asked to set the location of the CD image you downloaded as the VM's optical drive. Booting your VM from this image will give you your first taste of the Ubuntu installer.
Once you've logged in to your virtual Ubuntu for the first time, you can enhance your experience by installing VirtualBox Guest Additions, which will enable you to map locations in your Windows drive -- such as Music -- to a location inside your virtual machine, among other tricks.
The advantage of using a VM as a test platform is that you don't have to worry about making mistakes. The worst that can happen is that you have to delete the VM and start again.
You don't have to worry about hardware compatibility either. Removing fear is an important way of gaining confidence with a new system. However, it's somewhat inconvenient to live in a virtual machine. Therefore, you won't get a true everyday experience.
For more information on this method of installing Ubuntu, read this great guide and the VirtualBox manual.
The Windows Ubuntu Installer
Ubuntu's Windows Installer (Wubi) allows you to install Ubuntu inside of Windows without using a VM.
This puzzling piece of technological trickery installs Ubuntu to a file on your C: drive, similar to the VM solution above. However, the Wubi system tricks your computer into thinking that this file is a bootable drive. Once it has downloaded and used the Ubuntu disc image, a boot option is added so you can choose which OS to run when you start your PC.
The advantage of the Wubi method is that you can run Ubuntu directly on your PC's hardware without having to partition its hard drive. Thus you can see if there are any hardware compatibility issues with your system. Because this is only a test install, you still have the advantage of being able to take risks as you can always start again if something goes wrong.
You can access the files on the rest of your hard drive, thanks to having the C: drive mapped to the /host/ directory on your pretent hard drive. This makes it much easier for you to spend time gaining everyday experience in using Ubuntu. You can get a much better sense of whether it's for you or not.
As part of being installed within Windows, the Ubuntu OS is added to the list of installed programs in Windows. Therefore, whenever you want to remove it from your system, you can activate its uninstaller, which will also clean up the Windows boot menu.
The Live CD
Download the image -- an .ISO file -- of the latest version of Ubuntu and burn it to a CD. Alternatively, you can use Unetbootin to create a bootable USB flash drive.
Restart your PC and ensure that your BIOS is set to boot from the CD-ROM (or USB drive). Your PC will then boot Ubuntu from whichever media you chose.
This is easier to set up than Wubi and is another way to rehearse fixing hardware compatibility issues before committing to a full install. However, it's slower to boot and whatever changes you make will be lost when the PC reboots.
Lose Windows or dual boot?
By now, you've likely taken a few weeks or months to gradually familiarise yourself with Ubuntu. Just as with any relationship though, it's time to take the next step and move in together.
There are advantages to keeping Windows on your system. For example, you may have peripherals that will only work with Windows, such as a Windows Phone device.
To prepare for a dual boot set-up, you'll need to shrink your C: drive to make room. You can find excellent instructions here.
To begin the installation, boot into the Live CD as described above. You'll find an icon on the desktop that launches the installation.
The Ubuntu installer is very similar to Windows, requiring you to enter details about your location and hardware. Ubuntu will happily set the hard drive partitions for you, but there is a manual option too. We recommend that you at least create separate partitions for your root -- / -- and home -- /home -- directories, in addition to the mandatory Swap partition. The latter is equivalent to the page file for virtual RAM in Windows.
If you opt to dual boot, a new bootloader will be added to the master boot record of your hard drive. Your Windows partition will be detected and entered into the boot menu.
Conclusion
Changing your OS is like moving house -- everything feels out of place for a while, so don't give in to frustration.
Providing you have compatible hardware, the benefits of using Ubuntu are clear: Linux operating systems are stable and secure. While Windows requires a maintenance regime to keep it running at peak efficiency, Linux can go for months and never need a reboot.
The best thing about installing any Linux operating system is that it requires far fewer resources. While Windows 7 may consume well over 2GB of RAM on a mid-level laptop, Ubuntu will take only half as much under the same usage patterns. Therefore, you can bring your old laptops out of retirement and give them a new lease of life.
Finally, Ubuntu has one of the most helpful communities in the Linux world. So if you have a problem, just visit the Ubuntu Forums and someone will be there to help. Good luck!
Image credits: fsse8info, Ubuntu Wiki, Jan Kalab.
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Comments 15
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anonymous 25 November, 2011 18:14
So what size do you recommend you allow for a Ubuntu dual install? Can I still access data from both the Windows and Ubuntu boots?
Carl Draper 26 November, 2011 03:44
@anonymous Yes, you can read and write to your Windows partition from Linux, but you cannot read Linux filesystem by default from Windows, without a special driver like ext2FS though these tend to be buggy/risky, so it's easier just to access the Windows FS from Linux. Ubuntu's default install only uses around 3 or 4GB (compared to Win 7 which needs around 20GB to be comfortable) but I'd recommend about 20GB+ for Linux too since you might want to install large apps, games etc.
Naryan 26 November, 2011 06:51
I have Ubuntu and I *quite* like Ubuntu, but I don't really use it. The software support isn't there. No, it isn't.
