I got i386 for 8.04 back in January 2009 and it's on one CD. When I go to the LinuxQuestions distro area it shows 8 ISOs available now. The Ubuntu download page at ubuntu.com looks like one CD is all. I'm trying to remember how I did that way back then. Is the one CD option for getting the rest online after install?

One "Install" CD will do the trick, let it install, then apply the updates before you do anything else.

The ubuntu installation process is pretty painless, but I strongly recommend that you take a backup of all your personal files, to an external device, before you begin. That means you backup all of /home/aquatux/* preferably to a linux formatted drive (ext2 or ext3).

Check that you can read your backup.

Then do a clean install (do not "upgrade") to your chosen version.

That way you can always recover everything and move data to your new system.

I tend to do things very slowly: I install a new linux to a new partition or PC, and gradually migrate as I test things out and can be confident that I understand how the new things work.

Perhaps I am over-cautious. But "Better safe than sorry".

Good luck.

That's the route I have decided to go. I don't have to worry with data as I'm recycling a give away.

I think some more explanation on the LQ distribution pages would help those new to Linux. It would be good to show a reason that would cause you to get all those ISOs when one will do the job.