Flavor of The Month: how to install Kubuntu
Last month we showed you how simple it was to install Ubuntu, and this month we will do the same with Kubuntu. Kubuntu is the same operating system as Ubuntu, but with some obvious differences.
Written by Robert Clipsham
The first thing you will notice, looking at the screen shots, is the lack of brown in Kubuntus default desktop. This is because Kubuntu uses a different user interface. The user interface is how you interact with your computer; this could be using a terminal or konsole, typing in commands which your computer will respond to; or it could be a graphical interface, like you see in Kubuntu/Ubuntu.
The user interfaces here are the K desktop environment – KDE – and the GNU Object Model Environment – GNOME. You should try both, to see which you prefer. If you can't deicide, don't worry, both can reside happily side by side on the same computer.
Installing
Once you have done all of the basic things mentioned in last months 'Flavour of the Month', you can begin installing Kubuntu. Start by placing the CD in your drive, and restarting your computer.
At the menu
choose the "Check Disk" option, then choose "Start or Install Kubuntu." Once the blue bar (below) has finished rocking, you will be shown a splash screen telling you what is loading.
You will then arrive at the Kubuntu desktop and you will have a full operating system with several open source applications to work with, including: Full Office suite, Instant Messaging, Web browser and IRC client
Once you have finished playing, you can click the "Install" icon on the desktop, to start installing Kubuntu.
The first thing the installer will ask is what your preferred language is:
Choose it, and click next to continue. It then asks where you are from, so it can set the time, and make sure you get the fastest updates possible.
Once it knows where you are, it will ask you your keyboard layout (below), so that when you press a key on your keyboard, it will put the right letter on the screen. The main keys that could cause problems are “ and @. If these are switched, you have selected the wrong layout.
The installer will now ask you how you would like to partition your hard drive. The default option (Resize partition) is usually fine, it will split your hard drive into two chunks, one for Windows and one for Kubuntu.
On the next screen, you will be asked if you would like to import any settings from another user, on a windows partition for example. You can transfer all your documents, your desktop background etc. If the setup can not detect any users, it will give you a screen asking for your details (below), so you can log on when it is installed. Keep you password safe!
The final step tells you all your settings, so you can go back and change them if necessary.
There are also some advanced settings, but if you are unsure in what you are doing, don't change them.
Finish by clicking the "Install" button, which will finalise your settings, and install Kubuntu.
When the installation is complete, click OK, and then use the K menu to logout, and restart.
You can then log in (above) with the username and password, you chose earlier.
If all went well, then you will now have a dual boot system with Kubuntu and your other operating system.
You can update Kubuntu by clicking the the update icon in the bottom right of your taskbar.
Enter your password and follow the instructions to make sure your system is up to date.
If you have any problems, you can ask in #ubuntu on chat.freenode.net, or on www.ubuntuforums.org.