It's simply never finished. I'm not going to use a second-rate operating system just because it has a philosophy behind it. 10.04 wasn't polished and we were told 10.10 would do it. 10.10 was nearly there, but people said it would be 11.04 that would REALLY make Ubuntu way better because of Unity but then when 11.04 came out it was a bloody mess, then I was told that 11.10 would fix it, and it almost fixed the mess 11.04 made but took MAJOR backward steps doing it (ie. TOO SIMPLE) and now I'm being told that 12.04 will fix Unity.
I don't know if you knew this, guys, but EACH ONE OF THESE TAKES SIX MONTHS. I'M NOT WAITING FOR YOU.
That is all.
DavidRGilson 26 November, 2011 11:09
For the record, this article was written in Ubuntu 10.04.
anonymous 26 November, 2011 13:51
@Naryan Agree. I really wanted to like Ubuntu when I first tried to install it. But after I got it working more or less I realized that it is not a final OS that gives me what I expect. Hardware incompatibilities, inconsistent and beta looking software does not have the quality of most Windows software I use unless I use Wine... In the end you try to get Ubuntu like Windows but it doesn't work. For me Ubuntu was not able do replace Windows XP machine and Windows 7 is miles ahead in pretty much every respect anyway.
Mark Anderson 26 November, 2011 16:25
How to transfer from Windows 7 to Ubuntu: Remove desire for ease of use and access to decent software. Drop IQ by 80 points.
Job done.
Paul777 27 November, 2011 07:49
@DavidRGilson Thanks for a great article.
I understand your article was written on Ubuntu 10.04. I think we must recommend 10.04 for most people who want to try Ubuntu for the first time. This LTS version will be a more familiar environment, the latest
Paul777 27 November, 2011 07:54
PS ... the latest version has too much change too soon. Or Ubuntu could have given us the choice of the bottom panel (Classic) with Unity. I personally would want both, with an option to disable the bottom panel at times.
The bottom panel may look archaic for some but truly boosts productivity when dealing with many files of the same type, eg Writer.
Seamus92 27 November, 2011 20:23
This article is outdated, the screen shoots are of a old system not the latest edition IE 11:10. Cnet this isnt good enough maybe get someone who as switched to Open source to write about the transition instead of scaremongering
Seamus92 27 November, 2011 20:33
GOD SAKE... i have used ubuntu for the last 3 years because windows all ways fails, ubuntu has been ahead of the curve for the last 2 years it had a software centre before apple had the app store on there OSX it had a full screen menu befor OSX had it, it had cloud intergration before it apple even thought of it.
Windows 7 is an awfull OS and i hold MCITP, ubuntu as a client OS this what i am using ubuntu 11:10 is better then xp and 7.
for those of you who say the software is second rate i ask you what web browser are you using chrome, firefox, opera or IE9. all of those work on ubuntu they are easy to install and easy to launch. Who wants to pay £100 or more for an office suite that gets replaced 3 years later?
how many of you have used ubuntu for a sustained period of time. what everyday user that goes on the web listens to music, downloads music watches movies. need all the features of windows or a mac. only to be charged to use it.
it is madness, absolute madness.
in the words of jim kirk "KHANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
end of rant
Writen from chrome ON UBUNTU 11:10
anonymous 29 November, 2011 21:02
I've used Ubuntu for about 5 years. I'm not a power user, tech or programmer just 'domestic' use and thought I'd take it for a spin and really have enjoyed using it. I like the development cycle, the way it easily install/remove software. I learnt how to use WINE so I still use some MS Office. Pls dont feel like you have to be Windows or Ubuntu but do try both. Ubuntu is free in speech and in beer. Open source means it will always change - that could be for better or worse but it's subjective to the end user. Personally always liked Gnome and use Gnome3, dislike Unity but that the best part - I have choices. I like the community support which has solved all my problems. Currently running 11.10. It has worked out of the box for me on most PCs/netbooks I've used but there are somethings you do have to seek out but again, if in doubt ask the community.
anonymous 3 December, 2011 14:13
I tried ubuntu 10.10 a while back.... it doesnt run itunes and wasnt compatible with all my hardware such as fingerprint reader.... its not a complete system. is a nice fast system which boots quickly... oh also it corrupted my windows data and I had to do a complete restore after totally rebuilding as my boot partition was corrupted by it too...
by all means give it a try and play with it but DO NOT try on a m/c that you have data on you need...
anonymous 3 March, 2012 22:05
Ah but what about hardware compatibility (printer)? And itunes?. And games? The fact that many of these areas are a problem for Ubuntu etc is not really the fault of Ubuntu or Linux. Big business is not concerned to make things work for linux, which is a tiny proportion of the market. So linux just gets left behind as far as this sort of compatibility goes.
Ubuntu is great, I'm using it now (12.04 beta, its the first time I've liked Unity though I still have issues with it). But I have to go to Windows if I want to print, play most games, or sync easily, properly, with my itouch. Its a shame.
anonymous 3 March, 2012 22:08
Darn, didnt realise this was such an old thread.
Sudara Madushan Fernando 4 May, 2013 06:31
I kind of like Ubuntu these days. Had to install it for a research and now i"m using it more than windows. Best way of installing ubuntu is via Wubi i think. We can use both OS without a hassle.