Ideally installation of Windows should be done first.This gives you an advantage of not having to format your NTFS later when you install ubuntu as you can leave that space the first time when you install Windows.

1) Back up your system.

• If you are installing windows the first time you can skip this step.
• If you have windows installed make sure you backup every folder and data that is important and burn them to disks or even move them to external drives.
• If you do not have a windows recovery tool now is the best time to acquire it before you proceed further.It is important that you have a recovery tool.Not that it is necessary but it never hurts.Clean out all the partitions on your computer by backing up the important data on external disks/ hard drives and then delete everything from your computer.
• Make your hard drive as clean as you can. Uninstall all the unnecessary programs from the computer.( This step is not required but it is advisable.)

2) Resize using windows Vista ( You can either do this or skip to step 3)

This steps is advisable for people who have a fair understanding of running boot disks or who have done OS installations before.if you do not have a fair knowledge and only a general understanding then you can skip this step. Details here

3) Install Ubuntu.

There are many ways to install ubuntu.

• you can use a Live cd . Request a CD here — ( If you can wait upto 3-7 days)
• You can download a ISO and burn it on a cd. ( You had rather get ISO for future use and distro)
• You can also use Wubi . ( You want the easiest and fastest way out)

Once you have the Cd follow the steps below.

1. Defragment your hard drive in windows first. (My Computer, Right click on drive, Properties, Tools, Defragment Now)
2. Insert Cd into the drive and reboot. When the PC reboots press F8 or F10 depending on the make of you computer and boot via CD. this can also be done by changing BIOS (On restart – DEL button or F12) settings.
3. Once you boot through the CD it will load the kernel and you will have a few options or either just test driving ubuntu or installing it completely.
4. You will be taken through a series of settings like layout,place and a few others till you get to the partition hard drive prompts.

4) Partition using UBUNTU CD

It is better to read some guides on how to have your linux partitions.How much space to leave for you swap and other general information.

If you have come so far then you are nearly there. Now all you need to do is partition your hard drive and restart.

Auto partition.

1. Choose the very First Option ("Resize IDEmaster, partition #1 (hda1) and use freed space").
2. Specify the size of the new partition .
3. Click on "Forward".
4. If it continues then you can simply finish the installation.You can also choose to do manual partition if you know exactly how you want to split the whole disk.

manual partition

You can use this option if you have a clear idea of what has to be done.

1. Choose "Manually edit partition table"
2. Select the partition you want to resize and press Enter.
3. Select "Size:" –>
4. Select Yes –>
5. Type in a new size for your partition, it’s recommended you free up AT LEAST 10 GB of free space for your Ubuntu install. –>
6. Create a swap partition of at least double your amount of RAM . ( This info is available from windows -My computer-properties)
7. Create a partition for your Ubuntu installation, at least 10 GB.
8. Select "Finish partitioning and write changes to disk".

Once you have done this just finish the installation and reboot.It will ask you to remove the cd and once you do that there will be two options the next time you boot your computer.ubuntu would detect your windows installation as well and will be added to your choice of OS.

This should do it.Once you boot into the Ubuntu there are many other things that need to be done.Just like the way when you first installed windows you started installing a lot of programs so you can do the same with ubuntu.

Make sure you update via package manager and keep your system up to date.You can also use synaptic manager to install new programs you like.

Any questions just comment or ask !

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