I have Fedora 10 installed but think that Ubuntu might be more sutable for my needs, mostly using Spreadsheet/Words and surfing the net.
Can I just insert the dvd and click install, (which I believe will automatically format the hard disk) without any pre-installation requirements?. I do have all my documents backed-up and presume I would be able to upload these to Ubuntu.
Any advice etc will be much appreciated.
Regards.

Basically, yes - everything you need to complete an installation is included on the DVD.

I'm not sure whether you can insert the DVD and it'll "autorun", or whether you'll have to put the DVD in and restart your computer, but one of those will work.

John G

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If you already backed-up your docuemnts ?? then you are ready to format ??

Then boot with Ubuntu CD/DVD... AT time of partitioning select the "existing linux partitions" so that all the fedora will be erased with ubuntu installation.

don't go to the option "whole system".

good luck !

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I would make a note of how your system is currently partitioned first, if your home dir is on / and not a separate mount point then you will lose everything in it, use the terminal and type df -h list your partitons and mount points..

Is it possible to install FC on a separate partition first? then migrate your data across, it's a bit safer,use gparted for formating, resizing and creating partitions.

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Why can't you surf the net and word-process using Fedora? It's got everything you require.

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Indeed, office software and web browsing aren't really reasons to install a whole other operating system..but if you're just out for an adventure, why not. The installation is probably as easy, or easier than that of Fedora: put the properly written disc in, reboot, pick up your language and select "Try ubuntu before installing" (or whatever it says today; there's an option for installing it directly, but it's not much faster and if you boot the live OS instead, you can do other things than just install, for example examine your current installation). When it's up, open the installation icon from desktop, click through the phases (something like 7 in total; most are pre-filled so you don't need to intervene too much -- mostly just fill in your name and password, and if you'd like, select a different partitioning scheme from that suggested by the installer).

If it's the only operating system, you can choose to use the whole disk, or if you have other needs, do as you please. I'd suggest creating a separate partition for /home in case you plan to (re)install an operating system later, to be able to keep your personal data on the disk through the installation, but it's your choice. Taking backups is always a good idea.

The whole thing should take fairly little time, for me it takes something like 15-20 minutes. Fetching updated packages from the web during installation adds to the time of course, depending on how much has to be downloaded, but if your language is English you shouldn't need much.

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The only distros unsuitable for those simple requirements are the ones for special purposes, such as specialist firewall ones.

Yeah, why not. A live cd (/DVD) should give you this option.

Checking your backup first would be a good thing. But, if you use Open Office, for example, it really doesn't matter which distro you use it on. Some of the very frugal ones like to give you simpler, less bloaty, options, but that aside, you should be fine.

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