I have Ubuntu 5.04, so to get to 6.06, two upgrades will be required if the normal upgrade path is followed. I have decided to repartition my hard disk, reducing the 5.04 partition to a modest amount over the space presently used and installing 6.06 in the new partition. (There is no Win$ on this machine)

There are two ways to install 6.06: from a 'Live' CD or from an 'Alternate' Install CD (the traditional text based method). I believe the Live CD requires less experience and is more automatic and therefore appeals, but are there significant disadvantages (like avoiding the inevitable need to learn how Linux works) to this method?

Any suggestions or recommendations about which way to go? Pls keep in mind that while I am reasonably seasoned in Windoze, I am a newbie to Linux.

TIA

get the liveCD. The Install CD is a text-based installer, so you might not understand everything, but the liveCD has a better partitioner (and even lets you browse the web, do work, etc. while you install).

The disadvantage is that the liveCD requires a fair sum of RAM (~256MB recomended), so if you have an old system, you should get the Alternate one.

Just remember to check the md5 checksum (The partitioning tool got messed up on the disk I tried )

Burnin', Thanks for yours. I have plenty of ram, so no prob on that.

I d/l'd the live CD the other day and did not know to verify the checksum. should I d/l again or is there a way to verify the one I already have?

I think (someone correct me if I'm wrong) that you can check the md5sum by putting the CD in the drive, and running:
Check the number that is returned against the one on the Ubuntu website where you got the image from. The should match.

Apparently, this can return incorrect results depending on how the CD was burnt. I have tried it and got the correct results.

--Ian

Out of town til Friday eve. Will try this on Sat. Thanks